Dear Louise,
Unfortunately, Terri Schiavo has ballooned beyond the realm of a "human being who should be shown some respect."
I wouldn't talk this way about some anonymous dying person in a hospice in South Dakota, but Terri's tragic plight became part of popular culture, politics, and the 24-hour news cycle. By that measure, the situation is fair game for ridicule and scorn.
People die all the time (wars, lack of health care, poverty, etc), and people rarely bat an eye when jokes or biting criticism is made about their situations.
PS: Lighten up.
