Terry Schaivo

Here we are March 23rd, 2005 and the buzz is all about one woman and weather she should live or die. This woman (Terry Schiavo) had a severe heart attack fifteen years ago. Since then she has been in a state that many would consider invalid. All of Terry’s vital functions are self-sustaining. In other words there is no artificial life support. Terry lives in a hospice where she relies on others to bath her, to dress her and most importantly to love her. She is completely dependant on others. Terry’s state is one where her ability to communicate is almost non-existent, and many would argue weather or not she is able to recognize her family and understand her condition and surroundings. A videotape of her shows her ability to do simple things like follow a balloon and smile. What does someone do in this situation? The key thing that she cannot do is feed herself. Someone must feed her. Here in is where the problem lies, or so they say.

There are those who believe that she should be allowed to die. And in fact if she could talk and express her wishes she would not want to live in this state. Then there are those who believe while her abilities are greatly diminished that she should be kept alive. Right now Terry’s fate is in the hands of the courts and as of this writing a feeding tube has been removed and she is being starved to death.

What would you do as a family member or as a husband to this woman? What is the roll of society in this woman’s life? Most importantly, what is right, what is the moral thing to do in this situation? Wisdom is knowing and acting.

I believe there is a moral precedent for our society that has waxed strong in our short existence of 200 plus years. To protect those who are weak, to defend the downtrodden, to taken in the orphan, to provide for the widow, to love the brokenhearted, and to set the captives free, and in this case, to err on the side of caution and feed Terry. Here is why.

In our constitution it states that each citizen has the inalienable right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” from our Creator. The beginning of these things is the right to “life.” Without that the others cannot exist. The government and its citizens must prefer one another above themselves and serve one another. Are not public officials charged with the task of serving? This is the basic and fundamental foundation of our nation. Without a commitment to this simple truth, our nation will crumble. In my opinion, it’s already begun.

What is more important at this moment is that we have been and continue to be on a slippery slope that is so difficult to get off. In order for judges, lawmakers and the like to make decisions such as the Terry Schiavo’s case they must conclude what is a valid life and what is not. Today courts are deciding that Terry must die. In their minds they likely think Terry is invalid, her husband certainly does while her parents do not. The problem with this situation is that definitions are constantly changing. Look in the dictionary one hundred years ago and choose a word. Now find a modern dictionary and look up that same word. You will find that the meaning has changed. A good dictionary will include the original meaning, but the word now is not limited to the original meaning. Now we take that same thought process and apply it to the life of an individual. Today someone like Terry could likely be considered an invalid life and she should be left to die. In ten or twenty years what will be the definition of an invalid person be? Perhaps the definition would be expanded to include those who suffer from Alzimers, dementia, or senility. Another ten years and it could be expanded to include those who still are in their right mind but are aged and cannot do for themselves and would normally, by today’s standards, need assisted living care. Beyond that, the term could include those who are not able to work. See the pattern? You may say “that is ridiculous,” but I will argue it is possible and probable if we continue with this trend. I would not be surprised if a solution to deal with the “Social Security crisis” would be to eliminate certain individuals that are deemed “invalid” and are a drain on the system.

It was only back in the 1930’s and 1940’s where Adolph Hitler and his dream of the Arian Race started with similar circumstances. Not only was there the slippery slope of persecuting the Jews, but also the extermination of those deemed “imperfect.” These imperfect people would include the mentally and physically handicapped, those who had any obvious physical disfigurement such as a cleft pallet or blindness. It even went as far as to include those who did not have the correct eye and hair color! Today we know for a fact that those with handicaps are in many cases contributing members of our society.

At least once a week I go into a WaWa convenience store and there is a girl with Downs Syndrome working diligently as one who keeps the coffee pots full. She often will be the first to say “good morning.” I work with a young man who has M.S. but is intelligent and is going to college studying to become a grade-school teacher. Even for those who suffer with afflictions that are more severe, they still demonstrate acts of love and kindness and often bring joy into our lives. For Terry, while she needs constant care, it brings joy to her parents and siblings to love her and care for her daily. What acts of selflessness!

Perhaps that is the greater issue at hand. Everyone is so busy with their own lives that when another becomes inconvenient, it’s time to discard them. Many have become so consumed with their own happiness and pursuit of positions that the bottom line is the most important. The only problem is this is an insatiable desire that cannot be filled by money or things. When ones focus is on themselves, it quickly becomes a vicious cycle that will only lead to a total consummation of themselves.

What is the solution to this mess? It is simple. We must remember that each person is a human being, a person who has a heart and one who has a soul. This person is someone who feels pain, who cries when they are sad and can also have tears of joy. This is a person when treated with true dignity and respect will be cared for, loved and not terminated when they become inconvenient. This is a person we will choose to put above ourselves and to serve. We must choose to think of others and err on the side of life or our nation will continue to deteriorate.


Tim Truman