Brutally Honest

Michael Schiavo - a pig to the end

Schiavo's Parents Denied Access At Moment Of Death:

"Unfortunately just 10 or so minutes before she died we were told we would have to leave the room because there would be an assessment of her condition and then a visitation by Michael," Frank Pavone said.

Bobby Schindler, her brother said, "We want to be in the room when she dies," Pavone said.

"Michael Schiavo said, 'No, you cannot," Pavone said "So his heartless cruelty continues until the very last moment."

Once Schiavo passed away, the immediate family was allowed back into Schiavo's room to give her a final embrace, according to the report.

"This is not only a death with all of the sadness that it brings, this is a killing," Pavone said. "And for that we not only grieve that Terri has passed but we grieve the nation has allowed such an atrocity as this and we pray that it will never happen again."

God rest Terri's soul, may God have mercy on Michael's (though I say that absent any real genuineness).

UPDATE: David Limbaugh is catching some of the same flak I'm catching... the notion that we're "judging" Michael Schiavo:

Some of the pro-death forces have e-mailed me and chastised me for "judging" Michael Schiavo in my various columns and blog posts. I didn't really think I was being too judgmental toward Michael in my writings, just pointing out his obvious conflict of interest and other allegations that raise numerous troubling questions. But now that you mention it, I do believe this guy is just -- how shall we say it? -- not one of the good guys. Whatever else you want to say about him, this man is a cold, cold customer. Every health care provider involved in Terri's care that I heard addressing the matter on TV or radio volunteered that Michael was a mean, controlling S.O.B. Even one nurse who treated Terri (in 1993, I think) that thought she was in a PVS, said that Michael was a cruel man who lies a lot.

There's more, so much more, indicating this guy's heartlessness, but I other than his orchestration of this healthy woman's death, I don't think anything demonstrates his objective, haunting coldness, than his refusal today to let Michael's parents and siblings to be with Terri in her final moments of life. If any liberal or other pro-death activist wants to lecture me about judging Michael without sufficient knowledge, I'll vigorously point to this one soulless act in refusing his family to be with her at the end. If I were them I don't know how I could possibly turn the other cheek on that one -- though I know I would be called to do so.

MORE:  I'm now hearing that Schiavo will not allow the Schindler's to attend Terri's funeral in Pennsylvania.  But of course, there are those who will rationalize this behavior in one way or another and consider it judgment to discern that this is merely more evidence to support the man's being a genuine pig.

Terri Schiavo FAQ's

Working longer than I'd like of late so blogging has been minimal but wanted to quickly send Brutally Honest readers over to John Hawkins who has many links providing answers to a number of questions about this case:

When and how was Terri Schiavo injured?

Was Terri Schiavo beaten by her husband?

Did Michael Schiavo provide rehabilitation for his wife?

Has Michael Schiavo dated other women since his wife's injuries?

What happened to cause the split between Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers?

Did Terri Schiavo say she wanted to die if she were in this condition?

Is Terri Schiavo in a persistent vegetative state?

Go now and become informed.

'Please give my child back'

From MSNBC:

As Terri Schiavo spent a 12th day without food or water, her parents held a brief news conference Tuesday night to plead with their son-in-law to allow her feeding tube to be reinserted.

"Michael and Jody, you have your own children," Mary Schindler said, referring to Michael Schiavo and his partner of a decade. "Please give my child back to me," she said as her husband, Bob Schindler stood next to her.

What kind of heartless... bastard... would ignore a mother's plea?  I think we know...  and I think this site documents it for us quite nicely:

We are placing some of the documents here to help the public find some of the most important documents. Some of these files are quite large, but they are ALL extremely important and worth reviewing. Please share these files with others. Let others know what these ORIGINAL source documents say. They contain testimony from those who know Terri and/or Michael Schiavo directly. They completely obliterate the picture of Terri presented in the major media. They completely obliterate the testimony of Michael Schiavo, who contradicted himself many times, even when sworn to tell the truth!

The site is certainly worth checking out, I only wish members of the MSM would do so... and thank Marlene for the tip.

What I see as good news today is this surprising tid-bit, also found in the MSNBC piece:

Underlining the national focus on the case, the Rev. Jesse Jackson met with the Schindlers on Tuesday and prayed for Terri Schiavo, calling her impending death “an injustice.”

Joining the conservatives who have rallied to the parents’ cause, the liberal Jackson said he would call state senators who opposed legislation that would have reinserted Schiavo’s feeding tube and ask them to reconsider.

Jackson’s arrival was greeted by some applause and cries of “This is about civil rights.”

“I feel so passionate about this injustice being done, how unnecessary it is to deny her a feeding tube, water, not even ice to be used for her parched lips,” said Jackson, who has run for president as a Democrat. “This is a moral issue and it transcends politics and family disputes.”

Color me surprised... and pleasantly so...

More glaring objectivity on the Schiavo case

As Terri Schiavo deals in her final moments with death's brutal bias, we all should, for the sake of truth and justice, do all we can to make known that bias which has in many ways contributed to her current worsening condition.

GetReligion's Doug LeBlanc is doing his part. 

LeBlanc points to an incredible display of raw prejudice, this AP story that focuses on William Cheshire's 'disqualifying' ties to his Christian faith, ties that are cause for outright dismissal of his neurological views that would keep Terri alive while neurologist Ronald Cranford's ties to organizations supporting euthanasia are completely ignored.  Cranford is on record stating "there isn't a reputable, credible neurologist in the world who won't find her in a vegetative state" yet that is tame when compared to his views supporting the starvation of Alzheimer patients.

Three things you should do in my view.

1. Read LeBlanc's piece in it's entirety.
2. Pass that story on to a number of your family and friends.
3. Ask them to do 1 and 2.

Will you?

"He is not here!"

"Only Jesus Knew the Score"   
      

When they sang the Hymn that evening,
Only Jesus knew the score...
Those glad and joyful verses,
Hid the pain that was in store.

Jesus saw the torture coming...
The crown of  thorns pressed on his head;
He knew the mocking and the scourging,
Even as He broke the Bread.

He saw The Cross and Roman soldiers;
He understood those painful signs,
That the Prophets had once spoken...
Even as He poured the wine.

He knew well there at The Table,
Of the wicked heart of man....
He saw clearly Calv'ry's bloodshed,
And nails driven through His hands.

He knew the pain, the spit, the laughing...
He knew the spear would pierce his side;
He knew death by crucifixion,
Was how Messiah had to die.

He'd be the stone that was rejected;
He saw the writing on the wall.
He'd soon know the painful suff'ring...
As He obeyed The Father's call.

                *******

Yet Jesus saw beyond the torture,
Past the insult and the pain...
Beyond the mocking and the jeering,
The twisted heart of men insane.

So He sang this Hymn with gladness,
For soon the ransom would be paid!
God's Unleavened Bread provided...
This was the day the LORD had made!

The Covenant once promised...
The Hope of Blessing long foretold...
Would be "cut" in bloody crimson,
At last, in Christ, it would unfold.

And so Death would now Passover
Those whose Faith lies in The Lamb.
Ancient Promise made to Abram*...
Firstfruit spoils Satanic Scam.

So the Gate to Life and Glory,
Would swing open now for all...
And through Faith all men might enter
God the Father's Banquet Hall!**

Christ knew death could never keep Him...
Though He knew it lay ahead.
Resurrection frees the captives;
Taste this Wine and Broken Bread.

Friend, please come now to His Table...
It's still the Day the Lord has made!
Sing Hosannah in the highest!
Rejoice!...The debt we owe...He paid!

*Genesis 12:1-3
**Luke 14: 15-24
   

Thanks Tom!

Seeing Terri Schiavo where she is not...

... that's pretty much my problem now... I need to step away, I can't imagine what her family is going through.

I visited Real Live Preacher this afternoon, enjoying his latest writings, these centered on his daughters.  They're well worth your time, great reads as usual.

But there was one phrase that jumped out of me in this RLP piece, where the Preacher speaks to the cruelty middle (and high) school girls can unleash on other girls who don't fit their mold of what an "in" girl ought to be.  In this story, RLP writes:

"It was like watching the hyenas cut one gazelle out from the herd and take her down."

In an instant, I thought of Terri.  Doesn't that phrase cut to the heart of what is happening in Clearwater Florida?  I certainly think so.

Why should Terri live?

I've been advised via e-mail that I've not posted reasons for my decision to support Bob and Mary Schindler's efforts to save their daughter Terri.

In that same e-mail, the "antics of this administration" were called into question.  I suppose the "antics" would include the efforts by Congress to save Terri's life and the effort by President Bush to sign their bill into law.

Why is there support to see Terri's feeding tube re-inserted?  Why should Terri live?

As I was leaving the office for lunch yesterday, in the hallway, waiting to see an eye doctor whose practice is on the same floor, was a little boy in a wheelchair.  Not just any wheelchair but a mechanized one with a directional toggle on the arm, allowing the contraption to be moved in any direction with little effort.

The boy was clearly handicapped.  Pale, skinny, with thick glasses, and wrists bent that led to hands with fingers askew, giving evidence that the little guy was far from... normal.  I gave him a quick glance and moved on, not really thinking about him until I began to ponder the emailer's question to me.  Why should Terri live?

This little boy required much effort I'm sure on the part of a loved one to ready him for the day.  I can't imagine him being able to eat on his own, to be able to dress himself, or clean himself or do much of anything on his own absent the ability he clearly had to maneuver that wheelchair.

Why should he live?

I think back to my days some years ago when I regularly delivered meals to the indigent.  There was one couple who's husband always answered the door.  His wife (I assumed she was his wife) could be seen near the door in her chair.  Every day he would take the meals from me and then help feed his wife.  She apparently could not eat on her own.  He was, in effect, her feeding tube.

Why should she live?

I used to occasionally visit nursing homes as part of a local ministry.  Often there would be residents who required assistance and care from others.  Whether it be eating or the more humiliating act of cleaning up after relieving themselves, there were those who couldn't exist on their own, who were dependent upon others, whose existence required the presence of caring people.

Why should they live?

Terri Schiavo can breathe on her own.  Terri Schiavo requires no Ventricular Assist System that keeps her heart functioning.  She is not on 'life support' as some in the media have erroneously reported.  She does require feeding.  As does the little boy in the wheelchair.  Or the elderly woman with the loving husband.  Or the residents in nursing homes across the country.

Why should Terri live?

Because she epitomizes the least of these. 

Because her mother and father want her to. 

Because her so called husband left her for dead when he chose to bear two children with the woman he goes home to nightly, the woman he's been with for a decade or more.

Because Terri is a human being. 

Because she's made in the image of God. 

Because it's right.

So I've now posted my thoughts, delivered roughly, as to why she should live.

The bigger question in my mind, is why should she be starved and dehydrated to death?

Anyone?

UPDATE: Tony Woodlief, whose ability to write I sinfully envy, has his own response worthy of reading entirely.  Here's his conclusion:

There will be many tears when Terri Schiavo breathes her last. Some will be genuine, some will be fake, some will be hysterically generated by people who have overly invested their emotions in someone else's tragedy. Then most of us will move on. You and I will go back to our lives, Michael Schiavo will go back to his new woman and kids, his attorneys back to their other clients. But Bob and Mary Schindler will be left without a daughter, and they will know that it might have been different.

MORE: Thomas Sowell, no intellectual lightweight, not so easily dismissed (as I might be) by the ivory tower elites, has an opinion or two:

If the tragic case of Terri Schiavo shows nothing else, it shows how easily "the right to die" can become the right to kill. It is hard to believe that anyone, regardless of their position on euthanasia, would have chosen the agony of starvation and dehydration as the way to end someone's life.

A New York Times headline on March 20th tried to assure us: "Experts Say Ending Feeding Can Lead to a Gentle Death" but you can find experts to say anything. In a December 2, 2002 story in the same New York Times, people starving in India were reported as dying, "often clutching pained stomachs."

No murderer would be allowed to be killed this way, which would almost certainly be declared "cruel and unusual punishment," in violation of the Constitution, by virtually any court.

Terri Schiavo's only crime is that she has become an inconvenience -- and is caught in the merciless machinery of the law. Those who think law is the answer to our problems need to face the reality that law is a crude and blunt instrument.

Make no mistake about it, Terri Schiavo is being killed. She is not being "allowed to die."

Are there other "liberals" who want Terri to live?

Marlene, via e-mail:

I’m a registered Independent, which means, to me, that I refuse to pledge my allegiance to either the Republican or the Democratic party.  I try to be as fair and objective in my opinions as I can, always trying to place myself in the other person’s place.  However, I’m usually more on the liberal side, more spiritual than religious, and I'm appalled at what is happening to Terri. I'm very curious as to whether there are other "liberals" such as myself who feel this way. If so, then this fact is either unknown by the media or is purposely being withheld in furtherance of an assertion that this is a “religious right, red state” issue.  To me, this is an American issue that potentially affects every citizen of this country and a Constitutional issue because a person’s 14th Amendment rights are clearly being violated.

As there are so many glaring questions in this case, rather than take the media's word for it, I’ve tried to research facts for myself, which at best, has been frustrating.  We’re entering the Easter holiday, and ironically, this is a “bunny” case if I’ve ever seen one.

It’s a “bunny” case because conflicting issues in this case multiply like bunnies.  It seems that every time I try to find the answer to one question, all it does it lead to another question, which multiples into a litter of grandquestions, followed very quickly by great-grandquestions. For example, I found it confusing that Terri’s been in a hospice for so long, since I always thought that was a very temporary, end-of-life place for someone. I then go on to discover that Michael's lawyer was on the board of directors of this hospice. But that's only after I find sworn affidavits of a couple of the nurses who claimed that she could talk and swallow and show happiness and fear (immediately after a visit with Michael). When they reported this to authorities, they were fired. When they went to the police, they were ignored. 

What seems to be clear is that if she really is in such poor condition today, it's because of Michael's help. Reminds me of the guy who killed both of his parents and then threw himself on the mercy of the court because he's an orphan.

This is also a “bunny” case because Terri is the human equivalent of the Ever-Ready Bunny.  She keeps going and going and going.  This woman apparently has an incredibly strong will to live, and she's survived this long in SPITE of Michael, not because of him. She survived years of being refused antibiotics for infections, of being denied sunshine and fresh air, of being denied dental care in the apparent hope that a dental infection in conjunction with her heart problem would cause death, and she's survived all of that. It's been a week since she's been without food or water.

Judge Greer's decisions are based solely on very questionable hearsay evidence that this is what Terri wants. He called Governor Bush a liar when the Governor tried to intervene based on new evidence that Terri had been neglected and that there is now doubt into whether or not she's been misdiagnosed. The judge responded by saying, "The requested intervention ... appears to be brought for the purpose of circumventing the courts' final judgment…” 

I’m not sure what to say to that, other than DUH, JUDGE.  And we would like to circumvent your final judgment because it was based purely on hearsay regarding her wishes, as well as accepting a set of facts based on a medical condition that may in fact NOT be her true medical condition.  Damn right we want to circumvent that.  If she were a death row inmate and new evidence emerged on the eve of execution, that criminal would be worth a second look.  Why not Terri?

The liberal side of me says that religion and government should not mix, and my reason for feeling that way is that each person of a different religious persuasion should be free to worship as he or she chooses without overt government preference to one religion.

Which is exactly why I think religion IS an important element of this case because if Terri follows a religious doctrine that does NOT believe in starving someone to death (Catholicism), then her federal right to freedom of religion is being violated, as well as the myriad of other things that are just WRONG with this case.  And how can Michael assert that he’s Terri’s husband when, for all intents and purposes, he’s taken another wife?  How can his loyalty possibly lie with Terri when another woman has replaced her in his life? 

Just what IS Judge Greer's, Felos' and Michael's timeline for her life, and if she doesn't die soon enough for them, are they going to just walk in her room and club her to death?

As I stated previously, I'm not all that religious, but with the Easter holiday weekend upon us, it's impossible for me not to draw a comparison and note the potentially catastrophic irony.  I am, however, continuing to pray that Terri survives Good Friday and that all hope and promise for her recovery, with the assistance of someone in power who possesses a heart and a conscience, will be fully resurrected by Easter Sunday, if not sooner.

If only Terri Schiavo were a cow

Cabot Vermont is some 1500 miles from Clearwater Florida. 

Philosophically, it's even further:

A Cabot farmer convicted of starving his cows to death has begun serving a reparative sentence imposed by Washington County prosecutors as part of a plea bargain.

Christian DeNeergaard pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in January. He received a suspended one-year sentence as well as 30 days of work crew assignment as part of a deal with prosecutors. DeNeergaard, 47, may not own or possess livestock during his year of probation and must also undergo alcohol-abuse counseling.

In October, then-Washington County State's Attorney Tom Kelly said he would seek at least some jail time for animal neglect, which claimed the lives of at least 11 cows.

"We think some jail time is appropriate," said Kelly in an October interview. "The cows suffered tremendously."

But Brooks McArthur, the Washington County Deputy State's Attorney who prosecuted the case, said weaknesses in the case forced the state into a less punitive resolution.

Welcome to America, where you can starve your wife to death and the courts will support you but you better feed your cows.

Christ have mercy.

Kudos to Nick who sent me this via e-mail.

Michael's Life After Terri

Michael has legally married his common-law wife. Michael appears on talk shows to promote his best-selling book, "How to Legally Kill The Hag When She Becomes a Drag." Of course, movie deals follow. Then the invitations to Heff's mansion begin to arrive, all eagerly accepted by Michael. He visits the mansion, where he meets and falls in "love" with a young blonde named Tanya. A couple weeks later, his new wife mysteriously suffers a "heart attack," along with the routine accompanying affliction of "HABB" (heart attack-induced broken bones). She had previously been erroneously diagnosed with bulimia, and due to advancements in medical science, it is determined upon autopsy that she was truly suffering from "Michaelimia," the primary symptom of which is the uncontrollable urge to vomit immediately upon sight of one's husband.

Judge Greer, who is Michael's new best friend, "blood brother," and golfing buddy, signs the generic, "fill-in-the-blanks" death warrant now on file in his office, and new wife starves to death.

Michael then goes on to marry Playboy mansionette Tanya, some 20 years Michael's junior. Michael accidentally overdoses on Viagra and suffers a heart attack whilst attempting to procreate, thus "breaking" his own heart literally in precisely the same way that he has figuratively broken the hearts of Terri, her family and an increasing number of Americans from various political persuasions. Michael lies in his hospital bed, after being diagnosed with terminal PSW, (penisostoppedoworkingus), and all experts agree that he is no longer of any value to Tanya.

Tanya, having moved on after a heart-wrenching obligatory 48-hour mourning period, meets and falls in love with Brad. She speaks with Judge Greer, who distinctly recalls his good buddy, Michael, once saying that he’d rather be DEAD than to not be able to engage in sexual relations. Judge Greer testifies to same, an all-male panel of younger judges commiserate, and the unanimous decision is made that Michael indeed should be starved to death, based on the new legal standard of hearsay.

His death is much quicker than Terri’s, though, simply because there isn’t anyone on the planet who objects to it. The palpable panic and fear in Michael’s eyes are evident to some people as he witnesses the removal of his own feeding tube, unable to verbally plead for his life, while medical experts all concur that he couldn’t possibly be thinking that, anyway, since he is clearly suffering from MBD (male brain death).

Thus proving that what goes around, comes around, albeit via a windy, sometimes convoluted route, and that one person’s “terminal” disability isn’t necessarily the same as another’s “terminal” disability.  The distinction lies in the eye of the beholder.

Via e-mail from Marlene...

Heh...