Should Terri Schiavo live or die? That seems to be the profound question of the week. Is she actually alive? Well yes. Technically. But this isn't black and white. On a scale of one to ten, how alive is she? About a two.

She's been unable to do much except blink for fifteen years. In my opinion, the humane thing to do is let her slip away with a shred of dignity intact. But it isn't my decision. It's her decision, and we've let the courts determine the right of succession for folks able to make that decision when somebody can't make it on their own. Whether you like it or not, her husband is at the top of the list. I think her parents should be, if they are alive (they are). How this all plays out could end up being one of the profound moral debates of the decade. But the message is clear - if you have personal wishes how you would like things to be handled if you were in Ms. Schiavo's shoes, you'd best put it in writing.

So I'll do just that - right now. Should I turn into a vegetable tomorrow, don't give up on me immediately. But let's set a timeline. If I'm in the same exact minimally conscious state for five years without improvement, allow me to dissolve back into the universe in dignity. But if I can even tap my finger, I'll make my own decision thank you.