America Speaks Through Personal Empathy

Many times on this blog, I have illustrated how the media, controlled by the Republican establishment not the so-called "liberal" one, will retaliate by way of the "smear". MSNBC.com posted a story about Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael, complete with numerous innuendo and quotes from people who say he was a shelfish philanderers bent on getting rid of his handicapped wife.

The evil picture of Michael Schiavo the cad, abusive husband was also run on Fox News and CNN, of course, in the name of a balanced story. Is it not despicable to pile on a man whose wife is near death, but can you have a good story without creating a villian whether it's fair or not?

I have a low opinion of the intellect of the American people, but I don't think they're being duped by this charade. Polls indicate that they side with Schiavo's wishes, for one, on legal grounds that he should have the right to pull the feeding tube from his wife, but more importantly, based on personal empathy.

I think most everyone naturally applies their personal wishes upon this issue regarding themselves or close loved ones. I keep hearing people say, "I don't want to be a vegetable" and neither would I.

The notion that people do not want to be limited in their ability to live or be an imposition on others is powerful. We've all had loved ones who have suffered through illness and this is why we're all so riveted by the basic premise of a woman in Florida being allowed to die.

I personally feel great sadness towards Terri Schiavo's family. From afar, we can easily make the call to let go devoid of any contact or memories with Mary, and feel it's for the best. I know it's hard to let go, but I also know that the healing from this will take a long time to set in and may be worse because it's been pushed back fifteen years.

Why couldn't Michael Schiavo and Terri's parents just sit and contemplate the moment without having to coldly stand in front of TV cameras and screaming journalists. Why can't they just sit around Terri's hospital bed and relive their memories of her or just simply cry and cry. In some ways, Terri's impending passing should fall secondary to their state of mind. She will be in a better place while the survivors must deal with the loss and oddly a nation of voyeurs and opportunistic, sociopathic Republican politicians.

This is reality televison run amok.