Taking The Moral Low Ground

Terri died today, bringing to final closure a hopeless situation that, had it not happened under the glare of the TV cameras, to people whose tragic need was shamelessly fed by those who prostituted themselves by saying anything and everything to support the Schindlers in front of the cameras and in court, would have ended long ago.

After Terri's death, President Bush said, "The case of Terri Schiavo raises complex issues. Yet in instances like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws, and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life. Those who live at the mercy of others deserve our special care and concern. It should be our goal as a nation to build a culture of life, where all Americans are valued, welcomed, and protected - and that culture of life must extend to individuals with disabilities."

U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said, "the men responsible for this" will be called to account." He went on to say that lawmakers "will look at an arrogant and out of control judiciary that thumbs its nose at Congress and the President."

Good!

It is long past time for this country to stop sending trillions of dollars in aid to other countries when our own citizens are being denied adequate food, clean water, access to necessary health care, treatment and medications, and decent housing affordable to those who rely on social security disability and Medicaid.

Good!

It is long past time for this country to stop sending trillions of dollars in aid to other countries when our own children are going to schools in substandard facilities, overcrowded classrooms, without the necessary text books, equipment and supplies.

(And let's talk about teachers salaries, shall we? Unless and until we start paying teachers enough to entice the good ones to stay in the school system as teachers, and supply them with the materials they need for their classroom and students so that they are not paying for classroom supplies out of their own meager paychecks, we deprive our children—our future—of the skills and tools they need to move us forward into that future.)

Mr. Delay, why not instead look at the arrogant and out of control Congress and others who arrogantly thumb their nose at the people they are supposed to be representing in this country.

Yes, Mr. President, it should be our goal as a nation to build a culture of life, where all Americans are valued and protected, including those with disabilities.

So, why does your Administration keep cutting benefits? Why has no Administration doing nothing to ensure increased funding for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, instead of less? Why do we keep giving trillions of dollars to those outside of the U.S. when our own people are imperiled, becoming permanently disabled, with too many dying, for lack of necessary health care?

As tragic as Terri Schiavo's story is, hers is just one amongst many tragedies playing out in homes, hospitals, hospices, and on the streets each and every day.

Either you are serious about correcting the problems in the system created by politicians which affect the least empowered amongst us, or you are simply out to shamelessly use an individual to further your personal and party agenda.