Disclaimer. Please note that this article contains only my opinions, plus opinions of others. Some of the information here may be fact, while other information may be fiction. I have done my best to present fact, mostly gathered from the Internet, but cannot be held responsible for information that I present, which may be untrue.

The Planned Execution of Terri Schiavo

 Picture of  Terri just after her brain injury.
Taken from her site at
  Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation.

The Florida execution chamber outfitted for lethal injection 
(For illustrative purposes only. Terri won't be killed this way.)

"Terri Schiavo, found guilty of being disabled and wishing to die, will, on March the 18th, be executed by removal of her feeding tube. The completion of the execution, resulting in her death by starvation, will take from 7-14 days and be extremely painful. Judge George Greer, a committed Christian of long standing, has issued the death warrant and will not accept any more pleas for Terri to be acquitted of her crime."

The above press release is purely fictional; so please don't quote me.

Let me tell you a bit about myself, before I present some more fictional writings.

If you have been following my articles on Terri, some of you may have sensed from my grammar, that perhaps I am not a dinky-di American. You may have come to the conclusion that perhaps I am a foreigner, residing in foreign lands. Well if you thought that, all I can say is "Well done mate. That's ace! Fire up the barbie, chuck on a chook, get out the plonk, warm the billy for the sheilas' cuppa, and lets bog in. For the arvo, we can go to the pokies".

Yes, I am from Australia, the convict colony, and proud of it. 

In Australia we don't have the death penalty. Something as barbaric and as inhumane as that was gotten rid of in 1967. Ronald Ryan was hanged that year in Victoria (a state in Australia). The outcry and outrage from the Australian public was so strong, that the death penalty was removed, and probably removed for good. Don't get me wrong. We certainly do have our very serious crimes and mass murders in Australia. But fortunately we are not barbaric enough to think that using brute force to kill someone, will resolve anything. It doesn't. 

Now for some more fictional writing.

"For immediate release to the Florida Journalists Association. The Florida Association of Broadcasters are invited to select 10 of the 12 pool reporters who may witness Terri's execution. Because the execution will take from 10-14 days, it is recommended that Broadcasters bring plenty of food for sustenance. It is also suggested that each broadcaster bring a 'buddy', who can be a 'relief' broadcaster, during the night hours."

This time how about a factual statement.

* Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice, Gerald Kogan has said, speaking at an Amnesty International Conference,  "And so, I want to commend those of you who feel that the death penalty is archaic, is something that does not belong in a civilized society, in the path that you have chosen to see to it that the death penalty is finally abolished".

Here's another fact

**Death Row inmates are served meals three times a day: at 5:00 am, from 10:30 am to 11:00 am and from 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Food is prepared by prison staff and transported in insulated carts to the cells. Inmates are allowed plates and spoons to eat their meals. Prior to execution, an inmate may request a last meal. To avoid extravagance, the food to prepare the last meal must cost no more than $20 and must be purchased locally.

In our fictional article we read

"The Governor has invoked the 'Terri dispensation, Florida Rule 669'. This rule, which applies to Terri Schiavo only, will mean that she will not be permitted to have any food by mouth, before her execution. This rule has been invoked upon the request of Michael Schiavo, Terri's adulterous husband and guardian. Terri also will not be permitted to receive the last rites under the rule."

Okay folks, it is time to examine the facts of the case again..

1. Terri is profoundly brain injured.

2. She may or may not have a 'death wish'. The courts have decided she has such a wish, which is now a 'rule' of the courts.

3. Terri is most probably not PVS (persistent vegetative state). Even Michael Schiavo at one time intimated that she was definitely not, although he did not use those words. The courts have concluded that Terri is PVS.

Based on the assumption that Terri had a 'death wish', which may be factually untrue, Terri will now be legally killed by having her gastronomy tube removed. If Terri is not PVS, and it is highly probable that she is not, her death will be a terribly painful one, no different from that endured by a perfectly normal, healthy person. 

Will you allow me the indulgence to say, that in my opinion, my opinion only mark you, the correct term for Terri's planned killing, is execution!

Of course the courts would not call Terri's killing an execution at all. That wouldn't be politically correct. Perish the thought. To be honest I don't know what they would call it.

Here is another chilling fact for you to ponder.

China, Iran, the United States, and Viet Nam account for 84% of the executions recorded by Amnesty International in 2003. 

Here is something else to ponder regarding the death penalty.

***Hugo Adam Bedeau, one of the best scholars of this grim history, says, "We now have the most complex and cumbersome system for administering the death penalty the world has ever seen; it is neither fair nor efficient. Few like it, and the more familiarity one has with it, the less one finds to like about it." 

One last fact about the death penalty.

****According to a 1987 study, three hundred and fifty people convicted of capital crimes in the United States between 1900 and 1985 were innocent of the crimes charged. Some prisoners escaped execution by minutes, but 23 were actually executed.

Here is a question for those of you who believe that Terri should be killed because of her reported 'death wish.'

"What if Terri never made a 'death wish' and she is killed?". Her execution would constitute what would be a complete miscarriage of justice; not that killing a disabled person is an act of justice to begin with.

Wouldn't it be better in this tragic situation, to give Terri the 'benefit of the doubt', and allow her to be returned to her loving parents who want to care for her for the rest of her life. Of course it would (my opinion).

Judging from the videos, there are times when Terri is happy. Yes there are indeed times that this is so. Here is a video where Terri seems to be happy.

No one can read Terri's mind now. Michael can't; George Felos can't. Only God knows what Terri feels and wants. 

Come on, let's get this in perspective. 

It is factual that seven months after receiving a significant amount of money  for Terri and himself as a result of a malpractice suit, Michael instructed nurses caring for Terri not to give her antibiotics for a urinary tract infection. This untreated infection could have brought about Terri's death and this fact was known by Michael. Michael wanted Terri to die. Michael for some years now had been wanting her to die. But there was definitely a time just after Terri's brain injury when Michael was most caring and loving.

For about two years Michael Schiavo gave Terri quality care. There is absolutely no doubt about that. That is fact. Michael would take her out for walks and take her out to the pond and sit and feed the ducks. In the cooler weather she would be taken to a baseball field nearby  where the little leaguers play ball. Michael said at the trial. "I like to get her outside for fresh air." This is what Michael in the November 5, 1992 trial, said he did for Terri.

Why can't Terri's parents be allowed to do this now? After all Michael has moved on. He is living in an adulterous relationship and has two children from this relationship.

Conclusion

Terri's time is running out and running out quickly. This is a planned killing and the planned killing is being watched and judged worldwide. America and America's treatment of its citizens is under public international scrutiny. The credibility of the so called superpower is know in the limelight. 

If you think that Terri's life has value, then you need to do something NOW. You can visit Terri's site at the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation. and see how you can help. Or you can sit back, and pray, hoping that God will intervene. Guess what? Sitting back and praying might just be a cop out. It may be that God is waiting for you to do something on His behalf to save Terri. That is tough isn't it.

My humble opinion is that the only way for Terri's life to be saved is for at least 100,000 Americans to go on the streets and peacefully protest against this injustice that is being done. . 

To paraphrase William Shakespeare :-

"To kill an innocent disabled person, or not to kill an innocent disabled person. That is the question."  What will your answer be? Think about it while you have your cuppa.

If you want to know what you can do to save Terri's life, please email me at paulcopeland@saveterri.com. You can also visit my site at www.saveterri.com  for further information.

My other articles about Terri are

In my first article on Terri, I shared my observations regarding Terri's gastronomy tube, (the tube that provides Terri with hydration and nutrition). The Case Against Terri Schiavo (part 1)

In my second article on Terri, I shared my observations regarding the suggestion (that is now a 'rule' of the court), that Terri is in a PVS (persistent vegetative state). The Case Against Terri Schiavo (part 2).

In my third article on Terri, I shared my observations regarding her alleged 'Death Wish'. The Case Against Terri Schiavo (part 3).

In my fourth article about Terri, I shared my observations about so called 'force feeding of Terri, The Case Against Terri Schiavo (part 4.)

In my fifth article I shared Michael's sworn testimony, which certainly indicated that Terri is not PVS, although Michael did not use these words.

As of this writing Terri's situation is critical. Judge Greer has decided that Terri's gastronomy tube can be removed on March the 18th. Although Terri's parents can appeal at another court, Judge Greer has made it quite clear that he does not want to keep granting stays. It would seem that Judge Greer has had enough.

The perceived injustices mentioned in my articles are only the tip of the iceberg, regarding Terri's plight and what would seem to be the totally unfair treatment that she has endured because she is disabled. . I will write another article soon. 

Links in this article

*Retiring Florida Supreme Court Justice Gerald Kogan statements

**Florida Death Row, Fact Sheet, courtesy of Florida Department of Corrections. (Good site to see what happens on Death Row).

*** Death Trip: The American Way of Execution by Robert Sherrill  (Hugo Adam Bedeau's statement)

**** Death Penalty Facts

Paul Copeland is 58 years young. He is happily married to Alison. Their children are Tim, aged 16, who is profoundly disabled and with a gastronomy tube, just like Terri, and Alicia who is 22 and engaged to be married. Paul's family are Christians. Paul, is very concerned about Terri's welfare and has set up a site at www.saveterri.com, to alert folk about her plight. Paul can be contacted at the email listed below. You would be very welcome to visit his site.

About the author:

Paul Copeland is 58 years young. He is happily married to Alison. Their children are Tim, aged 16, who is profoundly disabled and Alicia who is 22 and engaged to be married. Paul's family are Christians. He, is very concerned about Terri's welfare and has set up a site at www.saveterri.com, to alert folk about Terri's plight. Paul can be contacted at:

paulcopeland@saveterri.com

Tell a friend about this site!

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