Sam Bridges
The case for Terri
By Sam Bridges
Few events have gripped the nation in recent history as the life-and-death fight surrounding Terri Schiavo. The 41-year old woman has unwittingly become the lightning rod for expressions of both compassion and indifference...for accusations of political opportunism, partisan chicanery, and judicial activism...for the causes either leading to a culture of death or leading to a culture of protection of the most innocent and vulnerable.
In my commentaries, I have been silent on the Terri Schiavo case primarily because I feared this could set a dangerous precedent concerning government intrusion into spousal rights and life-and-death issues. But as I have analyzed the situation more completely and tried to evaluate it in the light of God's Word, my silence shames me.
Michael Schiavo has been attempting to assert his rights and responsibilities as her husband to hasten her death by removing her feeding tube, which is the outcome he claims she discussed with him long before her accident 15 years ago. I find it interesting that he fervently has increasingly claimed these "husbandly" rights and responsibilities when his actions and activities through the years have been totally contrary to those very rights and responsibilities. According to some reports, suspicious circumstances surround Terri's initial injury as well as her ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. He has chosen to live in an adulterous relationship which has produced two children. Am I suggesting that he should not have "gotten on with his life"? Of course not. Few would have faulted him if he had quietly divorced her many years ago and allowed her family to assume the responsibility for her care and therapy. Apart from that, he should have made the more honorable choice by remaining fully married and fully committed to Terri. And yet our society is expected to believe that he is only acting in his wife's best interests. But even if he does have legal rights as her husband (and yes, even husbands of little or no character still have those rights), they still do not usurp a spouse's right to life. Furthermore, I suspect that there would be virtually no issue now if Michael Schiavo had acted in ways which were consistently honorable and through which it had been clear that he had his wife's best interests at heart.
The aspect of this case I find most perplexing has received no coverage in any media outlet or news analysis that I have seen or heard. So-called and self-proclaimed "women's advocates" groups are unusually and eerily silent on this issue. I visited the website for the National Organization For Women, expecting to see coverage of the case or at least a statement of their position. To my surprise, there wasn't one word about Terri Schiavo on the entire site. Not one word. Similarly, I made the same assumption about the Center for Women Policy Studies, but was shocked to find the exact same coverage...none. Another attempt took me to the Feminist Majority Foundation's website. Nothing. When I was perusing the website for the People for the American Way, I was hopeful when my search produced two results. I was hopeful, that is, until I realized those two hits were nothing more than alarmist references to articles and action alerts from the Center for Reclaiming America and the American Center for Law and Justice, both on PFAW's "Right Wing Watch" page.
Based on the alleged purposes of these organizations to speak for women and to champion the cause of women (with the possible exception of PFAW which is ultra-liberal in all issues, not just women's issues), I am perplexed that they wouldn't even breathe a word about the Schiavo case. If there were ever a woman who needed a champion, I believe that woman would be Terri Schiavo. If there were ever a woman who could be interpreted as being mistreated by a man and a system which may not have her best interests at heart, that woman could be Terri Schiavo.
What could possibly cause these organizations to miss a perfect chance to speak out on women's issues, or at least seize an opportunity to attack Republicans and conservatives? Could it be that they believe so strongly in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman that they are silent on this issue? To say the least, that's not likely considering their views on men and marriage. Could it be that they do not believe Ms. Schiavo is in need of their assistance? Again, that's unlikely when the case is viewed in the context of the circumstances surrounding Ms. Schiavo's initial injury and her long-term condition. I believe a more likely reason...perhaps the only reason...that these organizations can't bear to even whisper Terri's name is that this case contradicts their extremist views and agendas which are zealously attempting to reduce our culture to one of self-righteousness and death at any cost and in the guise of personal rights.
When there are so many questions about her choices, the circumstances surrounding her injury and condition, and the intentions of those responsible for her, we must err on the side of life and be silent no longer. Anything less may well be culture-endorsed and state-sponsored murder of our most innocent and most vulnerable. But, then again, our culture and state have become much more comfortable with that position and business thanks to the abortion industry.
© Sam Bridges
Few events have gripped the nation in recent history as the life-and-death fight surrounding Terri Schiavo. The 41-year old woman has unwittingly become the lightning rod for expressions of both compassion and indifference...for accusations of political opportunism, partisan chicanery, and judicial activism...for the causes either leading to a culture of death or leading to a culture of protection of the most innocent and vulnerable.
In my commentaries, I have been silent on the Terri Schiavo case primarily because I feared this could set a dangerous precedent concerning government intrusion into spousal rights and life-and-death issues. But as I have analyzed the situation more completely and tried to evaluate it in the light of God's Word, my silence shames me.
Michael Schiavo has been attempting to assert his rights and responsibilities as her husband to hasten her death by removing her feeding tube, which is the outcome he claims she discussed with him long before her accident 15 years ago. I find it interesting that he fervently has increasingly claimed these "husbandly" rights and responsibilities when his actions and activities through the years have been totally contrary to those very rights and responsibilities. According to some reports, suspicious circumstances surround Terri's initial injury as well as her ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. He has chosen to live in an adulterous relationship which has produced two children. Am I suggesting that he should not have "gotten on with his life"? Of course not. Few would have faulted him if he had quietly divorced her many years ago and allowed her family to assume the responsibility for her care and therapy. Apart from that, he should have made the more honorable choice by remaining fully married and fully committed to Terri. And yet our society is expected to believe that he is only acting in his wife's best interests. But even if he does have legal rights as her husband (and yes, even husbands of little or no character still have those rights), they still do not usurp a spouse's right to life. Furthermore, I suspect that there would be virtually no issue now if Michael Schiavo had acted in ways which were consistently honorable and through which it had been clear that he had his wife's best interests at heart.
The aspect of this case I find most perplexing has received no coverage in any media outlet or news analysis that I have seen or heard. So-called and self-proclaimed "women's advocates" groups are unusually and eerily silent on this issue. I visited the website for the National Organization For Women, expecting to see coverage of the case or at least a statement of their position. To my surprise, there wasn't one word about Terri Schiavo on the entire site. Not one word. Similarly, I made the same assumption about the Center for Women Policy Studies, but was shocked to find the exact same coverage...none. Another attempt took me to the Feminist Majority Foundation's website. Nothing. When I was perusing the website for the People for the American Way, I was hopeful when my search produced two results. I was hopeful, that is, until I realized those two hits were nothing more than alarmist references to articles and action alerts from the Center for Reclaiming America and the American Center for Law and Justice, both on PFAW's "Right Wing Watch" page.
Based on the alleged purposes of these organizations to speak for women and to champion the cause of women (with the possible exception of PFAW which is ultra-liberal in all issues, not just women's issues), I am perplexed that they wouldn't even breathe a word about the Schiavo case. If there were ever a woman who needed a champion, I believe that woman would be Terri Schiavo. If there were ever a woman who could be interpreted as being mistreated by a man and a system which may not have her best interests at heart, that woman could be Terri Schiavo.
What could possibly cause these organizations to miss a perfect chance to speak out on women's issues, or at least seize an opportunity to attack Republicans and conservatives? Could it be that they believe so strongly in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman that they are silent on this issue? To say the least, that's not likely considering their views on men and marriage. Could it be that they do not believe Ms. Schiavo is in need of their assistance? Again, that's unlikely when the case is viewed in the context of the circumstances surrounding Ms. Schiavo's initial injury and her long-term condition. I believe a more likely reason...perhaps the only reason...that these organizations can't bear to even whisper Terri's name is that this case contradicts their extremist views and agendas which are zealously attempting to reduce our culture to one of self-righteousness and death at any cost and in the guise of personal rights.
When there are so many questions about her choices, the circumstances surrounding her injury and condition, and the intentions of those responsible for her, we must err on the side of life and be silent no longer. Anything less may well be culture-endorsed and state-sponsored murder of our most innocent and most vulnerable. But, then again, our culture and state have become much more comfortable with that position and business thanks to the abortion industry.
© Sam Bridges
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