Posted on 03/29/2005 8:58:34 AM PST by Long Cut
We, the Witness Protection Program For Freepers, aka the Wild Turkeys, aka the Coalition of the Sane, have through mutual discussion and rigourous thought, determined that:
1. The discussion threads regarding Terri Schiavo (hereafter referred to as "TS") have become too full of innuendo, rumormongering, hyperbole, hysteria, namecalling, paranoia, and general poor behavior to warrant participation.
2. Said threads have degenerated into "echo chambers", wherein the same, common thoughts are continually posted again and again, and the same old disreputable, unconfirmed and/or false urban myths are propagated.
3. Anyone who joins in said theads with alternative viewpoints to the most extreme posts are routinely driven away with slander, accusations, and vile namecalling.
4. No data or evidence contrary to the "prevailing opinions" are accepted, considered, or discussed; and in fact are rejected outright in most instances.
5. That the continued calls for armed insurrection, military or paramilitary involvement, impeachements of politicians and judges, and death threats are embarassing, stupid, shortsighted, doomed to failure, and contrary to most if not all conservative thought prior to this case, as well as damaging in the extreme to FR and the conservative movement as a whole.
6. That such emotional, hyperbolic, and propaganda-driven hysteria is in fact contrary to all conservatives USED to stand for.
7. That the holding up of swastika and other Nazi imagery towards the police and the Bushes, the use of children as political props, and the disruption of the peace at the Woodside Hospice can only reflect badly on conservatives in general, and should be discouraged.
8. That the pursuit of this issue to the exclusion of all others by the GOP has damaged, perhaps beyond repair, the pursuit of other important issues as well as the reputation of the GOP, FR, and conservatism.
The WPPFF is NOT of one mind as to the case of TS or its correct outcome. In fact, wide disagreement exists within our little group. However, we are united in our wish that reason and sanity be respected in the discussion, as well as the rights of all parties involved or participating. We wish to discuss this as adults and intellectuals, as conservatives and as FRiends, not as children screaming past each other on some playground of hysteria. We wish for facts and evidence to be provided, discussed reasonably, and considered fairly.
We reject all accusations of Naziism, "death cultism", or other slander as methods of debate. We reject the practice of "spamming" multiple threads, of posting unending vanities, and the posting of propaganda and calls for violence. We reject, in fact, all unseemly and childish behavior which has come to characterize this case on FR.
We DO invite others to come and reasonably discuss the issue. We have no problem with FReepers who wish to debate in a rational and fair manner, and with due respect for their fellow FReepers. We have NO problem with those whose views are formed by religion; however we reject "preaching" or "being beaten with a Bible" as legitemite debate tactics. Not all of us are Believers, and such tactics only cheapen the source.
If a FReeper finds this an acceptable meansd to discuss this and other issues, they are welcome to join in and participate. Those who find pleasure in attacks, flame-baiting, slander, stalking, and personal atacks will be ignored, and their egos will go unfed.
We assume this thread to be a zone of sanity in an overheated atmosphere. Thus, a general amnesty is in effect. If posters conduct themselves within the guidlines above, we will be happy to discuss and debate with you. If a poster wishes to apologize for past slips of the tongue, or for possible "over-the-top" statements to another, it will be graciously accepted, and your company welcome.
Please bring a sense of humor; we feel that too many have been taking themselves too seriously lately.
Let the discussion begin!
Signed,
The WPPFF, aka The Wild Turkeys, aka the Coalition of the Sane.
Cool. I'll put it on my resume.
Heh heh heh
Try holding your breath.
I ran across her on Paula Zahn last night but immediately felt nauseous so I passed it by. Along with being spritual adviser looks like the brothers are acting as house boys too.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2005/mar/30/033005390.html
Sink, please pardon my ignorance. I was educated by Dominicans, not Franciscans, and I've never heard the term "prophetic witness" used by Catholics. "Witness" yes, but not "prophetic." Is that term common with Franciscans?
Okay, I'll be cynical. Probably alot easier job then helping the poor and homeless and living in a monastery. I have no praise for "hangers-on" no matter who they are.
The Schindlers called a press conference late last night and all the mother said was, "Michael and Judy you have your own children, give my child back to me." That was it.
Without your research and posts, my ignorance would have kept me in the dark about this case and I would likely have a different view.
Thank you!
America needs "prophetic witness," Pope says
Vatican, May. 28, 2004 (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II (bio - news) reminded American bishops of their duty to maintain a "prophetic witness" in a society threatened by materialism, as he met with a group of bishops from the Midwestern US who were completing their ad limina visits.
The Holy Father met on May 28 with bishops from the ecclesiastical provinces of Indianapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee. They were the seventh group of bishops from the US to make their ad limina visits this year.
The Pope said that the US bishops' conference has fulfilled an important responsibility by issuing clear statements on "controversial social questions such as respect for human life, problems of justice and peace, immigration, the defense of family values and the sanctity of marriage." But he urged a still more energetic approach "to confront directly the widespread spirit of agnosticism and relativism."
In the absence of clear and courageous teaching about eternal truths, the Pontiff said, America is in grave danger of "yielding to a purely materialistic and soulless vision of the world.” The Pope called for "the mobilization of the Church's resources for the work of evangelization."
The American laity have a particularly important role in the "prophetic mission," the Pope continued. They should continue their own work of evangelization into "the different spheres of family, social, professional, and cultural life."
'The Word of God must not be enchained," the Pope said. "It must resound before the world in all its liberating truth."
We can be cynical together. Snarking at the TV has become commonplace. LOL
The discharge summary also said that she was not responding to commands. Now, I've heard the wonderful Dr. H say that when she was in the nursing home after her discharge from the hospital, she was learning to walk between parallel bars, and speaking single syllable words. Pardon me if I am skeptical of his assertions.
"Prophetic witness" is a slogan, common among modern-day religious activists. If somebody's using it against you, you can bet the user thinks you're Satan.
Wow. Nice to see CF called that one out on the thread... this is starting to get ridiculous.
Oh, it's way past ridiculous.
Thanks, Chad. At any rate, I don't feel like too big a fool, since it was sid by the pope long after I left the ministrations of Sister Carl Mary.
He said it pretty darn recently, LOL...
Thank you, sir. That's how I read it.
You are more than welcome, SE Mom.
When I hear Terri's sister constantly proclaim that Terri never had a heart attack and had broken bones, I know there is a major disconnect.
No one ever said Terri had a heart attack. She was in cardiac arrest, an entirely different thing.
And the broken bones? Not one. Zero. Nada. The hospital discharge summary makes that very clear.
The urban legends surrounding this case will fill a book someday. Hopefully FR will not be mentioned as furthering those legends.
Are these two manifesting a messianic fervor that tends to color facts?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.