t.s.r.i.p.

The Terri Schiavo story finally draws to a close.

I took no side in the "should-Terri-live-or-die" debate. I observed as various public figures exploited the woman, her family, and the passions of their constituents. I offered little commentary as the story played out. I watched some strange things happen all along.

What was learned from it all?

Well, as for me, I have already been through the dying-loved-one thing more times than a character from an Anne Rice novel, so there was no wisdom for me to glean from all that.

I can say this: I am constantly amazed, yet not surprised, by the depth of heartless, inconsiderate, vile exploitation to which the neocons will sink in their never-ending pursuit of offensive exploitation. Even a right-wing conservative judge told them that they went too far. The whole country seemed to engage in one nervous, grimacing sidelong glance as Uncle Neocon came to visit and barged in on a most intimate moment. The crass classlessness was so mortifying to the rest of us because we were actually embarrassed for them. Tom Delay, the lizard-faced moral compass for contemporary neoconservatism, took the opportunity to wage a campaign promoting hypocrisy. He won, and took his place in the hypocritical pantheon, next to you-know-who.

Lessons can be learned from tragedy. Little did the neocons suspect that in the midst of sadness and death, the most tragic thing was them.