Sincerity is one thing; stupidity is another.

Randall Terry of Operation Rescue and now spokesman for Terri Schiavo’s parents: ‘What in the name of God is going on when the entire US government prostrates itself at the feet of a tinpot judge?’ (Guardian, 29 Mar. 2005)

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition: ‘Mahoney said that the fact that Schiavo has survived nearly 10 days since the removal of the tube that has supplied her with nutrition and water indicates that she wants to appear before the House Government Reform Committee.’ (CNN.com, 28 Mar. 2005) On the next day, Mahoney again cited Schiavo’s ‘endurance through 11 days without food or water as evidence that she wants to live … Mahoney shouted, “She is speaking from her hospice bed, saying, ‘I want to live. Will you help me?”‘ (Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2005)

Michael McMonagle, another protester, ‘proposed that … husband Michael Schiavo be arrested.’ [Presumably for taking his case to court!] (ibid.)

Bob Hunt, also a demonstrator, went one better: ‘The government should declare martial law for the whole county, arrest the judge, arrest the sheriff.’ (ibid.)

‘[P]hotographers and reporters outnumbered the demonstrators by about two to one. But the small and soggy group of protesters lacked nothing in enthusiasm, standing in the mud … and waving signs saying “The fruit of abortion is nuclear war” …’ (ibid.)

‘Joan Schiavo, who has testified over the years that Terri Schiavo would not have wanted to be kept alive in her condition, reported [on] Monday evening that a white car drove by her Philadelphia-area home [several times] when she was leaving to go to work … During the last pass, Schiavo told police, the car stopped and the man inside yelled “murderer”, then added, “If Terri dies, I’m coming back to shoot you and your family.” Joan Schiavo is married to William Schiavo, one of Michael’s brothers … Last week, police arrested an Illinois man they said robbed a gun store in Seminole, Florida, as part of an attempt to “rescue Terri Schiavo”. Michael W. Mitchell, 20, faces charges of attempted armed robbery, aggravated assault and criminal mischief …’ (CNN.com, 29 Mar. 2005)

Paul Copeland, Australian anti-euthanasia activist: ‘In China, God is raising the dead. These are miracles. God can heal Terri in the blink of an eye.’ (SaveTerri.com, 29 Mar. 2005)

‘Early [on] Wednesday, a man was arrested when he tried to take a plastic cup of water into the hospice. Officers stopped him at the gate as he shouted: “You don’t know God from Godzilla!” (Guardian, 30 Mar. 2005)

And Terri Schiavo wanted to die with dignity!

Filed in: Voluntary Euthanasia