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Terri, Happy Easter
see also Terri
points to consider-
- if we consider Terri's what she would "want to do
if she was in this situation" so important, why do we have a problem
with suicide?
- if she is not feeling or thinking anything, then why would she
care?
- if she is not feeling anything, then why do they have standing
orders for medications to deal with "agitation"? Why are they
giving her morphine?
- having a quite a bit of experience with "brain dead"
individuals, she is far from it.
- it is not "life support" to be fed, any more than what each of
us do daily.
- life is not always comfortable or pleasurable. Difficulties
often are of value to the individual as well as to those who are
also affected. It also affects others and shows other's love,
increasing their ability to become servants of others as we try to
emulate Christ. This could affect our ability to become the
Christians we should become and might decrease rewards in heaven for
those who give to these individuals.
- if the state would want to starve a convict in her situation,
those in favor of killing Terri would most likely be on the other
side.
- the Constitution of the State of Florida says (as pointed out by
D. James Kennedy)
Florida constitution states in Article I, Section 2, that "[a]ll
natural persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law,
and have inalienable rights, among which are the right to enjoy and
defend life ... ." According to the Florida Constitution, "no
person shall be deprived of any right [including the right to enjoy
life] because of ... physical disability."
As governor, Jeb Bush has the "supreme executive power," and the
constitutional duty, stated in Article IV, Section 1, to "take care
that the laws be faithfully executed,"
The ultimate law is the Constitution. If not, the people have
handed over our rights afforded by the Constitution to an oligarchy.
- James 4:17 Anyone, then, who
knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
(NIV)
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it
not, to him it is sin. (KJV)
After WWII, those Germans who chose to follow immoral orders at
concentration camps were held responsible for their decisions. We
answer to a higher authority, this includes the Constitution and
Almighty God.
- Ezekial 34:1 The word of the LORD
came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of
Israel; prophesy and say to them: `This is what the Sovereign LORD
says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of
themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat
the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice
animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4
You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up
the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for
the lost. You have ruled them harshly
and brutally.
- Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought
to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- John 15:13 Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
- For Gov Bush and President Bush to shrug their shoulders in this
time of crisis is against the tradition of strong leaders who came
before them. It would be a failure of your duty to God, to the
people of Florida and to life and freedom. Is it not true that the
governor is in charge of the police and the Florida guard? In the
60's Gov. George Wallace used this power (for ignoble purposes).
Political fallout? Probably. Save Terri and fight it out in the
courts, at least she is saved. At least with that approach Gov Bush
would be able to make his case for her mental status and shed some
light on the secrecy imposed by the courts and Michael Schiavo.
- There is too much secrecy here. No cameras allowed. Schiavo
wants her cremated despite sworn affidavits alleging abuse. If it
was my wife and I was fighting for 'her wishes', I would want all to
see the truth.
- The judicial branch is not given any enforcement powers, and
thus they are unable to enforce their rulings.
The 1832 case of Worcester v. Georgia, Chief Justice John
Marshall wrote the majority opinion that said the U.S. Government
had no right to move the Cherokee Indians off their land in Georgia.
Andrew Jackson has been noted as saying, “John Marshall has
made his decision; now let him enforce it.”
- To allow the arrogant judges to usurp constitutional
power is to weaken the executive's office and to give our freedoms
won by our founders blood and struggles to those who kill innocent
people and they would oppose. By allowing the courts to have their
way above the Constitutions of the United States and Florida, the
Congress, the Governor and the President, we have handed over our
rights to a judicial oligarchy. The people are at fault for
electing leaders who roll over and play dead when some unelected
judges decide what to allow. Why waste our time voting? If
those who we put in office don't take charge then we waste our time.
- Living wills generally only help the people make
decisions to rush death. They generally do not help the gravely ill
individual. What we think we might want in a given situation may
not be correct in such a time and a change of mind cannot be
communicated to the caretakers.
- There is a Count of Monte Cristo Syndrome or "locked
in" syndrome in which the individual cannot move or talk or
communicate in any manner except perhaps blinking their eyes. They
feel everything and know everything happening around them. Clearly
this is not what Terri has but what pain or understanding she is
capable of experiencing is not known with certainty. If she feels
pain, it is almost certain that her body also appreciates comfort
and stroking of the skin.
- The Florida courts allow the scum bag sex offender out over and
over again leading to the sexual assault and murder of precious
Jessica Lunsford. She should not be dead. It is their fault she is
dead. These same arrogant justices want to kill Terri.
- Her starvation is cruel and unusual. It is illegal to do this
to an animal. She hasn't committed a crime and some would dearly
love to care for her.
- Her "husband" left her for another in a common law marriage and
has children with another. He cannot be the next of kin in this
setting.
Where is our outrage? We have lost our moral compass. We will all
pay for this error and are paying for it as school shootings continue,
individuals are killed, children raped and killed, etc.
We all go to Easter service today but only few Christians lift a finger
to help Terri. Do we really believe God will hear our 'worship'
when we ignore the obvious failure?
Isaiah 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul
hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine
eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not
hear : your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash you, make you
clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine
eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment,
relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the
widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white
as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the
good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be
devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath
spoken it. 21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it
was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now
murderers.
Isaiah 41: 17 When the poor
and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue
faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of
Israel will not forsake them.
Ezekial 8: 17 Then he said
unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light
thing to the house of Judah that they commit the
abominations which they commit here? for they have filled
the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to
anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. 18
Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not
spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine
ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
Amos 5:20 Shall not the day
of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and
no brightness in it? 21 I hate, I despise your feast days,
and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22 Though ye
offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not
accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of
your fat beasts. 23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy
songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 24 But
let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a
mighty stream. |
When will we wake up?
I claim some expertise in the medical aspects of this case. I
have been on the Ethics Committee of a metropolitan area hospital for
years. I have been a transplant coordinator having dealt with truly
unfortunate "brain dead" donors. I am a pathologist. I was in a
coma following an automobile accident for 2 weeks in 1988. I had a gastrostomy
(feeding) tube at the time of the accident. I have a
quadriplegic mother who requires complete care by my truly loving
father. Colleagues with whom I have discussed Terri have
agreed that the court is wrong. Life may be overwhelmingly
difficult at times but it is of value even in extreme situations.
Happy Easter. Right.
Travis Kidd, Jr., M.D.
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mailto:diojqa@dutyisours.com
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P.O. Box 1811
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