DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME

I swore I would never publish this while Terri was still alive because of what some freak might do if he read my blog and I could never have lived with myself if he acted on it.

Michael Schiavo knew and counted upon the “other side” not acting like him. What I mean by that is that he knew Terri’s supporters would never stoop to his level to protect her and he was right. In the end, the only way to save Terri was to kill Michael. If Michael were to die before Terri, her guardianship would go to her parents, who would have never removed the feeding tube. Michael Schiavo knew that he was willing to kill to get what he wanted and the other side never would. The bad guys count on the good guys never doing what they would do, whether it’s sending a retarded boy up to and Army check point strapped with explosives or killing innocent people.

Cold? Sure. True? Yes.

TERRI

What can I say? Terri is dead. Terri Schiavo, a woman I agonized over has died. I blogged on her fight for life a year and a half ago and then, when her life was saved, had second thoughts on if she wanted to live at all. Even with my misgivings, I always thought I was right to wish her to live, even if it was against her wishes.

Terri died because of a bad law. The Florida law said that the spouse had the final say in a case of a patient that cannot speak for themselves, even in the face of obvious conflicts of interest and parties willing to adopt responsibility for him (or her). It’s that law that killed her, along with a husband who didn’t seem to care.

Even at this time, I am torn. I weep that she has died. Literally, there are tears in my eyes as I type this. I also rejoice that she no longer suffers on this earth. Even if she lived as I believe she did, cognizant of the love she received from her parents and family, yet unable to express it and the utter frustration she had at her condition, wishing it were different or over. I am happy her suffering is over and hope she is in Heaven, free of pain and agony.

So, what now? We need to change the laws to side with life. If there is a question, we need err on the side of living. This includes not only end-of-live situations, but also, my pet project, BEGINNING-of-life situations. Terri died today, one life that I feel for. But, also today, 3,500 babies died in abortion clinics – leaving 3,501 people who died because of a party with conflicted interests. So, we need to leave today renewed in our fight for life, no matter if it is at the beginning or the end – all innocent life is precious.

God bless you, Terri – I pray for you.

KIND OF A POOR NEW BEGINNING

This is kind of a weak start to the New Mel's Diner, but what can I say? At least it's a start.

I've been writing opinion pieces for years and several times I have said a variation of the following:

"Whenever I feel I'm just the cat's meow when it comes to political writing, I find something like this..." and here it is again. Matt Labash (ironically named, mind you) has written a wonderfull "bash-Canada" piece (Thanks to Jonah at NRO) - it's one of the best, the first couple of paragraphs are a hoot.

Speaking of Jonah, he's a death penalty supporter, and has no respect for those who are against it because some innocent people may be killed. I'm against the death penalty because murder is wrong (no matter who is doing the killing), but I understand his point. My only issue is that everytime he talks about it, he comes accross as some kind of blood-thirsty monster. No more so in this post on National Review Online.

Andrew Sullivan is going to stop blogging, but he will continue to write, which is good. Here's his column from this Sunday's Times, nailing the appointment of John Bolton (or was it Michael Bolton or maybe this Michael Bolton )by George Bush to UN Envoy.

Staying accross the Atlantic, Sean Thomas of the London Telegraph has a telling essay on what exactly it is to define being "black".

And finally, a story out of New York that threatens to rock the "pro-choice" movement (and they need as much rocking as possible), as "anti-choice" activist goes on trial for "keeping and exposing a dead body or body part". That part would be a 15-17 week old baby girl fetus. If convicted, the court will set a precident that a 15-17 week fetus is actually a person. And if it is a person, then abortion at that point is still a choice to get rid of a bunch of cells? I don't think so. Of course, 15-17 weeks is after the first tri-mester, so most abortions will continue on, but it's a start. And what's to say a 12 week, or 10 week fetus isn't a person, too?

"HOW COULD HAVE A MAN THAT DUMB BEEN RIGHT?"

In probably the closest The New York Times Editorial Board will ever come out in support of President Bush’s foreign policy, we get today’s lead editorial, Mideast Climate Change. I started reading it in trepidation of what magic fairy they would pull out of the air to credit the positive changes happening in the Mideast, so imagine my surprise when I read this:

“Still, this has so far been a year of heartening surprises - each one remarkable in itself, and taken together truly astonishing. The Bush administration is entitled to claim a healthy share of the credit for many of these advances. It boldly proclaimed the cause of Middle East democracy at a time when few in the West thought it had any realistic chance. And for all the negative consequences that flowed from the American invasion of Iraq, there could have been no democratic elections there this January if Saddam Hussein had still been in power.”

Ok, not lavish praise or heartfelt thanks, but about as good as we can expect from The New York Times (or not expect, as I did). I can picture the board, hands in their pockets, kicking at the dirt with their heads down, saying,

“Yeah, I guess he was right”

Hey, maybe miracles can happen.