I don't scream at my radio often, but I did last evening while listening to NPR's 'On Point' program regarding the Terri Shiavo case. Two of the guests were Congressmen Barney Frank (D-Mass) and Phil Gingrey (R-GA). While Frank made some Constitutional claims that were, in my opinion, quite weak about the righteousness of Congress' intervention in the case, Rep. Gingrey really got my blood boiling.
When the host asked Dr. Gingrey about any possible contradiction between his firm stance on supporting traditional marriage and his support of intervening in the Shiavo marriage, the Congressman led off with the fact that Michael Shiavo has fathered two children with another woman in the fifteen intervening years since his wife was declared as existing in a permanent vegetative state. This compassionate conservative from Georgia had this to say (RealMedia, fast forward to 21:25)
"In many states... Michael Shiavo would be charged with bigamy... He has certainly not shown himself to be a loving and caring husband to the very end. ...In my opinion he is not still married to Terri. If he is, he is guilty of bigamy."
Never mind, Congressman, that Mr. Shiavo has been diligently seeking to carry out his wife's judicially affirmed wishes since the first judge upheld the husband's position back in May of 1998, a position that has been re-adjudicated three times hence with the same finding. Never mind that Shiavo has been offered $1 million to back away from his commitment to, and guardianship of, his wife. (Shiavo termed the offer 'offensive')
We should be in absolute awe of Michael Shiavo's commitment to his vows of marriage, but instead many are making him out to be some sort of villain. I have to wonder; what motives do the Congressman and Michael Shiavo's many other detractors assign to this man other than true and abiding love?
9:03:06 AM 
|
