PUBLIC FORUM.Playing God Re ``Schiavo's parents left to watch daughter slip away'' (March 28): My question is: Could Terri Schiavo Theresa Marie "Terri" Schiavo (December 3, 1963 – March 31, 2005), from St. Petersburg, Florida, United States was a woman who suffered brain damage and became dependent on a feeding tube. have survived without the feeding tube feeding tube n. A flexible tube that is inserted through the pharynx and into the esophagus and stomach and through which liquid food is passed. at the onset of her illness? The argument has revolved around the idea that man has no right to interfere with God's plan to give or take a life. If Terri could not have lived without the feeding tube, then the minute it was inserted, that right was taken out of God's hands, and man's desires were put in place. I understand the desire to keep a loved one around as long as possible, but we cannot have it both ways. We cannot one minute say it is all right to sustain a life that God wanted and then say it is wrong to let it go, even if it is 15 years later. It seems to me we have not come to grips with the fact that each time we sustain a life with artificial means, we are playing God. - Susan Powers Susan Powers (born in 1954 in Glen Cove, New York) is a self-taught American artist who began painting in 1979, encouraged by a friend and fellow painter who had seen her expressive pencil drawings. Tujunga Stopped caring Re ``Schiavo's parents left to watch daughter slip away'' (March 28): Over and over the question is asked: Should Terri Schiavo be allowed to die? What if people were asked another question: Should Terri Schiavo be allowed to live? Same question. Same answer? She is not being prevented from dying. She is being prevented from living. Prevented food. Prevented water. Prevented love. Michael Schiavo Michael Richard Schiavo (born April 3, 1963) was the husband of Terri Schiavo, who became a public figure in a national debate over end-of-life issues. Following his wife's collapse, he led a seven-year but ultimately successful and controversial campaign to remove her feeding tube has stopped caring for his wife. Her family has not. - Jason Robinson Pacific Palisades Palisades, cliffs along the west bank of the Hudson River, NE N.J. and SE N.Y., extending from N of Jersey City, N.J., to the vicinity of Piermont, N.Y., with a general altitude of from 350 ft to 550 ft (107–168 m). New GOP Re ``Schiavo's parents left to watch daughter slip away'' (March 28): The old Republican Party wanted smaller government, respected states' rights states' rights, in U.S. history, doctrine based on the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. and avoided activist judges. This past week, the new GOP injected itself into a personal matter, expanded the jurisdiction of a federal court, ignored numerous state court judgments and complained when an activist judge could not be found to create a new ``right.'' Add corporate liability protection law, tax cuts for the wealthy and no-bid military contracts, and we need a new name for the GOP. May I suggest ``the Christian Corporate Party''? - Norwood Price Burbank Attempted murder In the criminal law, attempted murder is committed when the defendant does an act that is more than merely preparatory to the commission of the crime of murder and, at the time of these acts, the person has a specific intention to kill. The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and a judge in the Florida state courts, Judge George Greer George W. Greer (born 1942) is a judge serving in the Pinellas-Pasco County Circuit Court, probate division, in Clearwater, Florida, who received national attention when he presided over the Terri Schiavo euthanasia case. , should be indicted INDICTED, practice. When a man is accused by a bill of indictment preferred by a grand jury, he is said to be indicted. for the attempted murder of Terri Schiavo. If she dies, they should be indicted for murder. We don't starve even our criminals on Death Row. - Lou Gates Westlake Village Bush's priorities With all the fuss about the Terri Schiavo case, it truly amazes me how the Bush administration seems to feel that it's important to fly back to Washington from Crawford, Texas Crawford is a Waco suburb located in western McLennan County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 705. The 2005 census estimates Crawford's population at 789.[1] The town was incorporated on August 12, 1897. , to coax a decision about something the government shouldn't be involved with, but then I read how President George W. Bush's administration wants to cut veterans' health care and not actively prevent repossession The taking back of an item that has been sold on credit and delivered to the purchaser because the payments have not been made on it. For example, if an individual fails to render prompt payments on a new car, the car might be subject to repossession by the finance company, of homes of our military heroes whose tours of duty as reservists have been extended indefinitely and whose spouses can't afford to make payments. If George W. Bush had truly experienced time in the military, maybe he would be compassionate. - Spencer Shiffman Calabasas Inhumane in·hu·mane adj. Lacking pity or compassion. in  hu·mane ly adv. decision
I find it hard to imagine that all those in favor of the inhumane decision to starve Terri Schiavo to death are also believers in Christ. ``Therefore, even though they themselves are able to eat and drink, they themselves are also dying'' (John 6:53). - Gary Montenegro Sun Valley Not her hope Re ``Judge is Schiavo's only hope'' (March 25): The headline might have read ``Judge is the Schindlers' only hope,'' as it was Terri Schiavo's parents expressing the hope. Over 15 years, including during the recent flurry of activity, numerous judges - many of them conservative Republicans - have heard the evidence and ruled every time that Michael Schiavo has legal standing in the case and that Terri's desires (therefore, her hopes) were that she not be kept alive in a permanent vegetative state Vegetative State Definition A coma-like state characterized by open eyes and the appearance of wakefulness is defined as vegetative. Description The vegetative state is a chronic or long-term condition. . This is truly a tragedy all around being shamelessly exploited by those with an agenda. Please let this poor woman die in peace according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. her wishes. - Randy Gold Sherman Oaks Political correctness politically correct adj. Abbr. PC 1. Of, relating to, or supporting broad social, political, and educational change, especially to redress historical injustices in matters such as race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. Re ``Schiavo's parents left to watch daughter slip away'' (March 28): In the past, political correctness usually meant being heckled off the stage by a bunch of lame college blockheads. At worst, it could cost one's job. Now, Terri Schiavo proves being on the wrong side of political correctness can cost one their life. - Kenneth A. Eaton North Hills More cruel Re ``Civilized society?'' (Your Opinions, March 24): Readers Joseph and Carla Kazimir opine that a civilized society should allow everyone at least the opportunity for food and water, as in the case of Terri Schiavo. However, shouldn't a civilized society allow a person to have a conversation, read a book, watch a movie and have the freedom to get out of bed whenever they want? Moreover, if this is a civilized society, why let a person live for the rest of her live depending on a feeding tube? Although it seemed cruel to let Terri die, it would be even more cruel to let her live like this for the rest of her life. - Hoan Le Sherman Oaks Protesting right Re ``Permanent protest'' (Your Opinions, March 28): I wonder why L.A. Calabro didn't mention the permanent protesters at Terri Schiavo's hospice or the permanent anti-abortion protesters. I guess right-wing protesters are OK and doing God's work, but left-wing protesters are not. - Joe Corn Tarzana High school shooting Re ``Student kills 9'' (March 23): As a high school senior, reading another story like this really scares me. The high school I go to, St. Genevieve High School St. Genevieve High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Panorama City, Los Angeles, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. History School Name The school is named in honor of the patroness of Paris. , started a program because of a similar incident at Columbine High School Columbine High School is a secondary school in unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado. The school is located at 6201 South Pierce Street, one mile west of the Littleton city limits and half a mile south of the Denver city/county line. . Our school's principal, Dan Horn, decided to have ``character formation'' days. On these days, the whole school would be able to touch on subjects such as drugs, sex and violence. This program has helped our students become aware of what goes on in other schools and grow up in a safe community. - Manuel Mitra Panorama City Pathetic tantrum tan·trum n. A fit of bad temper. tantrum, n a sudden outburst or violent display of rage, frustration, and bad temper, usually occurring in a maladjusted child or immature or disturbed adult. Re ``Mayor accuses rival of voter pandering'' (March 26): Antonio Villaraigosa had all the momentum, and James Hahn sounded like a spoiled baby on Friday, whining, ``He said he wouldn't run.'' This is Hahn's best argument for why he deserves our votes? He had to call a special news conference just to cry about it. What will Hahn's response be if we suffer a terrorist attack? ``They said they wouldn't bomb us?'' Although Hahn's dismissive attitude toward the Valley is palpable, he didn't lose my vote until I read about this pathetic public tantrum. He has proven himself less than a grown-up grown-up adj. 1. Of, characteristic of, or intended for adults: grown-up movies; a grown-up discussion. 2. . - Marshall Abernathy Woodland Hills Wasn't even a kitten Can you believe this! A fire engine and a hook and ladder Hook and ladder can refer to:
- William Child Chatsworth Now tell the kids Re ``Bless us all'' (Your Opinions, March 15): Russell Blinick claims he's puzzled by the expression ``God bless America'' because shouldn't people ``want God to bless all mankind'' and not just America? Then he picks some more at that time-honored expression by complaining that God doesn't sit around all day worrying about whom to bless or not. OK, we get the drift. Issue the orders immediately to all little children to drop that stuff about ``God bless Mommy and Daddy.'' - Charles K. Sergis Calabasas |
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