The Schiavo Challenge

Call me what you want - quitter, RINO, whatever - that's irrelevant. I've not blogged incessantly on the Schiavo case, in part because I feel as I often do when a verdict I disagree with from the latest sensational trial is returned. If I'm not in the court room, haven't heard and read ALL the evidence in context, I'm not an authority to render a final judgment.

My desire to see Terry Schiavo live was not based upon the law but on common sense, compassion and a respect for life. But any adult should know by now that when you tangle with the justice system you cannot expect a morality judgment or common sense, you can only expect the law. Laws are not divine, can be anything from humane to inhuman and are only as good as the men and women that make and enforce them.

Logically, there is no good reason for Terry Schiavo to die. If in a vegetative state, feeding her does not harm her. If not, there really can always be hope. And hope should always prevail over all else in an ideal world. However, quite possibly the law will result in Terry's death. And if that is a tragedy, as I think it may well be, then it is the law that is tragic in this instance.

For those who would like to see the law changed instantly - or even yesterday, today or tomorrow, think hard. Not that my heart might not long for that, too. But good law rarely comes expediently, or from raw emotion. That's likely what we saw from the United States Congress just days ago - scrambling to help a dying woman, they evidently wrote bad law. Perhaps good law may have saved Terry, perhaps not; we'll likely never know. But bad law didn't and likely wouldn't do much for those that come after Terry, either.

The Schiavo challenge may well not now rest in saving Terry. The Schiavo challenge will likely rest in saving the law. That means both respecting what law we have today, as well as diligently pursuing a correction of today's law if it be the correct, moral, right, best, choose your adjective ... thing to do.

Will Sean Hannity be broadcasting from the same hospice a year from now lobbying for a potentially prudent change in the law? Will a vast array of bloggers be blogging, in part as regards the case of Terry Schiavo, and advocating appropriate change in pertinent law? Ultimately that may be the only real challenge left for civil people engaged in fostering an ever more perfect union.

I find the phrase "ever more perfect" a telling one in this case. For those that would advocate storming the Bastille just now, not that it's a notion always foreign to my own heart, think on what your real privilege is here as a citizen of the world's greatest democracy. It is not and has never been to wield a sword and flaunt the law - any thug can presume that privilege. The good citizen's challenge is far more difficult. That challenge is to stay civil and stay the course to help foster that more perfect union every American should desire without tearing our country's underpinnings, the law, asunder.

That great and noble challenge requires time, patience, accommodation, dialog and ultimately common understanding. The Schiavo challenge for all individuals now is likely not to keep Terry alive, but to be American and help make America better. I wonder how many in the literal and proverbial streets today are really up to that challenge. It's possibly how the Terry's of tomorrow, as well as today might judge you ... should you be fortunate enough to come upon them in heaven someday.

Post also available at Blogger News.

Comments

[Dave S.]

Very well said. It's easy to let the emotions take over, but the law is all we have. We have to just take as much comfort as we can from the fact that "our side" did all we could by attempting to work within the system, and that the law can be changed to avoid these situations in the future.

[aaron]

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