Posted by Jeff Welch on April 2, 2005, 7:55 am, in reply to "Re: Euthanasia, what else?"
71.35.115.147

Steven, You said: "Proponents claim that Terri Schiavo’s life is not worth living in her present state, and that babies born with spina bifida should be euthanized" - and this is hogwash. I know of nobody who has favored respecting Terri Schiavo's wish not to be kept alive by artificial means should she become permanently and profoundly disabled who believes that children with Spina Bifida should be euthanized - the Peter Singers of the world notwithstanding. My issue is that you and others on your side of the argument go out of your way to demonize Michael Schiavo - and those of us who in his place would make the same decision. On a very personal level - you are talking to ME when you do that. I have been called directly or indirectly everything from a Nazi to a murderer for expressing my point of view - hence my "get a grip" statement. I have no animosity towards Judaism or Christianity, but your comment that there has been an "abandonment of the Judeo-Christian ethic" begs the question: WHAT 'Judeo-Christian ethic' are you talking about? Religion and spirituality in all it's forms and incarnations gives strength to bilions of people, however pointing at something you see wrong with American society and invoking a withdrawal from the "Judeo-Christian ethic" opens the discussion to pathways I'm not sure you want to go down. I disagree that withdrawing artificial means of support from Terri Schiavo per her own wishes is "murder", or that allowing her to die from malnutrition and dehydration - however distasteful - is any worse than allowing her to die from suffocation. -Jeff