Shawn RiceThe Terri Schiavo case has caused quite a debate across the Untied States over the past couple of months. Who should decide when someone’s life should end? Does there reach a point in someone’s mental state where his or her life has no value? Who speaks for the unspoken, do they have a voice? These are all the questions debated upon between the Schiavo supporters and non-supporters.
I believe that besides being an issue of morality, it also touches upon the issue of discrimination.
Some people are in favor of the feeding tube being removed because Schiavo is in a vegetative state, meaning that she will have to rely on others to care for her the rest of her life and that her life really has no purpose. Many believe she is already dead.
In my eyes and in the eyes of many Schiavo supporters, Schiavo is very much alive. Removing her feeding tube is killing her. Up until the removal of her feeding tube she was very alert and aware of her surroundings. It has now been about 18 days that she has been without food or water. She is now showing the affects of starvation.
The reason why I feel that this touches upon the issue of discrimination is because there are many people and children throughout the world who are born with brain damage, disabilities and sicknesses that disable them to speak or care for themselves. There are people out there who have been in near fatal car accidents that have caused face disfiguration and brain damage, taking away their ability to speak and care for themselves. I have seen children who look exactly like Terri Schiavo. They were born with brain damage. They cannot talk or walk. They sit in a wheel chair. They are however fully aware of their surroundings and the people that care for them. Just because they cannot speak up for themselves does not mean they do not have any rights or feelings.
I think the hard thing with this case is that it is not written down anywhere what Schiavo would have wanted. At this point it is basically her husband’s words against her parents. What I do not understand is why the husband cares so much? He has moved on and has another family. Her parents would be caring for her not him. It just doesn’t make any sense and I think that there are some missing pieces in this case. There will be an autopsy done when Schiavo dies and I hope we get some answers.
Schiavo is no different then any other disabled or brain damaged person in this world. Her parents are no different than any other parents. They love her with all of their heart and believe that their daughter is very much alive and with them.
My faith has brought me to believe that no one has the right to decide when someone’s life should end. Only God knows when someone’s life is finished here on earth.
Posted to the web by Ryan Norris
