I posted this information on my (still pretty new) xanga a few days ago, but I also wanted to post it on here as I don't think that many of my friends are yet able to tolerate reading both. This morning I would like to ask that you look at the case of Terri Schiavo. You have probably at least heard her name in the news. The website for the foundation that her family has started on her behalf shares this information:

In 1990, Terri Schindler-Schiavo collapsed in the home she shared with her husband, Michael Schiavo. The cause of her collapse is unknown to this day.
Terri fell into a coma but awakened from her comatose state weeks later. She was left in what medical professionals call a "locked in state" with limited abilities to communicate or move.

During the first months that followed Terri's mysterious collapse, she made progress. Medical practitioners noted her efforts to speak and her responsiveness.
To this day, Terri remains disabled. Though she is responsive to stimuli, interacts with her environment and her loved ones and is capable of communicating in limited ways, she is a disabled and vulnerable adult - requiring protection, therapy and the route to recovery.

It also states that she receives food and water via a gastric feeding tube. The reason that her name has been in the news is because her husband has asked that the feeding tube be removed, which would cause death by starvation. Her family is trying to prevent this from happening and have offered to take care of her. That is a very simple idea of what has been a long, difficult, and complicated battle.

This was brought to my attention because I received an e-mail from the American Family Association with a link that allows you to send an e-mail to your Senator and Representative about a bill that was introduced that would hopefully protect people in this situation, the Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act (H.R. 1151 and S. 539):

'To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide the protections of habeas corpus for certain incapacitated individuals whose life is in jeopardy, and for other purposes.'
http://capwiz.com/afanet/alert7191461.html - to e-mail representatives

I don't know if anyone else is confused about some of this as much as I am, but I do believe that human life has value. If you want to, use the AFA link and e-mail your Congressmen that way, write your own e-mails or letters to them, or find out their phone numbers and call them. Just do what you are capable of to make your voice and your beliefs known. (And not just on this issue. How do feel about our military's overseas actions? What about Social Security reform? Federal Debt? It's a lot to deal with, but we are all effected and therefore have a right and obligation to inform our government of how we wish to be governed.)

Thanks for bearing with me through this. Please give thanks to God for the life that you have, and all of the little blessings that we let slip under our gratitude radar. Before you do anything else, just especially pray for this family and others like them.

Much love to you all!