beyond the law

There have been times in my life, particularly during the Vietnam War, that I have supported actions beyond the law to try to change the course of our nation or of the world. I was criticized at times by those who shared different political viewpoints for flouting the law.

Now in the case of Terri Schaivo, the Congress passed a bill to have the federal courts be able to receive the case. They had some conviction that the federal courts would do what the FL state courts hadn't. But the federal courts have ruled in the same way as FL courts.

So now, strong statements are being made via the news media and on blogs that Gov Bush or others should take extraordinary measures beyond the law to keep Shaivo's body alive.

So we all now face questions about the role of the legislative and the judicial branches of our nation. Are there times we are justified in going beyond the law? And who decides when that is acceptable? Clearly not a majority because all the national polls are showing that a majority of Americans don't agree with the actions of Congress or the sentiments of Pres Bush or Gov Bush. Is this a moral issue or a medical science issue? Can morality be legistlated if it is a moral issue (we hear often around race relations that it can't be...we should just expect to pass the laws and let the chips fall where they may...it won't make people change their moral viewpoints). What about those folks, myself included, who disagree with the way our government is conducting the war in Iraq. We see that as a moral issue that is unnecessarily taking lives and is allowing in the name of U.S. foriegn policy for abuses to occur in various places via the Patriotic Act and the conduct of some U.S. operatives. So...we all agree that there are times moral issues call for actions beyond the law even though we may not agree on what those moral issues might be. Or do we?

I see across the boards deep sympathy for what Michael Shaivo and the Schindler family (Terri's parents) are feeling emotionally...even though they have diifferent opinions on what should be happening. Maybe that is the ONE thing we agree about.