Battleangel

I have followed the the Terri Schiavo case with great interest and it seems that it is not only her brain that has slowly liquified over the last 15 years, but also the brains of the US elite, neo-conservatives and lawmakers alike. They are at a loss when it comes to evaluating personal freedom within their decrepit agenda.

First, the fact Schiavo’s eyelids are open has caused some to impute human feelings to the random movements of the woman’s eyes. Photos of her gazing at the camera — however blankly — have emotive power for much the same reason.

Second, the case involves the cessation of tube-feeding. In my experience as a physician, decisions surrounding this life-sustaining treatment are difficult for families because feeding is itself a powerful metaphor for caring.

Source: Peter A. Singer, National Post

As pointed out by the editors of The American Journal of Bioethics (”Don’t Confuse Me With Facts”), “PETscans, functional MRIs, and EEGs have shown that Terri Schiavo’s brain has necrotized.” What more is there to say. Short of developing on stem cell and cloning technology, necrotized tissue will be irreparable in the foreseeable future. And in this case, when most of the central nervous system has been liquified, with no template to rebuild or repair, not even science fiction could offer a solution.

Lessons to be learned here:

Neo-con dreams of morality and an end to the evil liberalism are boundless. One could call it political terrorism. Hijacking and terrorizing whatever and whoever they can get their hands on, on their way to national salvation. One should never underestimate radical people and what they can do to a nation and the state of mind. First they claim to understand something that others don’t. They claim they want to help. Then they force the issue. In the last stage of development, none outside the inner circle itself is fit to live. And yet they have the nerve to point to other and claim that they kill and deprave people of their true happiness, wellbeing and indeed their lives. We have seen it before. It worked then and it will probably work now. Why? Because neo-conservatives, like national socialists, stalinists and indeed myself can agree on one thing. People are stupendously ignorant. Not stupid. Nor unintelligent. But unaware of the world in a rather blissful and naive way. Liberalism is a problem, not because it corrupts morality but because it allows for the rise of such insanity as the “third reich” and the “new american century”.

Living wills aren’t as silly and unnecessary as some would claim. If there is any chance of not being turned into a political or religious pawn after death - take it. Especially if you’re planning something out-of-the-box like cryobiology. This goes for Europe too. One can never be too sure. I kind of wonder how these ragtag preachers view that area. I guess their support ends where technology begins.

I have to admit that the notion to keep someone alive for almost 15 years disgusts me. It thoroughly does. I would never consent to such degrading treatment. However you look at it, in a case like Schiavo’s the outcome is pitch black. The chance of recovery was slim to none even in the beginning before more extensive necrosis set on. And even then, she would have suffered massive cognitive disabilities due to the initial oxygen deprivation. Would anyone want to come back after that? I certainly wouldn’t.

Even with public awareness and living wills, it will be difficult to get officials to support individual choice (i.e. the practical extension of liberalism) of anything in the near future. The scales are tipping in favor of the self-proclaimed moralists. Only the real horror is that they do not stop there. This is just a means to their end.

See also: Majikthise - Lies Terri Schiavo’s parents told me