Schiavo tragedy showed politicians' true colors

Terri Schiavo is now resting in peace. We shouldn't forget how certain politicians exploited this family conflict. No doubt, some of the supporters of Schiavo's parents were moved by sincere concerns and principles. But the motives of many politicians and crusaders who rushed in can be called into question. Tom DeLay was seen playing God through this drama. Responding to the news report that DeLay and his family withheld life-sustaining care from his own father when he was in a coma, DeLay replied, "My father was on life support and dying. Schiavo is living and wants to live."

Wants to live? How did DeLay know that? Does he possess insight or psychic powers unknown to the rest of us? The Florida courts ruled that she was in a persistent vegetative state, which meant she could not consciously resolve to live. DeLay and Schiavo's parents challenged that diagnosis. Even if they were right, did that mean she wanted to stay alive? Perhaps she had some degree of consciousness and still did not want to live in this condition. DeLay could not know her true desires. By claiming he did, he was acting far beyond his authority as majority leader of the House of Representatives.

George W. Bush and the Republican congressional leaders believed it was necessary for the federal government to intervene in this case, why did they not take further action after the federal courts turned down the Schindlers' appeals? DeLay, for one, argued that the federal court decisions were an arrogant usurpation of power because, in his view, these judges disregarded the law passed by Congress. If that was indeed the case, then shouldn't Congress have appealed those decisions to the Supreme Court or passed another law? But DeLay and the others chose to do nothing — after polls showed their intervention was tremendously unpopular with the American public. That shows their true colors.

JAMES B. STRATHMORE

Sagle