Metafilter:
An objective legal look at Terry Schiavo’s case. Most of you will be surprised; I sure was. Rather than be a ‘poster child’ for right-to-life, she is likely another tragic casualty of bulimia. Reading the evidence, you can clearly see she would not choose to live this way. She should have been allowed to die with some semblance of dignity long ago. Be sure to read this comment in the list, for the pandering political angle.
Later: When does the soul part from the body? Is brain death, death? The Catholic Church is looking at it, somewhat scientifically. You realize, of course, that ‘ensoulment’ was altered to the time of conception (instead of 40 and 80 days, depending upon sex of the child) when science discovered the existence of egg and sperm. The religious authorities have to be very circumspect on this one ... no brain activity/no soul would mean that abortion would be OK until the third month, when neocortical activity starts. And what of Alzheimer’s patients? This is the area where the ‘thinking’ left should be making honest analyses. I haven’t seen anyone do so since Carl Sagan’s “Dragons of Eden”, an honest and reverent work.
Even later: Where was the truth in the media on this one? I hope CJR takes the poor coverage of this particular story apart. They don’t have to use capital punishment however ...
Later than later: NY Times Editorial on the subject. The Republicans are building up the outrage in their constituency so they can further marginalize the third branch of American Government. After Ms Schiavo dies, if she dies, the all-out attack will commence. Update: Congress has made the move to bring the Federal courts into this ... the most conservative courts in the country [most ‘liberal’ decisions critics seem to come up with were from decades ago], the same courts they hope to exert even more control over via nuclear option. Note in this case, and as has been said here before, “States’ rights only when convenient.” Power hungry ideologues. If the Federal Courts are as infected with ‘activist judges’ as they’ve been saying, how come the Republicans are moving everything there [this case, class action lawsuits, etc.]?
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