Sunday, March 27, 2005
Continuing the fight
I've been reflecting on such things as redemption and resurrection and the power of love today. It's Easter morning, and likely to be Theresa Marie Schindler's last Easter. We have fought long and hard to save her life, and it looks now as if we are going to lose that particular battle. But we have not lost the war. We must continue to fight for the voiceless...
For me, this has become my calling, a realization that I do not take lightly. There have been posts on other sites where people have said such things as "duct-tape her [Terri's] mouth" or blamed Terri's parents or accused those fighting for Terri's life of simply not caring, or not caring enough. One woman ranted that not one of us would have the courage to change Terri's linens, to actually physically care for her. This woman went on and on and on about how vile it would be to care for Terri, or for anyone in Terri's condition, then threw down the gauntlet by mocking all of Terri's supporters. (And the duct-tape comment was very, very real. The person then went on to say that he was sick of hearing about this, and said that Terri "bugs.") Another woman dared to say that perhaps Mary Schindler has Munchhausen's Syndrome by Proxy, the disease whereby a parent causes illness in their child because they crave the attention for themselves.
Viewed from inside the front lines, I can say that there is no lack of caring on the part of anyone who has become involved in this. The enormous blogroll listing sites fighting for Terri should be enough to prove that. And to the people who have said that Terri's mouth should be duct-taped, I can only say that I am honestly praying for you. As for changing Terri's linens--it would be a difficult job, I will not deny that--but Christ left us with a charge, and it's a charge we must keep. Loving Terri, caring for Terri, bringing her water and helping her, changing her diapers--no, it would not be an arduous task, because we would be doing it with love. The same love we would show anyone in her condition. Hard, yes. Impossible, no. And on Easter morning, we should remember what one man did out of love. And like Simon the Cyrene, we should be willing to pick up someone's cross and carry it for them awhile. Terri's cross. The crosses of Alzheimer's patients. The crosses of those afflicted with AIDS. The crosses of tsunami victims. The cross of Christ.
From BlogsforTerri this morning, this announcement:
BlogsForTerri and the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation are planning to join forces in a long-term mission to support life, and to defeat the emerging culture of death in America and the judicial system that supports it.
The effort, still in the planning stages, will be non-partisan, and will focus on the sanctity of human life and the defeat of euthanasia by judicial fiat. Liberals and conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, and independents, will be asked to continue to work together as we are doing for Terri, by focusing on the many views that we share in common, and working together to minimize those few views that we have differing opinions on.
Please read the entire announcement at BlogsforTerri
For me, this has become my calling, a realization that I do not take lightly. There have been posts on other sites where people have said such things as "duct-tape her [Terri's] mouth" or blamed Terri's parents or accused those fighting for Terri's life of simply not caring, or not caring enough. One woman ranted that not one of us would have the courage to change Terri's linens, to actually physically care for her. This woman went on and on and on about how vile it would be to care for Terri, or for anyone in Terri's condition, then threw down the gauntlet by mocking all of Terri's supporters. (And the duct-tape comment was very, very real. The person then went on to say that he was sick of hearing about this, and said that Terri "bugs.") Another woman dared to say that perhaps Mary Schindler has Munchhausen's Syndrome by Proxy, the disease whereby a parent causes illness in their child because they crave the attention for themselves.
Viewed from inside the front lines, I can say that there is no lack of caring on the part of anyone who has become involved in this. The enormous blogroll listing sites fighting for Terri should be enough to prove that. And to the people who have said that Terri's mouth should be duct-taped, I can only say that I am honestly praying for you. As for changing Terri's linens--it would be a difficult job, I will not deny that--but Christ left us with a charge, and it's a charge we must keep. Loving Terri, caring for Terri, bringing her water and helping her, changing her diapers--no, it would not be an arduous task, because we would be doing it with love. The same love we would show anyone in her condition. Hard, yes. Impossible, no. And on Easter morning, we should remember what one man did out of love. And like Simon the Cyrene, we should be willing to pick up someone's cross and carry it for them awhile. Terri's cross. The crosses of Alzheimer's patients. The crosses of those afflicted with AIDS. The crosses of tsunami victims. The cross of Christ.
From BlogsforTerri this morning, this announcement:
BlogsForTerri and the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation are planning to join forces in a long-term mission to support life, and to defeat the emerging culture of death in America and the judicial system that supports it.
The effort, still in the planning stages, will be non-partisan, and will focus on the sanctity of human life and the defeat of euthanasia by judicial fiat. Liberals and conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, and independents, will be asked to continue to work together as we are doing for Terri, by focusing on the many views that we share in common, and working together to minimize those few views that we have differing opinions on.
Please read the entire announcement at BlogsforTerri
