A decision to not take a case just means that the SCOTUS will allow the lower courts ruling to stand, it doesn't neccessarily mean they have ruled on the merits of the case itself.

The court, when finding fact in this case should not be the representitive for her either.

She should have received (and if Florida law didn't provide this, then in the future anyone in this situation where there is disagreement between family members and nothing in writing) an independent representative.

Her guardian ad litem in the original case did recomend against the removal of the tube.

The most recent guardian ad litem recomended that a permanent guardian ad litem be appointed.

That has been one of the things I have felt was wrong from the begining, was that Terri never had anyone solely representing her interests in all of this. And as perfect as you may think Michael Schiavo is, the facts are that when he chose to remove the feeding tube, there was 700k in the bank and he had a girlfriend who he said he intended to marry once Terri was dead (that was in the GAL's report not some website set up with propganda).

In other words, you are "troubled by the fact" that you have heard a ton of crap from the right-wing noise machine which is not true. The fact is that Terri was represented by third parties as guardian ad litem and had ample advocacy for her own best interest.

Trouble is, we've seen more than enough examples over the past five years that Florida's courts -- especially SCOFLA, which I've been told established a precedent allowing Greer to rule as he did -- don't give a rat's ass for legislative intent even when it's spelled out in flaming nine-foot-tall letters.

Actually the "right to die/kill" aspect of this case hasn't even dragged on for more than 10 years. It has been about 7-8 years. Michael Schiavo didn't even request the feeding tube be removed until 1997. At that point is when it went to court.

I don't think it is fair to charactarize the judges involved in this case as "activism" although in other areas the case could certainly be made. But in this one, while I disagree with the trial judges conclusions (I don't think it was proved by clear and convincing evidence that Terri wanted to die, and I am also troubled by the fact that in this case there was never a permanently appointed representative/attorney to advocate for Terri only-I am also troubled by the fact the fact that Michael lives with another woman, who he said he intended to marry after Terri was dead, and whom he now has children with is the one making these decisions), I don't think he acted or decided outside what the law allows.

I think where the real weakness in this case lies is within the laws for how they decide situations like this where you have a severely brain damaged person on a feeding tube with no written directive and a disagreement among family members as to what her wishes were. These situations are actually pretty rare (most times in these situtions, the family members do agree on what the incapacitated person desired), but there should be some way to better protect the interests of the person who can't speak for themselves than how it was done in this case.

That issue is something the Florida legislature has to solve. The easiest thing they could do, is require that an indpendant attorney representing the disabled person be appointed for the entire court proccess.

The lot of you Jesuslanders need to step back and check yourselves. 83% of people in the USA Today poll believe that Schiavo wants to die, and that Congress is wrong to intervene. You need to figure out why you are in the far right exteme on this issue.

Furthermore, slandering people doesn't improve your case. There is NO credible information that Mr. Schiavo abused his wife. I could write a program to automatically produce that horse shit they publish at WorldNetDaily. Take note:

"Grant Thomas abuse scandal investigation covered up

WorldNetDaily Exclusive

Will Grant Thomas be brought to justice? WorldNetDaily has learned that the FBI investigation into the abuses committed by Grant Thomas has been killed by someone high up in the Justice Department. Allegations first surfaced last week regarding evidence that Thomas is a life-long wife beater. A respected pathologist in New York told WorldNetDaily he had examined videotape of Mr. Thomas's wife, and is convinced Thomas repeatedly slammed her head into an iron beam.

"There is no doubt in my mind that this woman was beaten," said the pathologist, who requested his name not be used.

But informants at the FBI have told WorldNetDaily that the investigation of this horrible crime has been "stonewalled." According to sources, the file for the investigation has been marked "Unsubtantiated" by an unknown supervisor, despite the convinving testimony of Mrs. Thomas's parents and caretakers.

Etc etc etc. You get the point yet?

would you also avow that one round of appeals is sufficient in death-row cases?

if so, that would sure let states execute more murderers, 'cause right now it takes 20+ years and DOZENS of appeals to execute a murderer.

or do you - like glenn reynolds - just favor less appeals for heartbroken mothers than you think is adeqaute for murderers?

First, it is interesting to note that while the Roman Catholic Church
teaches a moral obligation to supply nutrition/hydration in these cases,
even as one may withdraw all other med technologies, they are the
exception. Orthodoxy and Anglicanism (Lambeth 1998) allow for withdrawal
of all medical technologies, including in persistent vegetative states.
Most protestant churches, and Anglicanism is the exception, have no
coherent teachings and vary from pastor to pastor. And of course the Bible
says nothing about feeding tubes, does it?

Ponder this: Why has the religious/evangelical right joined itself (I
think uncritically) to the Roman Catholic position? It's quite curious. I
think it is rooted in frustration with our courts plus a shared belief that
a culture of death is on the rise. However, notwithstanding the pro-life
alliance between evangelicals and Roman Catholics, it is fascinating to see
this evolution.

Next, note how the Republicans orchestrated a terribly cheezy piece of
legislation to placate their base. And note how the dems helped them do
so. They win, because they both avoid criticism by RC constituencies for
being anti-life, AND they get to watch the Republicans alienated some 80%
of the voters. Amazing.

Add to all of this the bewildering array of scurrilous attacks going both
ways. Parents are accused of advocating the murder of abortion docs.
Husband accused of strangling and otherwise abusing Terri, plus of wanting
the money, now largely spent. Greer is accused (and it is true) of taking
a campaign donation from the husband's attorney the day after he made his
decision, in May. The parents' case gets stranger by the hour. Now we're
supposed to believe that by uttering the syllables "ahh" "waa" she was
saying "I want to live." Well, maybe she was saying "I want to die". Who
the hell knows?

What a mess.

John

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Peter Pflaum pflaump@ucnsb.net
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 13:36:15 -0500
To: frjohn@mystandrews.com, FrJim@stpetersnet.net,
trophyhunt@bellsouth.net, frjohn@mystandrews.org
Subject: Emailing: article

WorldNetDaily: Terri's money used to pay for starvation deathThis is quite
wild - it is so far from the "mainstream" as is Delay and the hard right -
so unkind - so mean - so unchristian - This extremism will be it's undoing
- when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he quoted two
commands from the books of Moses: "Love the Lord your God will all your
heart and with all your soul and with all our mind" (Deuteronomy 6:5) and
"Love your neighbor as you love yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). Not only did
Jesus identify the most important commands but he also revealed that all of
the writings of the Law and the Prophets depended on these commands. Given
that these two sentences are the foundation of all that God chose to reveal
through Moses and the prophets, certainly they deserve a considerable
amount of our attention. Without in any way trying to diminish the
importance of the first command, I would like to focus on the second -

SATURDAY
MARCH 26
2005

The biggest casualty in this case, is the compassion that Terri Schiavo's parents represent, - for the right of one woman to live out her life, and die. - Instead the hope in Terri Schiavo's life, the hope of life itself, is now being taken away, removed by the very people who should care about her the most, her husband and relatives, and by the state, who thinks itself so lofty as to be able to decide who lives and dies, when life and hope could still be preserved.

Thank God for the stubbornness of Terri Schiavo's parents, who will be remembered for this because of their relentless will to pursue life and to save life where death looms nearby. It may so be that Terri Schiavo has little life as it is, in a vegetative state, - but no one really knows what goes on inside her mind, - and every benefit of the doubt, that Terri Schiavo might infact have some inner life still that needs preserving, because of its own right to exist, should be respected and granted.

In the event of Terri Schiavo's death, she will be remembered as the silent martyr, in a case of the furthering of the will of everyone around her. Whether or not her own will is honored, will always remain a mystery, shrouded in the dark clouds of the bitter conflicts revolving around this fragile persons right to exist for as long as that might or might not be. Everyone should have the right to live out their lives, until every hope has perished, - however fragile it may be. And hope should never be quenched like it is being done in Terri Schiavo's case. When we forget the value of this, we degrade our morality, - a morality which defines the ethical basis of our society. In essence we degrade ourselves.

These are only my opinions given the input of the world at large.

I unfortunately, not having the issue's resolution
fully disolved in my own right have to agree at every point.

I am a retired 100% disabled verteran. I have came closer than I personally know, to each of the questions that have risen in many facets beyond the average persons' normale life. I can only hope and pray though I know it will not bare out, that no other has to endure any of these questions.

Along with that I would like to add, if there was any grounds legally recognised crime, of which I believe near the begin it was raised then that is what should have been dogged. That has proven not to be the case, which leaves most to believe it was merely a straw and had no relevant foundation. Mr. Schiavo's actions prior and after have proven out by the parents' own admission most points until lately. Once again resorting to grasping at straws.

I feel that there was strong error on the parts of special interest on all sides to further their agenda/$$$, and at no point did either side let the tradgedy of life get up and say "Yes, there is tradgedy. Some times small and sometimes great, but YES there is TRADGEDY... we call this living and life it self". Instead they insisted at even such a religious time to invoke their agenda regardless of who else would pay for it. These acts may not point to who has religion, but it will be hard fought to prove otherwise of who doesn't have religion after sticking hteir heads so far above all else.

Please, let us not follow the events with further adgendas that I see highly likely to proceed. Maybe after a break, maybe not.

Those directly concerned have lived a large part of there life emersed in such lifestyle. Then it was not subdued, but put upon the nation and world.

This is/was a very personal thing that should never have been brought to the head like it has. I feel sure that it will cost us all in some way, some time. It is as sure as science of math and balance is, and that is what this case has lacked.