Terry Schiavo

Initially and at present, I am appalled at how the "pro-life" factions have exploited Terry Schiavo and her family for publicity and political gain. Tom Delay said as much, as did Bill Frist, a physician who knows better, but whose lust for the White House got the better of his medical judgement. Most Congressional Democrats reverted back to their timid Florida 2000 recount selves and found a way not to protest the Congressional usurpation of power scheme better known as the bill that allowed Ms. Schiavo's parents to sue in Federal Court so that her feeding tube might be reinserted. I believed and continue to believe that Ms. Schiavo's case should have remained a family matter and, at worst, resolved (as it was repeatedly) in the state courts.
What bothers me, however, is not so much the Republican obsequious cowering to their Christian Right masters: so what else is new? I am not bothered significantly by the Democrats, with a few exceptions, "running for the hills," only to let the news break that Tom Delay some years ago chose to "pull the plug" on his father only now to have an epiphany about a woman whose name he never would have known apart from the tragedy of her situation. Again, what else is new?
I remain bothered by the entire matter exemplifying yet again the lack of civility in our public discourse. Scenes of Joe Scarborough interrupting Catherine Crier Wednesday night or Randall Terry screaming into any microphone he could find or even Jesse Jackson trying once more to redeem his reputation all caused me frustration and not a little worry. Each side remains convinced of its own righteousness, whether it employs the language of "faith" or not. Each side does everything in its power to demonize the other rather than trying to listen for some sliver of commonality that can help to ease the Schindler and Schiavo family's suffering. Each side tries to "win" the language battle since, as Orwell reminded us in 1984, that whomever controls language controls debate. "Starve to death," die with dignity," "euthanasia," "right to die," all permeated the airwaves and absolutely nothing changed for either Ms. Schiavo, her husband or her parents.
Now Ms. Schiavo is dead, mercifully at peace in some manner, I believe. I do not think, however, her case will die anytime soon. I am afraid she will become a fund-raising tool and a martyr for either side of the culture wars debate. That, as far as I am concerned, is the real obscenity. Terry Schiavo, 1963-2005. Rest in peace.