It's time for all of us to let Terri Schiavo rest in peace
Letters to the EditorPublished June 18, 2005
Re: Schiavo timeline troubles governor, June 17.
If there are now questions of Terri Schiavo being abused by Michael Schiavo and Michael's delay in calling 911, then why weren't these serious accusations addressed during the 15 years Terri was kept alive?
Why didn't the Schindlers (Terri's parents) bring charges against Michael for abuse and why didn't authorities question the 70-minute discrepancy in Michael finding Terri collapsed and then calling 911?
Why can't politicians, who so took matters into their own hands, intruding into a personal family matter that was absolutely none of their business, admit that they were wrong?
Can anyone remember the details of a very traumatic experience, whether one day, one year or 15 years ago? I couldn't, as I went through one many years ago while serving my country.
It's time the denial by the parents and the politicians be relinquished, allowing Terri to finally rest in peace.
-- Jack Burlakos, Kenneth City
Concerns are coming late
Re: Schiavo timeline troubles governor.
I wish other cases of REAL concern would get this kind of attention from Jeb Bush. This is unbelievable. Has Bush nothing better to do? The governor should have raised these concerns some time in the past five years - certainly before she died.
I am so tired of hearing how Michael Schiavo is the bad guy in this, but if there was a question about how Terri got sick it should have come up years ago before she died and during all the court trials. To do this now just shows that everyone but the judges are afraid of Jeb. I'll be glad when he is out of office.
-- Cynthia Besio, New Port Richey
Disgraceful interfering
Gov. Bush should be ashamed of himself. His obsession with interfering in the tragedy that was Terry Schiavo is a disgrace. This latest attempt to force a reopening of the case to try to further torture Michael Schiavo is an absolutely incredible action by the chief executive of the state.
Jeb Bush should pay more attention to the job he is being paid to do and issues such as spiraling insurance rates, unfettered growth and runaway medical expenses. We all would be better off.
-- Ric Moser, New Port Richey
Family needs to move on
How much longer are the Schindlers going to obsess about how Terri Schiavo died? Isn't it time to stop worrying and wasting energy and move on to reflection and remembrance of their daughter?
I see that Terri's brother and sister are obsessed as well. Do these people have children? What message would they be conveying to others who depend on them? They all need to get on with their lives and stop being consumed with rage. Mourning is one thing, but obsession is another.
-- Jeanette Ventrone, North Redington Beach
Misplaced concerns
If Jeb Bush, Bill Frist and the rest of the pseudo-Christians in this country were really concerned with the sanctity of life, they would be outraged over the deaths of untold innocent children in Iraq, the murders of hundreds of thousands in Darfur or the abject poverty causing the deaths of millions of children daily around the world.
If they were real Christians, they would not use one woman's tragic life to build political capital.
-- Carlos Milan, St. Petersburg
Autopsy didn't answer real question
Re: Comfort in answers, June 16.
Your editorial misses the point in the Terri Schiavo affair. The real question was whether or not it was Terri's wish to be starved and dehydrated to death in her condition. The autopsy did nothing to answer that question.
Additionally, since there was no evidence of an eating disorder or a heart attack, questions do remain, and properly so, since a person lost her life. There are enough ambiguities and conflicts of interest in this case to make the concept of "clear and convincing evidence" based on Michael Schiavo's testimony totally suspect.
The Times editorial stated that end-of-life decisions are best made by family and doctors. In this case the decision was made by a judge in a courtroom. End-of-life decisions are best made by the people themselves. We have no evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Terri verbally made that decision.
-- Louis Ciardulli, Safety Harbor
We need a "registry of choices'
I would like to call upon Florida legislators to keep what happened to Terri Schiavo from happening to others.
The state should create and maintain a "registry of choices" and administer it along with driver's licenses and state ID cards. This is a practical approach to ensure that Florida residents get the opportunity to record their wishes.
My driver's license has recorded on it my wish that my organs be given to others in the event of my death. Why couldn't this be expanded to the few practical categories that would be required to intelligently administer end-of-life care?
Of course, this would require legislation. Of course there will be problems. However, the system we have isn't working.
The saddest thing about the Terri Schiavo case is that we will never know what she wanted. If this system had been in place and Terri had recorded her wishes, there wouldn't have been any debate. We'd have known what Terri Schiavo herself wanted. And we should know what the next Terri Schiavo wants.
-- Mike Holman, Clearwater
An apology is due
Re: Comfort in answers.
The Schindlers, mother, father, sister and brother, owe Michael Schiavo, the entire Schiavo family and the public a huge, huge apology. I completely understand and empathize with what should have been their motives and their concern for their daughter and sister. But the autopsy results so absolutely vindicate Mr. Schiavo that there is no reasonable justification left for their incredible accusations, which even now they perpetuate!
The Schindlers' past and continued manipulation of the facts and public sympathy is contemptible and incomprehensible.
The press should ignore the Schindlers except to report their unqualified apology to us all.
-- Bob Lowe, Clearwater
Why take chances with a life?
Re: Schiavo autopsy.
Are we really that childish in our modern society? Grown-ups don't use the ends to justify bad behavior. The prodeath culture is using the autopsy results of Terri Schiavo to justify its risky and unethical involvement in the helpless woman's life.
So what if the autopsy shows severe brain damage? You can't take chances with a person's life using information from an estranged husband with zero credibility. We still have more questions than answers now that this report is out. It was hardly worth killing someone to find out whose medical diagnosis was correct.
-- Patricia J. Pearlman, Largo
Recognize Scientology efforts
As a longtime admirer of the St. Petersburg Times' editorial views, I was dismayed at the June 7 editorial History lesson for Wilcox, covering Pinellas school superintendent Clayton Wilcox's talk at the Church of Scientology headquarters concerning student achievement. The editorial also derided the various politicians and officials in attendance and ended by reminding everyone of the early Scientology problems in Clearwater.
I worked with a Scientologist two years ago to implement a reading program in a local Boys and Girls Club and I must say, the program was credible and very effective. Considering the problems some of our kids are having with reading, what difference does it make where the help comes from, as long as it works? As the Times editorial staff well knows, many of our religious denominations over their long history have had serious problems and still manage to serve humanity with their good deeds.
I believe the time has come for the Times to give this new core of Scientologists recognition for their efforts in trying to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Clearwater. It just might be that the politicos in attendance are one step ahead of the Times in their vision for Clearwater.
-- John Kent, Largo
They have nothing to contribute
Re: History lesson for Wilcox.
I am in total agreement with this editorial regarding school superintendent Clayton Wilcox's meeting with the Scientologists. Why is Wilcox, and the other local politicians, "courting" these people? These people have absolutely nothing to contribute to education or other current local issues. Ever since the Scientologists came to Clearwater, our beautiful city has gotten worse.
For Wilcox and the other politicians to "seek these people out" for any assistance only gives credence to an organization that is a dangerous cult and a menace to our society.
-- Marcia Nichols, Largo
Get over this old grudge
Re: History lesson for Wilcox.
Your editorial on the Church of Scientology is just your slant on history.
The Church of Scientology was awarded the Governor's Point of Light Award for its members' help during the last devastating hurricane season. They have helped with this kind of assistance all over the world when there is a crisis. The Florida Management Services has also recognized them for their efforts this past year. They were nominated by Hillsborough County this year for the Moral Courage Award because of countless hours they have given to improve education, raise drug awareness, and provide hurricane relief - all to assist residents throughout Florida.
You have turned a blind eye to anything positive that the church has been involved in that strengthens our state - and the contributions Scientologists provide are significant. When I talk to my friends about what the church is doing for drug addicts, offenders and the illiterate, they marvel that they have not seen any of it in your newspaper and wonder why not.
The intolerance you show and encourage against this church astounds me. Please take what your own editorial said to heart and look at history. Get over your 30-year grudge and help our community move forward.
-- Mary Repper, Brooksville
Editor's note: Mary Repper works as a consultant for the Church of Scientology.
Just looking for recruits
Re: Scientology and kids.
Pinellas County has worked for years to keep Scientology out of our schools. Now, school superintendent Clayton Wilcox wants to invite them in. This is what the cult has been waiting for: a chance to get at our kids. The only goal the cult has in getting into our schools is to recruit.
Parents need to be aware and speak out against this for the sake of their families. If Wilcox wants to enlist the help of religious leaders, fine, but keep the cult out of our schools.
-- David Rodman, Dunedin
Setting an example of diversity and tolerance
Re: A city in black and white, June 11.
I really enjoyed reading the article about Ernest Fillyau, a former St. Petersburg City Council member and a photographer. But what made the story even more interesting for me was the photograph of the Ink Spots. The more I looked at the photograph the more it looked familiar. Then I realized the man standing behind the Ink Spots is my father, and the department store where the Ink Spots performed that day was King's Clothier's. My father was the manager.
Even while St. Petersburg was struggling with segregation, my father, Bill Henzler, catered to the black community and offered credit to just about everyone who entered the store. It was important to my father that his children understood diversity, so each of us took turns working in the store, taking payments and assisting the customers. My father wasn't a perfect man, but he did his best to teach his children and others tolerance and diversity.
With Father's Day this weekend, maybe it's a good time for all fathers and mothers to spend more time teaching their children lessons of diversity and tolerance.
-- Eileen F. Stafford, St. Petersburg