Demagogue

No, this isn't a post about Cindy Sheehan. It's about a Wisconsin "pro-life" group that felt it necessary to blame the death of a soldier who was, essentially, killed in Iraq on his own family.

Staff Sgt. Chad Simon was laid to rest this week with full military honors, a hero who gave his life for us in Iraq.

Of course, the folks at Pro-Life Wisconsin couldn't resist taking a kick at his flag-draped coffin.

Three days after the Monona Marine's funeral, the Pro-Lifers put out a press release claiming that Simon was "murdered by those in charge of his medical care." Late Friday, under legal threat by the lawyers for the Don and Marilyn Anderson Hospicecare Center in Fitchburg, the Pro-Lifers backed off the murder charge.

Still, the Pro-Lifers warned that this could happen to you. Julie Grimstad of Pro-Life called Simon's health-care power of attorney document "signing your own suicide note. It may be legal, but it's most certainly immoral."
...
Simon, 32, and the father of a 6-year-old son, was severely injured Nov. 8 by the same roadside bomb that killed Lance Cpl. Shane O'Donnell of DeForest, and two other members of their Madison-based company.

Simon came home from Iraq and received medical care here until mid- July when his doctors determined he would not recover. His family honored his "health-care power of attorney," which gave the ability to make decisions to his wife, Regina.

Jack Schuster, the family's attorney, said Regina Simon made the decision after much soul-searching. A judge OK'd the removal of the feeding tube.

If this the future we're facing post-Schiavo? A bunch of judgemental, heartless numbskulls calling the family members who have made a difficult end-of-life decision for a loved one murderers? What next? Operation Rescue protesting outside of hospitals and funeral homes?

I don't think these people have a single clue about the meaning or value of life.