Monday, May 02, 2005
Rounding Up Schiavo This Week
THEOLOGY
The nature of the Roman Catholic Church produces some very interesting internal politics. None more so than those covered in this story. I'm not going to comment because not being catholic, it's none of my business, but I personally disagree with the guy featured on some points.
LEGAL
This article is from a lawyer that talks about how well the legal system worked in the situation. I have no doubt the legal system worked very well, but as we all learn in civics class, legal and just are often very different things, and in this case, that fact had deadly consequences.
Which raises a very interesting point. Legally, this case boiled down to the courts choosing who gets to decide. Do we really want justice to be such a personal decision?
This piece from the Navy talks about living wills. It is my understanding that living wills are generally contested, and almost never anticipate the actual circumstances in which one might find oneself, rendering them useless. Legally, it is better to assign someone durable power of attorney to make the decision at the time. Just choose wisely and update often.
This article addresses unintended consequences of legal decisions such as what we have seen.
Just for fun, check out this post revealing the true nature of the Florida judiciary.
POLITICS
Apparently it is all politics, at least based on this duo of articles. Terri Schiavo is no longer a dead person, just an issue, and Bill Frist has seemingly pinned his presidential hopes on it. At least so says this article. Meanwhile, in the Indianapolis Star, Frist is waging war with Jeb Bush over capturing the issue for a White House run. But I thought Jeb said he wasn't running? Well, I grew up in Indianapolis, we always were a little behind. I am alwasy struck by how accusations ususally come from those that are most worhty of them.
This is simply not helpful. Protests are spectacle without action. Better to spend you time working the phones and email on the filibuster.
GET OUT THE HANKIES AND THE OUTRAGE
My Schiavo inspiration Allthings2all reprints a priestly account of Terri's last hours. There is great shame on this nation, great shame.
The nature of the Roman Catholic Church produces some very interesting internal politics. None more so than those covered in this story. I'm not going to comment because not being catholic, it's none of my business, but I personally disagree with the guy featured on some points.
LEGAL
This article is from a lawyer that talks about how well the legal system worked in the situation. I have no doubt the legal system worked very well, but as we all learn in civics class, legal and just are often very different things, and in this case, that fact had deadly consequences.
Which raises a very interesting point. Legally, this case boiled down to the courts choosing who gets to decide. Do we really want justice to be such a personal decision?
This piece from the Navy talks about living wills. It is my understanding that living wills are generally contested, and almost never anticipate the actual circumstances in which one might find oneself, rendering them useless. Legally, it is better to assign someone durable power of attorney to make the decision at the time. Just choose wisely and update often.
This article addresses unintended consequences of legal decisions such as what we have seen.
A 14-year-old girl who claimed she shot her father to death to help him commit suicide has been charged with second-degree murder.When it was trumpeted so loudly int he wake of the Schiavo situation that "people have a choice about how to die," and "Michael should be allowed to carry out his wife's wishes." can you blame a 14-year-old from believing her father when he says "It's OK honey, just shoot me."
Just for fun, check out this post revealing the true nature of the Florida judiciary.
POLITICS
Apparently it is all politics, at least based on this duo of articles. Terri Schiavo is no longer a dead person, just an issue, and Bill Frist has seemingly pinned his presidential hopes on it. At least so says this article. Meanwhile, in the Indianapolis Star, Frist is waging war with Jeb Bush over capturing the issue for a White House run. But I thought Jeb said he wasn't running? Well, I grew up in Indianapolis, we always were a little behind. I am alwasy struck by how accusations ususally come from those that are most worhty of them.
This is simply not helpful. Protests are spectacle without action. Better to spend you time working the phones and email on the filibuster.
GET OUT THE HANKIES AND THE OUTRAGE
My Schiavo inspiration Allthings2all reprints a priestly account of Terri's last hours. There is great shame on this nation, great shame.
