Vita aut Mortis VI

I don't really have anything new to say, but I wanted to post a link to this site, by a doctor who has examined Terri's CT scan from 1996 (from 1996 because Michael has refused to let another be taken). His comments are intriguing, particularly his speculations that there is evidence of brain trauma from something, like, say, being smashed in the head. Hmmm. If true, I wonder how that could have happened?

I strongly recommend reading his post.

Vita aut Mortis V

Here is a link to the latest. Terri still appears doomed to die. Here is an excellent post by Ann Coulter on why Gov. Bush should send the National Guard to protect Terri. Michael's scumbag lawyer says "Jeb Bush does not own the state of Florida and just cannot impose his will on Terri Schiavo." This is a typical liberal attitude--anyone who disagrees with a liberal is "imposing" his will on others, or being "intolerant" of others. But is Michael imposing his will on Terri starving her to death? Of course not! He's simply being a loving husband. Hogwash.

What is the difference between liberals and conservatives? Conservatives want to execute murderers, traitors, and rapists. Liberals want to put them up in luxury prisons with good food and cable TV. Conservatives want to save the lives of innocent people such as unborn babies and handicapped women. Liberals want to murder them. Conservatives think hard work should be rewarded. Liberals think lazy slackers should be rewarded by the hard workers. Conservatives think everyone has a right to an opinion. Liberals think everyone has a right to an opinion except for people whose opinions go against theirs. Conservatives believe people have a right to live. Liberals believe they have a right to kill anyone who cannot defend him or herself.

Vita aut Mortis IV

Terri Schiavo is in her seventh day of being starved to death. The latest update is here. Her brother made a statement: "It's very frustrating. Every minute that goes by is a minute that Terri is being starved and dehydrated to death....[Seeing my sister is like looking at] "pictures of prisoners in concentration camps."

Michael's genius brother had this brilliant comment to make: "[She] does look a little withdrawn. [But starvation is] part of the death process." Michael's lawyer has suggested that the Schindlers' time would be better spent by reflecting on Terri than trying to save her life. Do they practice these comments in front of the mirror so they can keep a straight face when they talk to reporters?

I cannot find words to properly describe how detestable and vulgar this case is. The fact that the state courts have allowed an adulterous husband to have his wife murdered over the protests of her family, and that the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to even hear it is disgraceful. Terri is (or was, before they stopped feeding her) a healthy, functioning human being. She was happy, her family loves her, and she was not suffering. This is absolutely barbaric.

Vita aut Mortis III

Here is a link to the latest update on Terri Schiavo. The Supreme Court has failed to protect her, so unless a miracle happens, it looks like we will have a case of barbaric, judicial-system-sanctioned murder. Here is a quote from her "husband" Michael:

The status quo today is that Mrs. Schiavo is exactly where she would want to be; she has been released from unwanted, intrusive medical procedures according to her wishes. Preservation of the status quo would allow her to die in peace, and to maintain her dignity and autonomy. Petitioners [the Schindlers], however, ask this court to upset the peace that Mrs. Schiavo has attained, to reverse the fulfillment of her own wishes, and to dismantle 8 years of painstaking work by courts in both the Florida system and the federal system.

Do people actually believe this...for lack of a better word used in polite conversation, trash? Feeding a person is an "unwanted, intrusive medical procedure"? Slowly dying of dehydration is the "peace that Mrs. Schiavo has attained"? This freak has got something to hide, and I hope someone finds out what it is very, very soon.

Vita aut Mortis II

Just posting a quick update on Terri Schiavo: Although the Senate and House passed this bill, Terri's feeding tube has not been replaced. I also just read a transcript of an interview with a doctor nominated for the Nobel Prize, who works with people like Terri. Though I believe she has a right to live even if she has no chance of recovery, I think you will all find it interesting.

Also, I would like to address an argument I have heard recently in support of Michael Schiavo. I turned the news on yesterday morning just in time to catch a very short interview with Michael. He said that he was "outraged" and that the American people should be "outraged" at how the government was stepping in on a private family matter. How ridiculous is that? I strongly believe in family rights, but I also believe that a family can violate and thus forfeit its rights. Parents should be allowed to raise and discipline (yes, even spank) their children as they see fit; however, if they beat their child half to death every night they have violated their rights and the government must step in. Likewise, while a husband normally should have first say in the care of his wife, when he decides to kill her he violates and thus forfeits his rights, making it necessary for wife's family and unfortunately, in this case, the government to step in.

Terri's family and Micheal are having a serious conflict involving a woman's life. Who on earth does he think should resolve it?

Vita aut Mortis

Whether Terri Schiavo should be allowed to live or be starved to death has been fought over for many years. Her parents and siblings have been fighting for her life, her adulterous husband for her death. Details can be found at www.terrisfight.org. Two days ago, a judge ordered that she not be fed or given water.

Terri is declared by her husband to be in a “persistent vegetative state”, although this diagnosis has been contested. Whether it is true or not is hard to say considering the fact that he will not allow proper tests to be run on her. But really, whether she is in a “persistent vegetative state” or not is completely irrelevant. She is a living, breathing, responsive human being. She is not on life support, she is simply being fed directly into her small intestine instead of through her mouth, as are many other people.

When is it acceptable to end human life? Is it dependent on one’s mental status? If so, then infanticide, killing of retarded people, and killing of senile people must be acceptable. Is it dependent on one’s ability to survive independently? I once saw a young man who had been in an extremely bad car accident, and had a 2x4 crush his throat. He had to have a stomach tube (just like Terri’s) put in because he could not swallow. When I saw him, he was walking, had full mental capacity, and could (though barely) talk. Should his parents be allowed to have his tube removed and starve him to death because he cannot swallow?

A question that has been in my mind is “why is Terri’s husband (Michael) so insistent that she be killed?” He got a girlfriend a decade ago, and has had children with her, so the excuse of wanting his wife “out of misery” kind of gets thrown out the window. If he has managed to start his life with someone else he can’t have too many sincere feelings for her. Another interesting fact is that he wants her cremated as soon as she dies. Yet another interesting fact is that the only evidence for her not wanting to be kept alive artificially is his testimony. Since there is only speculation as to why Michael wants Terri dead, I will not comment further on this subject. Google “Michael Schiavo” if you would like to read some ideas.

Even if Michael is Mr. Innocent and has his wife’s best interests at heart, why is it so important to him that Terri die? She is obviously not suffering. By all accounts she’s happy. Her family wants her alive, and would be totally willing to take her off his hands and let him go on with his life. Why is it so important?

If Terri is starved to death, not only will an innocent life be taken, but also a precedent will be set for future cases similar to hers. Roe v. Wade has already resulted in the murder of more that 40 million people, let’s pray that this case does not result in similar consequences.

Ostentatores

The topic of today is...charlatans! I decided to write on this topic due to two experiences I have recently had. The first occurred last week when I flew in to the lovely metropolis of ----. While standing on the curb awaiting my ride, I was approached by a short man who appeared to be Indian (I found out later that he was a Hari Krishna, a sect of Hinduism I had never heard of before). He asked me if I was a student, and when I replied in the affirmative, he opened up two books he was holding, signed them, and handed them to me. He then explained that the books talk about things such as meditation and Karma, and that they were his organization's free gift to students like me. I would have given them back and talked to him about these topics, except for the fact that my ride was less than three minutes away. Therefore, I just thanked him, expecting him to leave. However, he then held out his hand and asked if I would like to make a small donation. I told him that I was a Christian, and could not help his cause financially. He tried to explain that it was a philosophy, not a religion, and asked again if I would make a donation. I again told him no. Then he took the books back and walked off! So much for the free gift!

A few weeks ago I found out that a person I know regularly buys Miracle II products. I was not familiar with these products, so I looked at one of his bottles of "Miracle II Neutralizer". It claimed to contain: "Electrically engineered eloptic** energized stabilized oxygenated water - Ash of Dodecyl solution - Calcium - Potassium - Magnesium." Basically, I thought to myself, it's bottled tap water that some buffoon is claiming can cure cancer. Having taken years of chemistry while obtaining my undergrad degree in biology, I was curious as to why I had never heard of "eloptic energy". Therefore, I decided to look it up online. I discovered why I had never heard of it before--it's a made up word, combining "electric" and "optical". Some guy in the early 1900s had theories about passing things through electromagnetic fields and light. What this would accomplish was unclear.

I was also unfamiliar with ash of dodecyl. I looked it up, and found that it is an irritant that is used as an additive in things such as rubber and lubricants. I then remembered that we used a form of it (SDS) to denature proteins in biochemistry labs. It is definitely not something I would want in my body.

Then, I looked at the price page, and my heart nearly stopped. $67 a gallon!!! $180 a gallon if one wants it in a gel!!! Let me summarize what this junk is---water that has been passed through 400 volts of electricity with a protein-denaturing chemical added to it. What would this cost to produce? My guess is that the plastic bottle they put it in costs more than the water.

You may very well ask, "Why would anyone buy this product?" The manufacturers claim that this trash can help cancer, speed up wound healing, treat psoriasis, warts, poison ivy, bedsores, athlete's foot, and many other skin problems. It "detoxifies" the stomach, makes crawfish grow twice as big, and prevents car batteries from corroding (question: do you really want to drink something that keeps metal from corroding?)! Interestingly enough, there is no proof given for any of this.

Who thought up this nonsense? A man named Clayton Tedeton. He claims that the formula appeared on his bedroom wall one night more than twenty years ago. After wandering the US and Mexico for nearly a decade, he decided that God wanted him to produce this stuff and distribute it (question #2: did God also want him to sell it for three hundred times its worth?). My favorite part of his story is that he obtained a masters degree in "Spiritual Chemistry, Medicine, and Nervology".

The easiest lie for people to believe is the one they want to hear. This water is most likely primarily bought by people who have chronic diseases or problems that they are willing to do anything to be rid of. It angers me very much that men such as Clayton manipulate people who need help by cheating them out of their money by pretending to have been given a revelation by God. At the same time, I am reminded of the proverb, "A fool and his money are easily parted."

Adorare et Servire

I have been reminded on several occasions over the last few years of my education of Romans 1:18 and following:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

This passage was brought to my mind most recently by a lecture on the importance of the scientific method in everyday life. Basically, the professor spent an hour lauding the scientific method as the only way we can overcome our innate habit of building our own concept of truth and not questioning it. He gave as an example the old practice of bloodletting to “restore the bodily humors” in order to cure people. His question was, “why was this absurd practice, having no evidence to support it, and seemingly obvious evidence against it used for so long?” His answer was that it was because people are not trained to use the scientific method, but rather to unquestioningly accept what their education and environment has taught them to be true.

What made me think of Romans 1 was not so much what the professor said, as the it was the way he said it. It is rather hard to describe, but essentially he almost seemed to have the attitude that the scientific method will be our salvation—once we all learn to use it properly we can escape our ignorance, and change the future. Think of the mindset of one of the leaders of the French Enlightenment, who worshiped the goddess of reason, and believed that men could find fulfillment in themselves, or of one of the builders of the Tower of Babel who sought to defy their Creator and make a name for themselves. This worldview can also be seen in some of the earlier writings of H. G. Wells.

This instance was not the first time I have witnessed this belief in a scientists. One of my old professors talked once about how he thought that life itself might be a law of the universe, similar to gravity, and that organic molecules might naturally create themselves when the conditions are right. Judging by his tone and face, one would have assumed he was talking about a religion.

I believe that people innately know there is something greater than themselves. The problem is that the people I have just described have a very limited view. God’s creation is mind-boggling, and should fill us with fearful awe. Every part of it, from the hugest to smallest is a witness to the almighty power of God. The forces that maintain and control the tiniest atom, the very fabric of our existence, are incomprehensible; the power and brilliance contained in the largest star is beyond our understanding. But if one stops there, he misses the point. It is fitting that we should marvel at the universe, from amoebae to supernovas, but more importantly we should marvel at the One who created it. Simply studying the creation is like being invited to feast in a palace for eternity, but instead of staying you grab a cracker from the nearest plate and run back out into the darkness to gloat over it.

People have taken something beautiful and marvelous and corrupted it. They have placed the lowest slave on the throne of their king, and the ugliest pebble in a crown fit for the most priceless diamond. They worship and serve the creation rather than the Creator. The reason humanity is so lost and ignorant is due to this, not due to an improper utilization of the scientific method.