Some definitions of "humane"

A Chicago GI gets this treatment for the "mercy killing" of an enemy Iraqi who was mortally injured during a hot pursuit, but Michael Schiavo and Judge Greer walk away as heroes, for "letting Terri die [deliberately starve and dehydrate her over the period of two weeks] with dignity".

I sense that the cause has a bit of a split personality. Or, maybe there's no comparison.

Nevertheless.




What concerns me most about the Schiavo case is how many people keep saying they would not want to live past their usefulness. Do they really think that ANY human being could be considered useless? No matter how fragile a person's state, no matter how much effort it requires to keep him alive, his merest existence touches the lives of other people. Somebody who has nothing more to contribute than his body lying still, needing constant attendance, is still giving another person a reason to be. An otherwise non-reactive person is still a living thing, one life needing another to care for it. That brings purpose to the caregiver, and that, therefore, gives meaning to the patient's life.

Life, in and of itself, is the gift we are given. All other properties are the bonus prizes for showing up. The greatest prize is the ability to care for somebody or something other than ourselves. The ability to love is an amazing gift, and one that truly requires no reciprocation.

Not to compare Terri to a cat or puppy, but many of us choose to bring pets into our lives, out of a need to share our affection with another living creature. We don't ask for scintillating feline conversation or expect the dogs to dig us up some flowers on our anniversaries. All we ask is the chance to care for them, as long as they need us. Should we not make certain that those humans who are incapable of caring for themselves be given the same opportunity?

Needing to give unselfishly is a fundamental drive, in a thriving society.

But wanting to keep our loved ones with us, selfishly, because we need to care for them -- that, too, is a fundamental drive. And, in fact, that drive is what made so much of our modern medical advancements. It is selfishness that brings about the cures for cancer, treatments for diabetes, and so on. We want to hold and cherish each other for as long as there is breath left in us. Both science and faith tell us, often, that we can.

We don't have to worry about the weak slowing us down. There is no wolf nipping at our heels, unless it is of our own making. America is a wealthy nation, with unending resources, as long as the inventors continue to apply their wits, and as long as we have the courage to try. We can afford to provide for those who can do nothing for themselves. We can afford to carry the weakest among us.

But simple compassion -- that resource we can not afford to squander.

When we, as a people, stop wanting to soothe the parched lips of a stranger, when we as a people, stop trying to care for our loved ones, we therefore starve our souls, and we have, as a people, begun to die, ourselves.

Let the loss of Terri mark the last of this disease.