the Centrist

Terri Schiavo’s maiden name was Schindler. On Good Friday March 25, 2005 … as she lies dying asking only for food and water (“I thirst”) … and as America’s players have decided she in not worthy of life … perhaps, if she could speak, this would be her list …
Terri Schindler’s List:
This is Terri’s Passion Play televised throughout the world, with center stage a hospice in Tampa Florida.   There Terri lies with armed guards preventing those who love her from giving her, the heretofore universally necessary … food and water. This is a list of characters in Terri’s tragic charade:

The part of Jesus is played by the helpless and innocent Terri Schiavo … who is being killed because she is no longer any use to society.

Judas is played by her ‘caretaker’ and betrayer husband Michael Schiavo who sold her for a new wife and a million pieces of silver.

The part of Mary … appropriately by her mother Mary Schindler … who has suffered with her and stood by her to the end.

Peter who first tried to save Jesus, then denied Him three times and the fleeing apostles are played by the Congress of the United States .  They, at first, bravely stepped forward, then, when the polls said otherwise, immediately backed down … allowing the judicial their tyranny.

The Sanhedrin (that Kangaroo Court who condemned Jesus to death)  is played by the jesters we call our judges.  Insulated by life appointments, these judges,  from county to the Supreme Court, could have saved her but refused to even ‘look’.

Judge Greer, the county judge who got it all started, then stubbornly refused to give ground even when the Governor, President, and the Congress demanded … takes the role of head priest Caiaphas … who, like Greer disregarded reason.

Judge James Whitmore, who directly defied an act of Congress and in effect sentenced Terri to die, thus, filling the ‘letter’ of the law, but ignoring the ‘spirit’ of the law … gives a stellar performance as Herod.

Finally we have a duel role playing Pilot.  It was Pilot, who washed his hands of the innocent blood of Jesus rather than risk his political future … just like the Bush Brothers.  Either Bush could have intervened via the pardon or executive order and saved Terri.  It is especially heinous of  Jeb, who rather than following the Constitution of Florida, went to a lowly county judge (Caiaphas Greer) to ask permission.  When he was refused, as all knew he would be, he could no longer proceed in his duty without ‘contempt of court’.  Thus, we see the brothers washing their collective hands, and looking into the camera with their most sincere mask … blood still dripping from the bowl … as they collectively state “We have done all we could”
 So, as the curtain descends on the life of Terri Schiavo one can almost hear the bells tolling in the background and her eyes seem to say … “Don’t cry for me America … the bell tolls for thee.”