After thirteen days without food and water Terri Schiavo died on this date two years ago. Ironically, the barbaric act of taking away her food and water, the most basic of care, was marketed by the mainstream media and euthanasia extremists as an act of compassion given to a woman whose life was not worth living.
As if understanding the illegitimacy of their act, some attempted to dehumanize Terri by suggesting that she was in a coma, brain dead, or a "vegetable" while others reported that machines were keeping her alive, as if she was dying. The use and continued republication of these blatant falsehoods to justify Terri's death underscores the implication that withholding food and water to bring about death is fundamentally immoral.
Dehumanization is a necessary because the value of human life is key. Terri's case revealed that our courts and society have taken a low view of human life, one that measures a person's worth by the scale of the young and healthy. The core values of this death oriented belief system have been festering below the surface for decades, emerging with the legalization of abortion in 1973.
What has surprised many is the that the Culture of Death is progressive and has turned from the oppression of those hidden in the womb to strike out against the weak and helpless in plain view of society and by the authority of the State and Federal governments.
This evolution follows from the belief that human life derives its worth based on its characteristics and utilitarian benefit as determined, of course, by others in society.
The valuation of human life on the basis of a characteristic, quality or contribution inevitably leads to the oppression of the undesirable; those whom others find "inconvenient" or of little worth. This type of valuation is termed "instrumental" and requires some defining characteristic to provide worth and another person to recognize it. Because instrumental value depends on a characteristic or quality, if either is absent or lost, the person loses his or her worth.
Many other societies have progressed down this path and have left a legacy of horror and atrocity.
The true value of humans is intrinsic. Human life is precious and worth protecting and sustaining because of the value placed upon it by a transcendent source (God) apart from each person's health status, maturity, intelligence, race, abilities, etc.
Thus, a practical consequence of the rejection of God is a change in the way humans perceive the value of others. As society is secularized, it becomes man-centered and value is assigned based upon attributes it finds useful
Terri's distinction from others was one of health and capability, neither of which are characteristics that add value to the human kind. She was as valuable as those who were not in her same condition and yet, society chose to murder her.
Thus, the rejection of God and the value He places upon men and woman has led to the culture of death that accepts and promotes the killing of certain kinds of individuals while claiming to be merciful and good. Over time, this society will become more consistent in its belief system and aggressive in its oppression of the weak and helpless.
Therefore, the answer to the lesson learned from Terri Schiavo's life and death is not found in political progress but in the good news of Jesus Christ, who supremely valued people by shedding His precious blood on their behalf.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8... knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, [the blood] of Christ - 1 Peter 1:18
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. - Romans 10:13
