Madam, - President Bush signed emergency legislation on Monday with the aim of prolonging Ms Terri Schiavo's existence in a permanent vegetative state, claiming that it is "always wise to err on the side of life" (World News, March 22nd.) Not only is this a gross violation of the independence of the American courts, it being contrary to the decisions of 16 Florida judges over the years, but his remark must also surely constitute the greatest hypocrisy of the Bush Presidency.
Was the president erring on the side of life when he used that same hand to sign over 150 death warrants during his time as Governor of Texas - or, indeed, when he signed the orders sending over 1,000 American soldiers to their deaths in the Iraq war? - Yours, etc.,
OWEN CORRIGAN, Blackhall Green, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7.
Madam, - In the media's rush to align or distance itself from the American Christian right, I feel a number of facts of the Terri Schiavo case have been obscured. Firstly, surely the withdrawal of food and the starvation of the body would be labelled "cruel and unusual" punishment by any authority. This would be deemed an illegal method to kill a murderer by even the execution-happy Florida courts.
Secondly, Ms Schiavo's husband is her legal guardian. But as her death would clear the way for her to marry his partner, with whom he has been living and has children, surely he has a conflict of interest in this case. The Florida court has the legal right to remove his guardianship.
Unfortunately, Ms Schiavo is being crushed by the machinery of the law, and all the professional bandwagon-jumpers from both sides want to claim a piece of her for themselves. - Yours, etc.,
EOIN MEANY, Greenwood Lawn, Ayrfield, Dublin 13.