Terri Schindler Schivo Case - Who's Next?

Who’s next?
Peter Flierl

First, they came for Terri, determined to extinguish her life. Courts serve as prosecutor, jury and execu-tioner ignoring evidence and getting on with their march toward euthanasia, disposal of any life not deemed necessary, or perhaps an inconvenience.

Perhaps Terri is not the first. Since 1973, our nine black robes have found a “rationale” to murder babies, millions every year. While others take extraordinary measures to save, nurture and ensure long life to the most fragile of infants, preemies, others murder babies a breath away from life at the end of their nine month gestation period. That they are a living human being, one of God’s miraculous creations, is no longer a question. It is real. It is visible.

In the infamous Dred Scott decision, the nine black robes ruled that African-Americans were not human beings, that instead they were property, chattel, devoid of humanity. Sounds like our not-yet-born babies today. Not human. Not deserving protection. Courts permitting and ordering the execution of children, of our vibrant future, of our weakest and most defenseless.

In Nazi Germany, courts supported the rush to extermination , the final solution, for European Jews who were deemed to be less than human. Again, if it is not human, we can be free of guilt? Is this what we are to take home from the Schivo case.

Can the courts in their “hearings” not review any evidence and continue the march to execution. Were we to execute a murderer on death row, an individual who has lost his right to life, in the same manner as Terri, it would be ruled cruel and unusual punishment. We would not do this to a condemned man or woman, nor would we do to it to our favorite dog or cat.

It is appalling to see a man with a financial interest in her death being the sole determinant of whether or not Terri is to live or die. We have started down the slippery slope, where a “major” news outlet like ABC seeks out the Doctor of Death Jack Kervorkian to comment on the case. After innocent babies and equally innocent adults like Terri, who’s next?

Perhaps everyone over 80 or 85 or 90 should be volunteered for death by starvation? Or do we really need sweet retarded adults or children? Are they a blessing or a curse? Cerebral Palsy can be nasty. Shall we put them out of their misery? Instead of chemotherapy for “hopeless” cancer patients, shall we just starve then to death? Save time and money?

Who’s next? First, they came for the Jews. Then, they came for our babies. Then, they came for Terri. Who’s next?

3/27/05

Writer, Commentator, Entrepreneur

Peter J. Flierl, MSW, the co-founder of HealthGain, a wellness company devoted to prevention and alternative medicine, and FBT Worldwide, a private franchise combining the power of the high tech internet and high touch personal coaching. He is a freelance writer and the author of Prayer, Laughter & Broccoli, a survival guide for husbands soon to be translated into Zulu for South African breast cancer patients and their husbands. His next book, Tithe, America, Tithe will be released by Grindstone Press in late 2005.