With regard to the Terri Schiavo case, it is obvious that Michael Schiavo, George Felos and judge Greer are intent on killing Terri Schiavo. Even though there is strong evidence of abuse toward Terri on the part of Michael Schiavo, and that proper procedures were not followed in this case, judge Greer is refusing any requests to allow honest debate on the fate of Terri Schiavo. Terri is not in a vegetative state, as some have suggested, but is capable of responding to people and could possibly improve, given proper therapy. Michael has never allowed any therapy for Terri! From hearing the testimony of the three nurses, who cared for Terri, it is obvious that Michael is intent on killing his wife! Why won't Michael allow Terri's parents to care for her? Why did Michael seal Terri's medical records? What is Michael hiding? Why does Michael insist on having Terri creamated upon her most certain death by starvation? Since Terri is catholic, it is against her religious beliefs, as well as that of most catholics. It seems rather obvious that Michael Schiavo has something to hide and wants to destroy any evidence that might suggest foul play, with regard to his treatment of Terri.

This is a case of judicial tyranny, where liberals and the judges are intent on taking by force, what they could not win in the ballot box. We are now living in a society, where the citizens no longer have a say in public policy or what happens to the disabled. Because some activist judge somewhere decides that a person no longer fits his/her definition of "quality of life", they no longer deserve to live. This is a horrible slippery slope we have gone down!

Say what you will, but the Bush boys don't waffle.Can you imagine if your candidate had won?

"Overstepping?" Is that all Jeb is doing? That's far too kind for this criminal wannabee. I guess Jeb Bush has waffled off of being a law abiding leader in this state and is now advocating for anarchy, perhaps use of military force, to kidnap someone not within his jurisdiction nor whom has been adjudicated to be State material. Jeb's horrific record with DCF should tell anyone should he EVER get hold of the organism formerly known as Terri Schiavo, THAT would be where the real execution would take place -- as some are calling all this -- in DCF's sterile wards or institutions of stink and filth and minimum wage workers who time and time again have demonstrated utter incompetence. Now does Jeb. He's lost his mind. He is no leader, not honoring even the mandates of the people via constitutional ammendments and the vote. Because he panders. And panders. And panders. He must step down immediately. Or perhaps he should be taken out by military action? Bush has made Florida Hell as his brother has this nation and now the world.

President Bush jumps to the aid of Terri Shiavo's family in a move that contradicts his history in his home state of Texas. I have a possible reason. Despite the fact that I believe that the country has lost its collective sense of morals, I do not believe that President Bush is a good spokesman for the country, on any level. Regardless of his ability, intelligence, desires, intentions, or the intensity of his convictions, the man is not well spoken. When he opens his mouth, he is not a good representative of this country. He stammers, loses his focus, and allows his eyes to drift off into space. He doesn't even look like he's trying to find the right words. He looks lost. Almost like .... his brain has ceased functioning.

Right or wrong, I suddenly can imagine how Terri Shiavo's husband could feel the way he does. After all of this time, you begin to believe that the small things aren't signs of life. No matter what anyone else feels, you know, from this moment forward, things aren't going to get better.

I think that President Bush was advised to jump into action. If Terri Shiavo's family does not win their case, then President Bush might lose a similar battle. If anyone can make the case that he is actually in a persistent vegetative state and that his actions do not truly indicate a functioning reality, they can petition to withhold his food until complete biological shutdown is certain.

I don't have a firm stance, one way or the other, regarding Terri Shiavo's situation. This is a horrible and tragic time for her and her family. There are valid points on either side. Within my own family, I have faced a very similar situation. There is still no resolve in this matter.

I do not know what the resolution for the Shiavo family will be. I wish upon both sides of this matter, grace and peace. I am sorry for both sides that President Bush has gotten involved in this matter. The fact that he is involved complicates matters for Terri Shiavo's husband. The fact that he is involved does not help matters for her parents. It is sad that when we need concrete answers, we can't get him to give us any. When we need him to be calming and smooth, he isn't.

To his defense, the liberals are not helping matters. This should not be a political matter. The family has enlisted the aid of various branches of the government for help; they are doing what any parent would do for their child. They are using any means necessary to do what they believe is right for their child. This issue is disastrous. Not only is this a highly emotional topic, it is the political game. Sadly, both families are being used to fight a much larger battle. It is like watching my children fight. They don't need to have strong feelings about anything in particular in order to have a good fight. They simply need to not like each other for that point in time. The fight can be about anything. The topic, whatever it may be, is simply an excuse to get after one another. The scariest part of all of this is that the issues that the politicians are fighting about have real consequences for real people. Sometimes, I truly believe that they couldn't care less. As long as they are on the record for doing something, they are, "fighting the good fight."

gofigure

"Gov. Bush continues to embarrass his office and the state with his attempts to prolong the non-life of Terri Schiavo."

Next, will some will advocate ending the "non-life" of the mentally ill or do only physically handicapped people qualify as non-living? What about minorities that have a higher drop-out rate in high school? Obviously, getting a high school diploma improves your quality of life, so should we let those who drop out of school die by locking them in a room with a police guard at the door and prohibiting their family from giving them food or water?

At least neo-Nazis have the guts to say they hate certain people and want them to die. The idea that some living people are "non-life" produces the same result (killing off the undesireables) but lacks the courage. Only the brutality of the "kill Terri" crowd is more appalling than their cowardice.

She would not be dying unless the judge ordered that she be deprived of food and water. Therefore, he was not letting her die, but making her die; he's killing her. He didn't just remove her feeding tube, he forbade anyone to give her food and water by any means.

Why aren't the feminists crying out that a husband has absolute control over his wife and has the right to withhold food and water from her?

In 20-30 years when the Baby Boomers aren't retirees but nursing home residents, will we go through and exterminate those that cost too much, even if they aren't dying? Or will we just "let them die" by depriving them of food and water?

How is it that we defeated Hitler, yet adopt his philosophy? How will we justify asking our children not to let us die by starvation when they will only be doing to us the very thing we have done?

May God forgive us all.

Hearsay May Seal the Fate of One Person with a Severe Disability and Threaten the Lives of Thousands of Others.

The ways in which the courts have ruled on the Terry Schiavo case are unconscienable! Ms. Schiavo never prepared a living will. All the evidence has been based on hearsay. Why aren't we erring on the side of life when we have no living will?

No person, professional, or court has the right to determine the value of someone's life. People with obvious and severe disabilities embody the pain that we all want to shed. A society that supports the euthanasia of some but not others is making judgements on the value of one life against another. Why are we so quick to support the euthanasia of someone paralyzed from the neck down and to condemn the assisted suicide of one in horrible psychological pain but in fine physical condition? Would we be as inclined to assist someone in dire psychological pain to commit suicide?

I'm addressing our inclinations, biases, and predilections. If Terry S. dies because of the courts' inactions, I fear for the right of those of us with severe disabilities who may be unable to make our wishes known.

This is a sad and scary time for those of us with physical and cognitive disabilities in America.

Sharon Shapiro
Brooklyn, NY