Mar 26
Saturday Six - Episode 50
Well this will be my first “Saturday Six” as an Editor’s Top Pick. I suppose I should quickly explain for the newcomers how this works:
It’s basically a set of six random questions. You’ve seen such things in other journals; there’s nothing particularly special about these questions versus the “Friday Five,” for example, except that my set has one more question one day later!
You either answer the questions here in a comment, or you answer them in an entry in your journal and leave a comment here with the link to that specific entry. There is no time limit, you’re not considered “late” if you play on Sunday or even if you play months later. What I hope you will do, whether you play or not, is visit the journals of those who do play: you can find some of the best journals in AOL among the commenters here each week! (And no, you don’t have to have an AOL journal to play…only an AOL screen name to comment.)
This is the 50th edition of the “Saturday Six.” A while back, a race of sorts began, with different journalers trying to be the “first” to play each week. The record holder for the most first-time players is Scott of “Stories From My Ambulance” and he’s a tough one to beat when he’s online! To be counted as the “first one to play,” you have to be the first one to answer the questions in full in a comment here or be first to leave a link to the specific entry — not just the journal’s general address — in which you answered the questions. Simple, right?
Last week, Beth, of “My Life…My Journey” was the first one to play. Congratulations to her!
Another tradition is to recognize those who play who have never played before. This gives those folks an extra “plug” for their journals; hopefully, they come back week after week so that others can find their journals from links in the comments.
Last week’s set of questions were the first playings for
Compassionatevegan, Tami and Melissa. Be sure to visit their journals and say hello.
So…let’s have a new set of questions, shall we? This week, the case of Terri Schiavo has been dominating news headlines from coast to coast. The first four questions will pertain to this theme in general.
1. Do you believe that Terri Schiavo should be allowed to die or that she should be kept alive?
2. Has the Schiavo case made you take any action towards creating a living will of your own?
3. Let’s forget what we know — or more likely, what we think we know — about Schiavo’s condition. If you suffered a brain injury that would leave you in a non-responsive vegetative state (whether Schiavo is in this state or not) and your doctors said that there was so much brain damage that there would be no hope of recovery, would you want to be kept alive no matter what?
4. Has anyone outside of your immediate family ever asked you to be their “personal representative” to make such a decision on their behalf if they ever suffer a severe injury? Do you think you could really make the decision?
5. Do you have a special outfit ready for Easter Sunday? Does your family have any special Easter traditions?
6. What room of your house is the absolute messiest? Would you ever let a house guest see it?
MY ANSWERS:
1. This is a difficult one. I can understand that her parents don’t want their child to die; I can understand that her husband believes she would not want to be kept alive. The longer she does live, the harder it will be for her family to let go, which is why we’re in the legal battle we’re in now. I have read stories of people who have been in comas for years suddenly waking up; she’s not in a coma. Brain damage is different: the brain tissue doesn’t repair itself. I don’t think there is any way she will ever improve. But there is something cruel about letting her starve to death over time, even if it’s true that she doesn’t have the capacity to feel discomfort or pain. That’s not really an answer…but it’s the best I can do at the moment. Sometimes I even stump myself!
2. I’ve certainly thought about it, but I haven’t taken any action, yet.
3. If there was no hope of recovery and I was in a vegetative state and non-responsive, I wouldn’t want to go on that way. I think it would be too painful for those around me.
4. My best friend has asked me to serve in this capacity. I hope I’m never actually required to do so, but I think I would be able to make a decision with proper reports from his doctors should the need ever arise.
5. No special outfit for easter. My family doesn’t really have a traditional meal for Easter, although Mom always does the cooking rather than us going out to eat that day. My parents are coming to town this weekend, so Mom will do the cooking here on Sunday!
6. My bedroom (and its closet). Nope.
