What have we come to?

It has been a while since being in the position and mood to write. It is only after I am compelled by certain events that I force myself to put my words to print. Such is the case this morning.

After hearing of the decision by Judge James Whittemore to withhold replacement of the feeding tube for Terri Schiavo, my feelings turn to prayer. How can anyone, especially some one who has been identified and promoted to the position of District Judge, have the audacity to withhold food from any person, regardless of their place in life. In my opinion, the Judge needs more prayer than she does. May God have mercy on his soul! I would suggest he pray that he (or Mike Schiavo) never find himself with the roles reversed.

As I reminisce on this set of circumstances as a professional veterinarian, I have many vivid memories regarding similar events. I remind the readers to be aware that my interaction was with classes of animals thought by most to be less precious or less important than humans. In the event this message ends in mid-sentence, please imagine that I have relocated to the bathroom because nausea has overcome me.

Setting some thoughts in place, it is very clear the people of this great nation have become so degenerate and insensitive that we reach to the political authorities for help. What kind of help could one expect from them? Most are lawyers, need I say more?

Allow me to ramble as I select randomly from the circumstances that lead me to the level of disgust and frustration as I compare what I have experienced relative to the care being given to Terri Schiavo. One thing I am sure of is that she would not want to undergo the experiences she is going through today.

Millions are spent, and more are available, to insure that wild donkeys are not starved or neglected. Many more millions are available to make sure that research animals of all species are given proper nutrition and physical ‘enrichment’. Every commercial and roadside zoo is inspected to make sure that animals have proper nutrition and care. I worked for the USDA for years enforcing animal rights. There were laws that required that animals brought to be slaughtered were fed and watered unless they were to be slaughtered within 12 hours of delivery.

I have assisted the enforcement of laws covering dog kennels, horse stables, semen centers, dairy operations, and others where owners were fined and some put in jail for failing to provide adequate food and water. Baby calf rearing stations and swine farrowing-pens which were intentionally so small the animal could not even turn around but were still required to be given adequate food and water. I have inspected dozens of research facilities where hundreds of primates were sheltered. Not only did the law require they receive adequate nutrition and water but they had to be arranged so that they could see one another to provide psychological enrichment.

I recall one experience of airlifting hay and delivering it via C-82 aircraft to provide food for cattle in western Nebraska and Kansas when surface travel was totally impossible. I was a part of an Air National Guard exercise when Denver, CO received 41 inches of snow on Christmas Eve, 1982, stranding hundreds in Stapelton Airport. We delivered milk, food, and other essentials to hundreds of stranded travelers. I have even been in church services where some in the congregation brought water in with them because the service lasted over an hour.

I could go on with other experiences, however, most would be essentially just more of the same. The major issue, as I see it, is attempting to determine how much control, legally, does one individual have over another. In this case, it is one thing to be able to deny Terri food and water, but quite another to deny psychological enrichment, i.e. TV, radio, looking out of her window, music, etc. Reportedly, he apparently has not denied himself very much of any or all of life’s necessities, or conveniences. It would seem crass of him to enlist this course of action upon her.

In conclusion, I am reminded that Jesus came into the world that we might have life, and life more abundantly (John 10:10). I believe that Michael will someday have the opportunity to stand before God and answer for his years of interfering with God’s plan for her life. I am thankful that He (God) is in control. For her sake, I hope that someone with some compassion and intelligence make a decision to give her a chance to live and recover. For my sake, I have a living will. I pray that it will not be necessary to consider what it says. Personally, I am hoping and looking for the rapture!