folkbum's rambles and rants

One, the follow-up to yesterday's military recruitment post. MPS did pass a modest policy designed to increase parental awareness of opt-out options.

Two, Xoff's Bill Christofferson writes a good summary in this week's Shepherd about how "Pro-Life" Wisconsin has crossed an ugly line:

An extremist “pro-life” group, not content with opposing abortion, birth control and stem cell research, has attacked the family and caregivers of a Wisconsin Marine, critically wounded in Iraq, for following his express directions and allowing him to die.

The Marine, Staff Sgt. Chad Simon of Monona, suffered a severe brain injury in November when a roadside bomb hit his Humvee, injuring Simon and killing three other Marines from his Madison-based Reserve unit. Surgeons removed two-thirds of Simon’s skull. He never regained consciousness.

He died nine months later, on Aug. 4, at a HospiceCare facility in Madison, after his family, following his wishes, disconnected his feeding tube. “He did have a living will, and it was very explicit. There was nothing to question,” said the Rev. Jeff Mannel, pastor at Madison Church of Christ, and a close family friend.

Jack Schuster, the family’s attorney, said Chad’s wife, Regina, made the decision after much soul-searching and with a judge’s approval.

While the family seemed to be at peace with carrying out Chad’s wishes, others who didn’t know the Marine weren’t happy with the family’s decision.

Pro-Life Wisconsin, which calls itself “your 100% pro-life voice,” accused HospiceCare of murder.

Read the rest.