by ~Gregg Rowe~
Where were you
when Terri died?
Where were you
when angels cried?
Where were you
when white doves flied?
Where were you
when Pope Paul died?
Author notes
I feel that just like eight years ago when Princess Di and Mother Theresa died within the same week of one another, like this year in 2005, the world once again was thrown in a turmoil of ethics, beliefs and spirituality when Terri Schiavo and Pope Jean Paul II died within a week of one another. The question then is two fold, not only where were you at the specific moment of time in the physical sense, but where were you also in an inner sense.
Written April 8th, 2005
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 16 of 16
-
Ahhh, I feel more awake this morning.
This made me think a lot, because you're right, it's not just physical, but mental, too. I, myself, am not Catholic, but I was still affected by Pope John Paul II's death. He was a very respected man, and I think everyone felt something about it in one way or the other. As for Terri, in a way I am glad she passed away. I would not want to be living in a vegitative state, no matter what anyone thought, my life is not my life without my music and poetry. I am sure all her family members were forlorn when she finally did pass away, but I think it hurt them more to see her in a vegie state. Thank you for making me think, you deserve the clapper man.
RIP Terri and Pope John Paul II
Bunnie -
Great write, this made me think and raised good questions
Keep writing, this was such a sad and deep poem which rhymed well and raised thought which is always good
RIP Terri and Pope John Paul II
God bless,
Best wishes,
Pozo
-
BlackKnight: Yes, thank you, the title changed three times in the course of fifteen minutes and I misspelled were the second time around, thank you for that correction.
And now my personal viewpoint on a few points that you outlined in your argument: If it was me, and looking at the condition of Terri, I would not want to be lying in a vegetative state (no matter what doctor’s say about brain-dead, vegetative state, or comatose), if I found myself in that condition and having to live another fifteen years dependant on others around me, I think I would opt for the living will argument because I would not want to spend my days being bedridden nor looked after, but again, that is me speaking as a fully functional human being right now and watching others around me who are in constant pain and dependant.
Second, and I have argued this before...in a marriage if a wife or husband disappears in life, after seven years, the marriage is automatically annulled on compassionate grounds and the people are allowed to re-marry and carry on with their lives. Terri's husband waited over seven years before starting a new relationship with his girlfriend and starting a new family. At least we should credit him with that aspect instead of saying he committed adultery as soon as his wife landed in the hospital, that was not the case here. He waited a long time before he went on with his life. (I mention this here from my own experience with the church and when my father died and my Mother wanted to remarry, the catholic Church refused them because she was divorced and widowed—we ended up petitioning the Archbishop of Canada before my step-father and mother were allowed to get hitched, and the bitterness of the church after that has been within our family even though we tried to hide our disappointment, raised in a small town, everyone knew what had happened and we were forever branded by the townsfold).
The million dollar settlement went for Terri’s care in the hospice, and the parents were angry about this, I think I remember that the husband ended up with $300,000 in the end of everything and then ended up going for legal fees to fight the parents.
Fourthly, if the parents were so compassionately Catholic, they would not have been so selfish and let their daughter go in a compassionate way instead of getting on national TV and pleading with politicians and religious fanatics 'not to make this a case for their cause', hypocritical Catholics they are (and I can say this because it is my religion) they did just that by keeping it in the papers and calling on all the weirdoes to back them up with their cause.
Yes, as much as the case is tragic, Terri's legacy will be just that, a legacy in the education that living wills are just as legal as the final will, if not more important. If everyone filled one out before tragic set in, then dying with dignity will have its name back instead of dragged through the mud by politicians and religious fanatics who claim to be for the patient, but just want to be in front of the TV for the fifteen minutes of fame that Andy Warhol spoke so much about back int he 1960s.
gregg
Edited on Apr 09, 2:10 because ''. -
Oh yeah, and not to nitpick here, but you mis-spelled this piece's title; it should be "Where Were You," not, "Where We You;" that just sounds silly!
-
I know what you're saying and I understand. However, though Terri Schiavo was severely brain-damaged, this didn't necessarily mean she couldn't breathe on her own and that her heart would not beat; of course, this is mere speculation, but let's say both functions could be performed independent of life-support systems. I think, then, that starving her to death was inhumane.
The reason I referred to her husband in quotation remarks is because I don't feel he should've had a say in things, and not because he wanted to end her life. Rather, I feel he was committing adultery by vowing to spend the rest of his life with another woman while still married to Terri Schiavo; why not simply divorce her on grounds of medical circumstances? I realize the situation was difficult for him; how could it have not been? However, whatever Terri Schiavo's condition, I feel he should've been with her 'til the very end in terms of marital fidelity, or have divorced her long ago. What angered me, also, was his refusal to allow her parents the traditional Catholic burial they sought so desperately. While none of the case is any of our business, I think he should've at least let them have that if he wanted to end their daughter's life.
I agree that, had the family had the living will put together before all of this took place, and had it finalized, it's unlikely any of this would've happened. However, there are always events that take place that tend to baffle the mind, such as Ted Williams' son wanting his father's body frozen, despite what it says in his father's will--and receiving his wish.
Edited on Apr 09 because ''. -
BlackKnight: Actually she wasn’t suppose to take 13 days to die, most people die within a few days after being taken off life support systems, I think what happened here is that she had been on the tubes for so long, her body was slower to react and she lingered in a state of comatose for awhile before her body knew what had happened. As for the extra shot of morphine to help her out, maybe they did do it secretly, but to publicly give her that final shot to help her with the media watching would have escalated the case to new heights.
I am from another school of thought on this case after watching many deaths around me, I think that if Terri had made the living will mandate while she was coherent, there would never have been this case launched by her parents (who after fifteen years still could not let go, please that is more torturous than the husband fighting to end her life with dignity) which was the basis of the whole case to begin with. It just became a cause célèbre for every nut-case politician and religious fanatic on earth that turned it into the media circus that it became. But that is my opinion. It just won't happen to me, because I have placed my papers in order.
Gregg
Edited on Apr 09 because ''. -
I'm not Catholic, but I'm sure the Pope's death affected us all. However, he was 84, and in failing health; everyone knew he was gonna croak sooner rather than later, it was really just a matter of time.
As for Terri Schiavo, I once argued that she had a right to live, and after all the media circus bullshit and the debates/near-arguments I've gotten into concerning this, I'm not quite sure where I stand regarding her being alive or not. However, the way they killed her was what really pissed me off; how can someone (her so-called "husband") just let her starve to death for 13 days? Why not be truly humane and inject her with morphine? Nobody would've blamed him, that's for sure.
Anyway, I've gotten way off track, and I apologize for this. I suppose Schiavo just sort-of fell through the cracks of society (which isn't too hard, it seems), and it's unfortunate what happened to her. We all knew the Pope would die; I think it's the Schiavo case that many will continue to debate about in various ways for years to come. -
...very unqiue poem.. makes me think about everything and although i defintly do not feel the same about (porbally) like you do on religious things.. this poem does make me think about how the two deaths you wrote about created so much talk and publicity... one a everyday person the other a religious leader.. both talked about for weeks leading up to their deaths.. get job
-
Rhythmwolf: I know all about medication and trying to write something coherent while dealing with side effects of medication that is suppose to prolong our lives, so take your time and come back for another read, perhaps you will see something new when you are fresh. Gregg
Edited on Apr 08, 11:13 p.m. because ''. -
The Lord Reigns: Well, thank you for once again opening my eyes to the subconsciousness of writing. I never thought it would be a three-fold, but now that I distance myself away from the write your point is so pignant, since I have been struggling with my spirituality for years. It is more stronger now, since I counted the syllables in every line and they all total seven, coincidence--I think not. Another thing that made me ponder this write, was that they were both artificially kept alive by tubes, something that the Pope advocated for and something that Terri had no decision directly about since she fell into her comma 15 years ago. I was in Hartford, Connecticut giving lectures on Death and Dying and living with a chronic illness (and the right to die with dignity and advocating for young people to prepare living wills even at their age) when both of these icons hit the international news, and have just arrived back in Montreal in a profound state of questions and soul-searching...one reason for another spurt of poetry that I am infesting the internet with (just joking). Thank you for the interesting comment. Gregg
Edited on Apr 08, 11:11 p.m. because ''. -
omg that made me cry!!!
-
*Is confused* IT's too late at night for this. I think I'm gonna try writing a better comment tomorow. Just thought I'd drop you this line to let you know your points weren't going to waste up there. Just IM me after you get the message to this the link, and when I wake up tommorrow I'll make a comment that doesn't totally waste your time. I am drowsy from some Benadryl, so I'm only half thinking. Sorry...
Bunnie -
What a provoking poem Gregg. When I read it, I thought the "you" being asked the question was God and that the poem had a sarcastic shade to it. Does it? Is the question three-fold? I'm still thinking that is what you really meant. Each of us needs to answer that question in our own hearts. Where is God when evil and death and suffering takes place all around us? My faith says He is there holding our hand as I believe He held Terri's and the precious Pope's through their ordeal. I love poetry that makes me think on different levels. Thank you again for a great write!
-
hhmmmm....interesting. how on both occations that siggnificant a pair of people died with in a week of eachother. makes you think, this, as well. nice write.
-
Wow. This is awesome. I love how it rhymes, and the questions are really effective. Cute picture, too. My sister reccommended you, so I was just checking out some of your work. I'm impressed
-Marek. -
Very interesting. I wonder if their is signifigance in the timing of their deats? I'm sure their is. Any way, this is very interesting.
-Emily
Adding your comment:
1 - 16 of 16
3 old applause
