Thursday, February 17, 2005
Open letter to Governor Jeb Bush of Florida
Dear Governor Bush,
As you are well aware, Michael Schiavo, his lawyer George Felos, and Judge George Greer are planning to fatally starve Terri Schindler Schiavo starting Tuesady February 22. I would hope that in addition to using your powers as executive to intervene, you could address the legislature and the public and make clear a few things that need to be said.
There are a number of politicians and government officials for whom it would be very embarassing if Terri were ever found not to be in a genuinely vegetative state. Having previously supported her death by starvation, they don't feel that they could justify themselves if it were discovered they'd tried to sentence an innocent woman to death. It would be most convenient for those politicians if Terri could simply disappear.
A few year ago, they might have gotten their wish.
Not anymore.
With the advent of blogs and other 'alternative media', too many people know the truth about Terri's case for it to ever be swept under the rug. Those who refuse to help Terri for fear of getting egg on their face will end up with blood on their hands, and it won't wash off.
Some politicians will try to justify their actions on the basis that they're doing "what Terri wants", or that they don't want to come between a husband and his wife. It stretches credulity, however, to suggest that anyone would want to be denied such basic care as having their teeth cleaned, or having their muscles exercised to prevent contracture. And suggesting that a man who has openly professed his desire to marry another woman should have any authority over his wife is to make a mockery of marriage.
If Terri is handed over to her parents, and if her condition improves under her care, those who earlier tried to kill her may end up with egg on their face, but it won't stick too badly. After all, the goal of Terri's supporters isn't to punish people who naively supported her starvation, but rather to save her life. But if Greer et al. are allowed to kill Terri, those who supported their efforts will bear forever the stain of her innocent blood.
