Pro-selected-lives

The Family Research Council continues to milk the Terri Schiavo case for all it's worth. In their latest opportunistic essay, they compare Schiavo to Bin Laden, who has also become something of a free-floating metaphor, albeit for all that is unholy:

Imagine terrorist Osama Bin Laden being put on trial in the United States and sentenced to die a slow, painful death. Now imagine during the appeals process a presiding judge saying, "continue with the death sentence. If Mr. Bin Laden dies or suffers while I am thinking, then so be it." Death penalty opponents would be rightfully outraged. Any human being, no matter how despicable, has certain rights - especially in the U.S. court system. . . .

There is compelling evidence that key facts of Terri's case have been ignored by the judicial system. . . . Until these troubling questions, and numerous others, are answered, to err on the side of life is a good motto to keep in mind.

I really wouldn't take such issue with the wackadoo pro-life people if they were consistent in their doctrine. But it does seem to boil down to "those we deem 'innocent' are deserving of life and rights.

Here is an excerpt from a FRC piece on terrorism from last September:

The growing brutality of the cowardly Islamic jihadists, who behead unarmed civilians in the process of making videos of their rantings, is designed to weaken America's resolve and put questions in the minds of Americans about the leadership of George W. Bush. The terrorists are endeavoring to create an environment of fear and uncertainty. However, America must stand firm in its resolve to confront this evil. On this issue we should take our cue from our Israeli friends and stand firm against the jihadists, who not only want to rid the Middle East of westerners, but also to bring every Christian and Jew under the subjugation of radical Islamic rule.

I know this is the sort of hypocrisy that used to make me crazy when I was a teenager and I should be more inured to it by now, but I can't help but still get infuriated by the notion that one poor woman with a feeding tube who just wants the right to die becomes the ground of a holy war here at home while thousands are dying as we prosecute a crusade abroad. I'm way too logical for this point in my country's history.

Err on the side of life, indeed. Stupid fuckers.