OP-ED; TERRY SCHIAVO (HIGH SCHOOL)

Terry Schiavo’s Death: Does it really Matter?

It depends on whom you ask.
This issue, the life of Terry Schiavo, has been uncertain for 15 years. She had an enormous heart attack that left major portions of her brain without function. She has been in a coma ever since. Over the last few years, a mounting court battle between her parents and Terry’s husband has grown in publicity.
According to the husband, Terry said that if she were ever in a vegetative state, that Schiavo would want her husband to end her life. Her parents dispute this, and have received injunctions in their favor. The husband fought back by appealing to the Florida Supreme Court, and the state’s highest court granted the husband the opportunity to remove her feeding tube, thus killing her. The tube was removed at 1:45PM on Thursday, March 17.
During a Congressional recess, and a Presidential holiday vacation at his Texas ranch, whirlwind legislation was written, passed, and signed in a matter of three days. This legislation can have a powerful effect on the agenda of future administrations, despite its limited intended scope.
House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX) took up the cause for Schiavo, and wrote a bill granting a federal appeals court the opportunity to intervene with the case. Debate was limited during an emergency Sunday Night session of Congress, and the vote occurred at 12:01AM on Monday, March 21. The vote was 203-58 in favor, with 174 not voting.
There are many problems with this. First, it is a conservative crusade based upon the foundation of a “culture of life,” a statement used frequently by President Bush about his policy on social issues such as abortion. Second, the measure is hypocrisy of the highest order. The President has stated that he intends to have only strict constructionist judges on the bench, and detests activist judges. Why would he sign a bill specifically giving them more sway in ruling over social issues?
In addition, there was political motive in proposing this bill. The Washington Post reported that a memo was circulated amongst Republican members of Congress in competitive districts that this vote can help them in the 2006-midterm elections. Their vote also gives action, instead of just lip service, to the religious right. Tom Delay deflects media attention away from his improprieties with the House Ethics Committee. Lastly, this bill creates a bad position for the opposition party, the Democrats. If they do not vote in favor of this bill, they can be seen as anti-life, and out of touch with Americans. Democrats split on the issue, 47 in favor, 53 opposed, with 102 not voting.
The law passed will be full of unintended consequences, and can only be a bad thing for the nation. This issue is a private matter that does not belong in the public sector. Would you want the government to decide for you in a matter that is as personally emotional as this one?