Schiavo and the Courts

I couldn't resist the temptation to comment. I'm really sorry for the family and sympathize with them in this difficult time. Families facing life and death decisions go through many emotions, even if they agree on a course of action. It's hard to let go and it's hard to see someone who was at one time vibrant and full of life being maintained artificially. This tragedy should have been allowed to settle out among the family, but when disagreement occurs the court inevitably has to settle the dispute. The court in this case merely did its job, ruled on the law.

All the media time spent on this matter is nothing more than sensationalism and political wrangling is nothing more than pandering. Not having reviewed any of the documents or medical reports for ourselves, everything is hearsay. The court ruled on the evidence that Terri Schiavo did not want to be kept alive artificially and the husband is the one who has guardianship and can ultimately decide for her. That is the way it should be and if you want something different then obtain a living will or advance medical directive to make your wishes known.

Congress and the President made a travesty of the situation by getting involved in a civil state matter. Just because some legislators didn't agree with the ruling, there was no need to subject the checks and balances built into our constitution to an activist legislator attact. The judicial system responded in the way we should expect them to, and that is to uphold the law and judicial rulings of the state of Florida. There is no conflict with Federal statutes and the court ruled appropriately.

One more thing, many of the pundits cry hypocrisy for both democrats and republicans. I fail to see this as a democrat or republican matter. It is only a personal matter between the Schiavo's and the Schindler's and how we each internalize the situation. To be sure when pandering to a small specific part of one's political base there are risks when the majority fail to see it that way. Moral issues and legal issues are not always in agreement. I hope many of our politicians will take the time to reflect on this and in the meantime, pray for the families involved in this all too tragic situation. We should all take the time to make our wishes known to our family if we are ever in this situation and give someone the right to invoke those wishes.