I have not had the desire to write about anything political or Kos-related over the last two weeks. One excuse is that I just recently returned from the big glowing city of sin in the desert, and my stay there sucked me dry of my writing ability, not to mention my money and morality. Another is that I have been too damn busy with real world work and helping some like minded Kossacks start a new venture.
Nah, that's not it. It's because the current political climate is all-Schiavo all the time. And I am torn on how I feel about that issue, that tragedy. One day, I am horrified that she is being starved to death. And then on another day, I believe we should respect her wishes, which have been adjudicated 30 times in the courts. If the horrible things said by the nurses and the Schlinder familty were true, then most assuredly the courts would have ruled in their favor, and at the very least, these stories have had their hearing.
I woke up this morning thinking about what I would do if my daughter was in the same state as Terri. I can understand why her parents want to keep her alive, even if there are only glimpses of the person she used to be. Would I cling to an irrational hope that maybe a miracle could bring her back, even if only in flashes here and there? I think I would. But if my daughter or wife were suffering and there was no hope of recovery, I would want that suffering to end.
I am Catholic. I am pro-life, yet pro-choice. I am pro-Euthanasia so long as the patient's wishes are legally and explicitly expressed in a legal document and so long as the patient is dying from a terminal disease or condition.
That is what troubles me about the Schiavo tragedy. It is "He said vs. They said" battle that should never take place, at least in my world. Further, the method by which Terri is dying, starvation and dehydration, is cruel, even if Terri can't feel it.
So you see, I am conflicted, and when I am conflicted, my passion to write on the Daily Kos dries up. I'm not sure where I stand on the Terri Schiavo issue, but if it were my daughter, it would absolutely devastate me to be forced to watch her starve to death. Brain damaged or not, it would go against every instinct I have as a parent. My heart goes out to her family. No one should have to go through what they're going through. But my heart also goes out to Michael Schiavo. I believe he also has the best of intentions, and truly wants to honor his wife's wishes.
So I have sat back and watched this past week, debated this issue over Easter Dinner with my family, and relegated myself to a lurker here. And I am no where near being decided on it, as I suspect many here are. This issue has made strange bedfellows of many. My liberal hippie mother agrees 100% with my religious right fanatic best friend. I agree with right wing talk show host Michael Smerconish (local Philly wingnut who has been surprisingly rational this last week). My Green Party uncle agrees with Michele Malkin. And I am still drained. Yep, still got writer's block.
Does anyone feel so conflicted as I do? Or am I the only one who has not made up his mind? (Please note that I am not defending the President and the Congress forcing themselves into this issue. Their intervention was wholly unconstitutional and I am so pleased it has become a political disaster for them).
Well, enough of that. Everything is so serious here lately. Where is Carnacki and Pastor Dan with their fun diaries?
So why not talk about silly stuff? Remember the Everybody Loves Raymond episode when Raymond and Deborah suffer their first sex injury? I just suffered mine. I strained my left hamstring somehow (don't ask me how, I really can't remember, it just really hurt after) and I can barely walk. Well, I can walk, but with a noticeable limp.