FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2005
It's Come Down To This...
Tonight Terri Schiavo lies in a hospital bed feeling the first serious hunger pangs after about six hours without nourishment. The true rot of what this has come to after 15 years is finally showing.
I wonder where the victory is here. Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, has become the living face of the "culture of death" to a generation of Catholics in touch through EWTN, Relevant Radio and a technology-based culture pushing the faithful closer. Whatever his motives, you have to wonder about the zeal any one person would have to end the life of another. You have to think about the "mercy" portion of mercy killing when a responsive person slowly, painfully loses even what activity she has had over her years of suffering.
And what of Terri's parents? The Schindlers are by all accounts hard working people who deserve the fruits of retirement: a stable home, savings, travel, grandchildren. Instead they wished to take care of their invalid daughter for what (if their wish came true) would be the rest of their lives. Which is more an expression of love and sacrifice? What else but a parent's love for a child would bring them here?
If Terri dies the long, painful death predicted for her, it would be the largest public victory yet for Peter Singer, Jack Kevorkian, Hunter Thompson, the Hemlock Society and a entire subset of our culture seeking death as glorification (unlike the faithful, who treasure life on earth even as they await their "blessed hope." ) Forget about what cruelties Terri may speak of if she would ever speak again, or how far along Michael Schiavo has gone with his own life since Terri all but left it. Terri Schiavo has lived this long because of her parents' hope, which spread from a small group of dedicated Christians to the Vatican, Hollywood and the desks of President and Governor Bush. Terri Schiavo has begun her forced march to death because a man she placed her hope in 15 years ago gave that hope up. That was his right, but I only wish he would let her parents keep theirs.
John Michael Talbot emailed me today. I wanted him to know I gave my copy of his CD "Signatures," (which I received at a concert he gave a year ago) to Terri's family via their spiritual advisor, Father Thaddeus. I mention this only because of Terri's love for music, its use as proof she can respond to her environment, and the comfort the songs on that CD gave me (and will again). JMT was touched that his music could reach that suffering woman, and assured me his community would join in prayer for her. I said only I believed a miracle would happen, and expect one. I say now it could use a great soundtrack.
The battle rages on...talk to you later.
I wonder where the victory is here. Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, has become the living face of the "culture of death" to a generation of Catholics in touch through EWTN, Relevant Radio and a technology-based culture pushing the faithful closer. Whatever his motives, you have to wonder about the zeal any one person would have to end the life of another. You have to think about the "mercy" portion of mercy killing when a responsive person slowly, painfully loses even what activity she has had over her years of suffering.
And what of Terri's parents? The Schindlers are by all accounts hard working people who deserve the fruits of retirement: a stable home, savings, travel, grandchildren. Instead they wished to take care of their invalid daughter for what (if their wish came true) would be the rest of their lives. Which is more an expression of love and sacrifice? What else but a parent's love for a child would bring them here?
If Terri dies the long, painful death predicted for her, it would be the largest public victory yet for Peter Singer, Jack Kevorkian, Hunter Thompson, the Hemlock Society and a entire subset of our culture seeking death as glorification (unlike the faithful, who treasure life on earth even as they await their "blessed hope." ) Forget about what cruelties Terri may speak of if she would ever speak again, or how far along Michael Schiavo has gone with his own life since Terri all but left it. Terri Schiavo has lived this long because of her parents' hope, which spread from a small group of dedicated Christians to the Vatican, Hollywood and the desks of President and Governor Bush. Terri Schiavo has begun her forced march to death because a man she placed her hope in 15 years ago gave that hope up. That was his right, but I only wish he would let her parents keep theirs.
John Michael Talbot emailed me today. I wanted him to know I gave my copy of his CD "Signatures," (which I received at a concert he gave a year ago) to Terri's family via their spiritual advisor, Father Thaddeus. I mention this only because of Terri's love for music, its use as proof she can respond to her environment, and the comfort the songs on that CD gave me (and will again). JMT was touched that his music could reach that suffering woman, and assured me his community would join in prayer for her. I said only I believed a miracle would happen, and expect one. I say now it could use a great soundtrack.
The battle rages on...talk to you later.
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