Re: Until now, he had nothing to say

1

The story is great, but I already happened onto one blog yesterday who was using it to talk about how evil the Schiavo decision was. If I found that by happenstance (linked to that blog from somewhere else because they were hosting a funny daily show clip), I'd imagine a lot of others are using this very hopeful story for similar purposes.

horizontal rule
2

That's exactly what I hoped wouldn't happen when I first heard it. Is there any evidence that anyone bigger is making a similar move?

It is a really amazing story.

horizontal rule
3

It is pretty amazing, carrying with it a large dose of sadness--notice the "family won't talk about ensuing days, and the "even if we only had him back for one day" parts. God. That poor family.

horizontal rule
4

talk about how evil the Schiavo decision was

Well, the two cases illustrate quite vividly the difference between a minimally conscious state and a persistent vegetative state.

horizontal rule
5

I have been waiting for Randall Terry or someone of his ilk to seize on this story as some kind of vindication for the Republicans' appalling actions in the Schiavo case. "See?" they will cry, "Terri Schiavo might have been just days away from a miraculous recovery like this one!" And George Greer will be pilloried and the Federal Court for the Whatever District of Florida will be set afire by pitchfork-and-torch-wielding compassionate conservatives.

And lost in the tumult will be the actual medical doctors who will be desperately trying to point out the difference between brain damage and brain deterioration (or brain absence).

It's only a matter of time, I'm sure.

horizontal rule
6

It's also rather sad that we can't see what really should be a rather touching story without thinking, "How is the other side going to politicize this."

horizontal rule
7

I'm with you there. My reaction to the story kind of bummed me out; is this just me growing up or was the battleground always this big and pervasive?

horizontal rule