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Michael Schiavo should let Terri's parents care for her

Re: Michael Schiavo interview, March 16.

Does Michael Schiavo even hear himself when he speaks? Does he really think there is logic in his words?

The solution is so incredibly simple that it astonishes me. If Mr. Schiavo is correct and there is nothing left inside Terri's body, then what does it really matter to her if her feeding tube remains? She obviously wasn't so adamant about end-of-life measures as to have made a living will.

Mr. Schiavo has "gone on with his life." Good for him. If he truly believes Terri is dead in that shell, divorce her and move on with his new family. What difference would it make to her? Mr. Schiavo has nothing to lose if Terri's feeding tube remains and he is correct that she will never recover.

It seems to me that this would matter only to Terri's parents. If it doesn't matter to Terri and it doesn't matter to Michael, why not just get out of the way and let the only people it does matter to - Terri's parents - work with her and take care of her and love her?

The Times' attempt to paint Michael Schiavo as a sympathetic victim of our Legislature is shameful! Our Legislature is working tirelessly to preserve life and should be commended!

Michael Schiavo should get out of the way and let Terri's parent's have her!

Stop lawmakers' meddling

Re: Lawmakers would kill right to die with dignity, by Lucy Morgan, March 12.

I hope the St. Petersburg Times will continue to stress that people must speak out against the state Legislature changing the laws dealing with our right to die with dignity. My husband and I both have done everything legally possible to ensure that our wishes are in writing, but life happens and papers do get lost or destroyed.

These decisions have no business being made by people outside the family. Many years ago I was faced with a situation similar to what Lucy Morgan described in her column. I, too, felt that my mother was being treated like a cash crop. She had never put anything in writing, and because of that we were in a difficult situation. I hope it never happens to anyone else, but I know that it will unless the usually silent majority speaks out now.

There are very few Terri Schaivo-like cases, but there are many elderly people who could be affected. It would mean a loss of the right to die with dignity for them. It would cost the taxpayers in Florida a lot of money. Please, let the lawmakers know how you feel about changing the law.

The unsympathetic husband

I think many people opposed to the feeding tube being removed from Terri Schiavo feel this way because of who is seeking the removal, and the circumstances it is being done under. I doubt this case would be such a controversial one if it was Terri's whole family that was doing this tube removal. Instead, it is the ghoulish Michael Schiavo. This is a man who can't see that he is merely one person in a large group of people who claim to want was is best for Terri. He has made it his own bizarre mission to ensure her life is ended fast, without further therapies, and without her family involvement. That is downright creepy to many of us. That is the reason, not some right-wing, religious fanaticism, we want the Schindlers to win.

Michael stands by his convictions

Re: "Who there would take Terri's place?"March 16.

Kudos to Michael Schiavo for standing by his convictions and for speaking out against the latest push for a new "Terri's Law." As he said, the politicians are "pandering to the religious groups and the antiabortion groups and the Christian Coalition."

I wonder about the convictions of these religious groups. I was raised as a Christian and learned that we are on earth temporarily. I learned that the most wonderful thing is to be able to sit by the side of God. Why don't these so-called Christians let Terri go to the glorious eternity that we are all taught to strive for?

Apply the wisdom of Solomon

As Pinellas County Circuit Judge George Greer deliberates his final ruling on the now-famous Terri Schiavo case, may he have the wisdom of King Solomon, as evidenced in 1 Kings 3:16-28.

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, was confronted by two mothers who each claimed a baby to be their own. King Solomon called for a sword that the baby be divided, and half be given to each mother. One mother agreed; the other protested and begged the king to give the baby to the other woman. King Solomon then knew to whom the baby belonged: the one who wanted the child to live.

To Judge George Greer: Give Terri Schiavo to the ones who want her to live - Bob and Mary Schindler.

Let her move on to heaven

As a Christian, and as someone who has had to make the same difficult decision that Michael Schiavo is trying to carry out for his wife, Terri, I cannot understand why the Christians (as they call themselves) who are protesting, are so adamant about trying to keep Terri Schiavo from going to heaven to be with our Lord.

If I were in Terri's place, and trusting in my faith, I would certainly chose heaven over the hell on earth she is living on a daily basis. And as a mother of three children, I would rather they be with our Lord than living as Mrs. Schiavo is living.

They should watch her passing

Re: "Who there would take Terri's place?"

On Friday, Michael Schiavo hopes that his wife's feeding tube will be removed so that she can begin dying of starvation and dehydration. Would he starve to death in her place? At the very least, Mr. Schiavo and the judge should sit with her until the end and be witnesses to the consequences of their decision.

Leave life and death choices alone

I write to let Gov. Jeb Bush, Rep. Dennis Baxley and others know that should I become incapable of making my own medical decisions, I want my wife to make any and all decisions for me.

I do not wish to be kept alive in a vegetative state and do not consider "starving" to be an inhumane action when I wish to die.

I consider politicians passing laws and meddling in areas of personal choice for the sole purpose of seeking votes, a gross violation of a public servant's mission. Pass no law, ordinance, enactment, or amendment on my behalf. Leave me and my life/death choices alone!

[Last modified March 17, 2005, 01:06:18]