# Michael Schiavo: Hero **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 7, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933 "2005-08-07T00:32:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/21 "2005-08-07T18:00:25Z")
The suffering he went through to fullfill his wife’s wishes shows us everything we need to know, and much more then we have any right to know. If you do not have the honesty to fight the lies told about him, at least have enough integrity to leave him be. ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/22 "2005-08-07T18:55:13Z")
Personally, I consider it an honor to have shaken the hand of Dr. Kevorkian. I consider Mr. Schiavo a hero. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/23 "2005-08-07T19:03:46Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > It has to do with moral values, and marriage vows. Personal integrity and personal honesty. But most of all it has to do with love. > > A man’s heart is revealed in his actions, not his words. You are correct. And all of Michael Schiavo’s actions revealed that his heart was filled with love for his wife, and that he was determined to carry forth her wishes in the face of the most vindictive, spiteful, cowardly attacks. ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/24 "2005-08-07T19:05:06Z")
> [@rfgdxm](#): > > Personally, I consider it an honor to have shaken the hand of Dr. Kevorkian. I consider Mr. Schiavo a hero. I was thrilled to shake Tommy Smothers’ hand when I was a boy. I consider Michael Shiavo a hero. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/25 "2005-08-07T20:00:47Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > It has to do with moral values, and marriage vows. Personal integrity and personal honesty. But most of all it has to do with love. > > A man’s heart is revealed in his actions, not his words. Exactly, and he fulfilled them-he stood by his wife, even after offered millions, even after being vilified and accused of every crime known to man, while people screamed at called him a monster. He refused to take the easy way out-divorce Terri and leave her in her parents’ hands, because he KNEW they didn’t give a shit about her wishes. They were even on record as to saying they didn’t care what she would have wanted. Yes, he found someone else to love-so WHAT? His wife was pretty much dead. He only started dating after what was it-five years? After accepting that Terri was not going to recover. That she wasn’t going to get better. He became a nurse in order to better care for her. In all of fifteen years, she never once had even 1 bedsore, from what I recall. Yes, it is about honor and integrity, morality and marriage vows and yes, love. And Michael Schiavo fulfilled every one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/26 "2005-08-07T22:07:51Z")
Equating Mr. Schiavo with Dr. Kevorkian is rude, dishonest, and cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/27 "2005-08-07T22:10:27Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Equating Mr. Schiavo with Dr. Kevorkian is rude, dishonest, and cheap. Whooosh? He didn’t go up to random patients and pull the plug, just cause he felt like it. Instead, he followed the wishes of his patients. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/28 "2005-08-07T22:16:10Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Equating Mr. Schiavo with Dr. Kevorkian is rude, dishonest, and cheap. I’m not sure how you mean for people to read this, but **rfgdxm** seems to mean it as a compliment. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/29 "2005-08-07T22:18:26Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Equating Mr. Schiavo with Dr. Kevorkian is rude, dishonest, and cheap. So… who’s the bad guy in this equation; Kevorkian or Schaivo? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/30 "2005-08-07T22:18:46Z")
I’ll wait on word from rfgdxm on that. As it stands, ISTM that it was a sarcastic posting equating a good man (Schiavo) with a bad man (Kevorkian). If rfgdxm did mean it as a compliment, my apologies. If he didn’t, then my post stands. Fair enough? ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/31 "2005-08-07T22:20:51Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Fair enough? Well… Kinda, but it would be nice to know how you coulda fallen for the “Kevorkian is a baaaadd man” propaganda. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/32 "2005-08-07T22:28:08Z")
At second thought, it would not be nice to hear the reasons at all. Instead, it would be an unwelcome hijack to all who are reading this thread. Maybe another time. ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/33 "2005-08-07T22:56:22Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’ll wait on word from rfgdxm on that. As it stands, ISTM that it was a sarcastic posting equating a good man (Schiavo) with a bad man (Kevorkian). > > If rfgdxm did mean it as a compliment, my apologies. If he didn’t, then my post stands. > > Fair enough? Note I live in Michigan. I consider Dr. Kevorkian to be a great American hero, and really did shake his hand. In my mind, Mr. Schiavo and Dr. Kevorkian are good men. I made the comparison as both men were condemned by certain factions. No insult intended. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/34 "2005-08-07T23:05:30Z")
I appreciate your kind response, rfgdxm. Thank you. FWIW, I obviously differ with you on the character of Kevorkian; however, I am fully in agreement with you on Schiavo. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/35 "2005-08-08T00:27:42Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > It has to do with moral values, and marriage vows. Personal integrity and personal honesty. But most of all it has to do with love. > > A man’s heart is revealed in his actions, not his words. Yes, and you have repeatedly spread lies about Mr. Schiavo and his actions in other threads, not to mention baselessly impugned the motives of others. The actions you have taken in writing the words you have here say a great deal about your moral values and the love you show to those who disagree with you. Respectfully, CJ ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/36 "2005-08-08T00:39:43Z")
Michael Schiavo is a hero and a person I admire greatly for standing up for what is right and true. I think he did honor his wedding vows by doggedly adhering to what Terri wanted while also trying to rehabilitate her well past the point where it could have helped. Her parents ran a smear campaign against him because he wouldn’t split her legal settlement with them; those who jumped on their bandwagon and sought to vilify him via lies, threats, and illegal government intervention behaved reprehensibly. I was thrilled when the autopsy results bore out his contention that Terri was very, very likely in a PVS. He is owed a huge apology by many people, which he will never get because his tormentors lack the integrity to admit they were wrong and that they harmed a man for partisan reasons, not out of interest in “the culture of life.” ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/37 "2005-08-08T01:28:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Moving thread from IMHO to Great Debates. Thank you **Czarcasm** - I somehow didn’t think this topic would become a GD in light of all that has transpired since her being allowed to pass. I might have known better. **rfgdxm** - I am envious. I whish I could make this same claim. **Siege** - > [@](#): > > For standing by his wife for 15 years and doing everything he could to make sure her wishes honored; for refusing to vilify her parents the way they vilified him and acting calmly and politely, even when he was accused of abusing his wife and directly causing the collapse which led to her death; for not dragging his wife’s family through the mud the way they dragged him; and for responding with dignity when even the length of time he took to call 911 became a matter for legal action, I agree that Michael Schiavo should have been awarded Guardian of the Year if not Decade. Very nicely said. **Scott Plaid** - Thanks for the heading off of the highjack. If there is a thread opened on this however, I’d like to know about it as I feel as you and **rfgdxm** do. I’m glad to see so much support for Mr. Schiavo ---
**Author:** ![Updike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@Updike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Updike)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/38 "2005-08-08T02:52:19Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Yes, it is about honor and integrity, morality and marriage vows and yes, love. What is honorable or moral about bagging your shack-up honey and having kid(s) while your wife is still alive? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/39 "2005-08-08T03:02:41Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > What is honorable or moral about bagging your shack-up honey and having kid(s) while your wife is still alive? Hmm… brand new member. Obnoxious, attention-getting post. ---
**Author:** ![Updike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@Updike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Updike)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933/40 "2005-08-08T03:12:02Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Hmm… brand new member. Obnoxious, attention-getting post. How is it obnoxious, or is it because you don’t agree with it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-schiavo-hero/315933.md?page=3)