February 18, 2005
Terri Schiavo, Million-Dollar Baby and the future
I think the best way to explain our culture is simply saying, “We misunderstand the value of Life.” This year we are getting front-row seats to the rise of a new way of valuing our lives: our productivity.
In the past, life was valued as an immensely important reality – Thomas Jefferson wrote that we all have the freedom to live. But now his beliefs are being destroyed by a society that only values production, not life. In Terri Schiavo’s case, a judge has decided she should die, although there is (a) no evidence she wants to die, and (b) no precedent that suicide is a “right” or an acceptable form of behavior. In the past, a doctor would be indicted for killing a patient and violating the Hippocratic Oath. In today’s world, a judge can order a doctor to do just that and not even a government can step in to stop it.
What stuns me is that we ignore the witness of other countries. Look to the Netherlands for the results of legalized euthanasia: the end-game is the ability of a doctor to determine whether you should live or die. In that country a doctor can now kill a sick child without the parent’s assent; Is this the America you want to live in?
And yet, we have Clint Eastwood standing up for those would kill Terri Schiavo in Million-Dollar, Baby. To make it worse, Clint Eastwood dresses up characters as Christians and insinuates that the loving thing to do is kill those who cannot produce; like Nietzsche, he is redefining “good” to suit his evil ends. And, shamefully, he is pretending like those who are good would agree with him (and he is deceptively advertising his movie, but that’s another post).
Right now a court battle surrounds Terri Schiavo’s right to live. But the national media ignores it. To date bloggers have worked voraciously to stop mistruth and injustice in other cases; how much more should we be doing to stop an innocent woman’s death? A woman whose only crime is a disability – does this make her less worth fighting for?
If we fight for Terri Schiavo we must also work to change a culture the values life in terms of productivity – a materialistic bent that can literally destroy you or your children in the future. This is a tragic situation, but more that just the life of one woman, we are watching a judicial system hellbent on destroying us all.
Pray for Terri Schiavo. Pray for our country. And then do something.
God bless,
Jay
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Jay ~
I don't think people realize what a dangerous step this is. If a conscious and aware woman is killed because she unable to communicate, who's next?
Posted by: Janette at February 19, 2005 10:45 PMDeath, in some circumstances, is mericful. There are struggles worse than death, and what must be considered is that Terri Schiavo may be suffering them now. I cannot judge whether Michael Schiavo is acting in selfishness, or whether Terri has received proper care, I also cannot judge whether or not Terri would wish to be kept alive in the condition in which she now is. I do know that put in a cirucmstance like Terri's I would want to die.
Posted by: Tegan Gaetano at March 26, 2005 04:58 PMI would just like to add that only God creates life and only God can take it away. When people interfere with God's laws it is considered an abomination. Only our Father in Heaven knows the entire situation and what is in the hearts of men. We should leave it to him to decide when Terri or anyone else for that matter will pass away. It is not up to Judges or courts to decide when someone will live or die.
The day will come when those that interfere with God's plans will have to answer for their sins.
It is such a comfort to me knowing this, that those who commit sins will have to pay dearly.
Dr.Death is serving time in prison for the very same thing Michael Schiavo did "legally" to his wife. She was not terminally ill and dying. Think about it.
Posted by: Del at March 31, 2005 01:51 PM
