i·ro·ny
n. pl. i·ro·nies
- The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.
From the Washington Times,
Congress last night passed legislation aimed at saving the life of Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged Florida woman whose feeding tube was removed Friday, and President Bush was expected to immediately sign the measure.
"How can we live with ourselves if we don't give her one more chance," said House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Texas Republican.
The House passed the bill, 203-58, after midnight...
"Terri has a brain injury, but otherwise she's healthy," said Rep. Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Republican. "We do not let people starve an animal to death. We do not let them starve a prisoner to death."
"Terri Schiavo is not on life support," said Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., Wisconsin Republican, who was a key negotiator on the legislation. "To starve someone to death ... is one of the most cruel and inhumane ways to die."
Opponents argued Congress is way out of line.
"It is not the place of Congress, at the 11th hour, to intervene in the most abusive fashion to undermine the Florida court system," said Rep. Robert Wexler, Florida Democrat.
"If we do not draw the line in the sand today, there's no telling what constitutional principles this Congress will trample next," said Rep. Jim Davis, another Florida Democrat who opposed the bill.
Democrats have admired the Florida court system for some years now.
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