Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | T | The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)

LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Article Excerpt
Byline: The Register-Guard

Let Terri Schiavo rest in peace

What is human life? Is it biological functions? Or is it the human mind, that marvel of spirit, intellect, desires, dreams? In the Terri Schiavo case, politicians have interfered in a tragic personal situation, claiming to be on the side of life. They are trying to keep alive a biological organism that has shown no signs of true human life for 15 years.

When the human brain is deprived of oxygen it dies, leaving only the brain stem at the top of the spinal cord. The brain stem regulates involuntary body functions: the heart beats, the lungs breathe, the eyes blink, facial muscles contract. Terri's body can sit up in bed, breathe, blink and grimace. The insensitive and the deluded say "look, she's awake, she's smiling at jokes, she's aware." But it is only a human body functioning at the most basic level. Terri's human mind is gone and there is no hope for her recovery. That is the reality attested to by doctors.

Her body feels no regret, no sorrow, no fear, no love, no desire. Terri is somewhere in limbo and to keep her body alive is inhumane, it is grotesque, it is ghoulish, it is unspeakably cruel. Hers is a nightmare existence fettered to a mindless body, breathing, blinking, smiling.

Let her go. Stop emphasizing human biology and consider what human life really is. Have compassion for her humanity, release her and let her at long last rest in peace.

EARL...

View this article FREE - Now for a Limited Time, try Goliath Business News
Free for 3 Days!