"Persistent Vegitative State" - those chilling words used to describe Terri Schiavo (by those who wanted to kill her), and to describe Senate and Congressional Democrats (by anyone whose brain is fully functioning). The condition is described here. Because Terri Schiavo's husband, and other members of the Hemlock Society, wanted her dead, the condition was described as incurable (which is still no justification for murder, and echoes the Nazi disregard for life). However, even that "justification" is weakened with the news that researchers in South Africa may have found a drug that reverses a vegetative state, at least temporarily. This research may lead to something more permanent in the way of a cure. One would hope that this discovery would stay the hands of the executioners intent on starving people to death, or injecting them with lethal doses of pain killers. Too bad it's too late for Terri. (photo: Courtesy of http://www.terrisfight.org ).