O Death

Terry Schindler Schivo

December 3, 1963 - March 31, 2005

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

There are no winners today -- only losers. This was never a win-win scenario. Only a lose-lose. Our country is a little less innocent tonight. There will be an autopsy and a cremation. There will be grieving parents and a grieving husband. This should have never been a platform for political agendas. If Terry were a 70 year old stroke victim, this huge spectacle would have never been. And if she were a mentally retarded child, it never would have been considered. I grieve for the family and for our country tonight. How do we weigh life? How do we value it? Where are lines to be drawn? Should lines be drawn? Are all lives to be treasured? Should those who are terminally or critically ill be allowed to slip away home? When do we stop playing God? Dr. Long talked the other day about little "d" death and big "D" death. I understood his distinction at the time, but now the lines are fuzzy. God have mercy on this wicked, confused, beautiful world.