Consistent Pro-Lifers Will Let Them Kill Terri

by

Joshua Graff

 

(Christian Gallery News Service, Mar 21, 2005)  If we are to be true to the standards of “good pro-life Americans”, we should stand by and let them kill Terri Schiavo. Why is this woman so special that our mainstream pro-life leaders are flocking to Florida and have gone so far as to be willing to face arrest to give her aid? Terri Schiavo is helpless, she is completely unable to provide for herself; she is kept alive by a feeding tube; one could say she is merely a parasite. She is of no more value and no better suited for survival than any one of the more than four thousand unborn babies who are ripped apart every day. Like those unseen throwaway babies, Terri cannot support herself, she is completely dependant on another, her umbilical cord just happens to be a plastic tube.  There is really no evidence that conclusively proves she is aware.  In fact, just about every argument used to justify the murder of unseen children can be applied to this woman. Why is Schiavo afforded all this extra effort when many of her supporters do nothing tangible in order to protect a single child about to be murdered?

Of course, the children don’t have the benefit of nationally televised visibility, so it is far easier to let them die in secret.  We the people of the United States of America won’t have to look them in the eyes before they are torn apart.

While Terri will suffer a horrific death, one that is illegal to inflict upon animals or even death row inmates, her lingering death is almost humane next to the viciousness of an abortionist’s attack.  She will have the feeding tube removed: the unseen children have their “feeding tubes” ripped from their bodies and, more than likely, then have their  bodies ripped apart while they are yet living.

FLORIDA IS HAUNTED

I find it interesting that all of this takes place in Florida.  Let us remember that a year and a half ago, in the state of Florida, a man who tried to defend the unseen children--people just like Terri Shiavo--was put to death, and while he lay dying he was condemned by many of the same people who have now flocked to stand in Terri Schiavo's defense.

Why is it that those who gave their lives to defend helpless but unseen victims find themselves demonized by some of the very same people who want to do all they can for Terri?  Is it any wonder that Florida is haunted by specters of pro-life hypocrisy?

The meaning of the actions being taken by the pro-life community is clear: Terri Sciavo's life is of more value than the unseen children.   Any person can, and does, see the point: unborn children are not due the same defense we would give to someone we can put on camera, someone who can be seen to be smiling.  As long as people are invisible, we don't have to weep and wring our hands and symbolically clothe ourselves in sackcloth and ashes.  

The hypocrisy stinks to high heaven!  We will scour the earth to do what is necessary to prevent Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, from carrying out his "choice."   But the millions of people who now claim to want to defend Terri will not even bother to weep as women within easy driving distance of everyone of those "good pro-life Christians" choose to have their unseen children torn limb from limb without even bothering to give the babies local anesthetic before they are butchered.

What's the big deal with Terri?  After all, Michael Schiavo simply wants to exercise his choice and remove an inconvenience in his life.  This is something he surely never planned for or wanted…

Does all this sound familiar?   Or have you all decided to deny this message to enter your consciousness?

If we are to be true to our established standards of defense for the defenseless, instead of this massive political outpouring of support, we would have one or two people standing outside Terri's hospital with small signs that say “Life is a Beautiful Choice”.  Instead of this exercise of raw political power, we would have a couple of people standing outside Terri's hospital room whining, "Please don't kill her; please don't kill dear Terri."

Do you see our hypocrisy?  Terri should be afforded the lackadaisical and totally impotent effort we give the thousands of children killed around us every day or we simply prove that we believe the unborn children are lesser beings, not worthy of the defense we give to "real" people.

Since the nation's attention was focused on Terri, how many babies have been killed within driving distance of Terri and her legions of supporters?  How many children are slaughtered there, each of them receiving the silent sanction of those “good pro-lifers”? 

Planned Parenthood has said if we believed our own rhetoric, we would be much more violent.  And they are right.  Everyone knows it is our own personal cowardice that holds us back. 

Terri's plight shines a glaringly hot spotlight so that everyone in the nation can see the hypocrisy that has become the daily witness of the pro-life movement in this nation.  

Perhaps it would be easier to stand back and allow Michael Schiavo to exercise his choice if Terri was going to be ripped limb from limb rather than being starved to death…we certainly don’t mind children dying like this.  

Do you see my point?  If we are to save this woman, if we are to use extraordinary means to prevent her death, we cannot in good faith maintain this lackadaisical attitude towards the children dying horrific deaths each day.

Our actions prove what we believe; our actions reveal the heart’s true intent.  Acting with such urgency for this woman while virtually ignoring the children reveals the truth of our convictions, proves that we don't truly believe our own words about the lives of the unborn babies.

Whether Terri lives or dies, the Pro-Life Movement has shown what lies in its heart.  So let's make new pro-life signs, signs that say, "The unseen children are not as worthy of life as even a brain-damaged adult who is helpless and in all likelihood will never be more than a burden on those who must care for her."  I know those are a lot of words for a sign, but making signs is one of the few things the pro-life movement has learned to excel in.

Yes, my words are harsh and may even seem cruel  But truth is often found in bitter revelations.  And it has been bitter indeed to see our hypocrisy displayed in such a blatant manner.

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