fly and I have have discussed this in detail so I wanted to chime in. Here are some comments I made to a newspaper buddy of mine in an e-mail from a few minutes ago:
It's gotten out of control down here. Protestors, for and against, outside of the hospice. Claims that her husband has abused her while she's been in the vegetative state. The times ran a piece about the former Pinellas Co. Sherriff Everett Rice, who is now in the state house, how some lady in NJ is claiming he and the husband are conspiring to kill Terri. The evidence, Rice was Sheriff when her husband was hired on as a jailhouse nurse and now Rice voted against the "save terri" legislation.
In all honesty, I hope I am never faced with this choice, either as a father, son or husband. But I think that after a certain period of time, I would allow, nay demand that my son, wife, parent be treated with respect and allowed to pass with some dignity. Her parents/family have let this become this three ring circus. They keep showing these pictures of the poor women in this horrific state. Terri's husband has said, and I'd agree, that Terri would hate to have the world see her like this, yet her parents/the media keep putting her image out there for all the world to see. It's fuked up.
Part of the controversy is over the fact that Terri would starve to death. Well then damnit allow for her Doctors give her some sedatives so she can just go to sleep.
What I find ironic is Pres. Bush rushing to back legislation to keep her alive. This from a man who signed a whole bunch of death warrants. That guy is fucked up.
This should have been between the husband and the family. Her parents should face the reality of the fact that their daughter is gone and only her shell remains. It should never have gotten this far. Never.