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.
Well, they are now trashing Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson because he spoke out against Jesse Jackson, saying he's jealous.
I have about seen enough.
We reject, in fact, all unseemly and childish behavior which has come to characterize this case on FR.
I know. Forgot to add that bit. LOL
I thought I had already seen several successive levels of "beyond the pale." But comparing Terri's death to the tsunami really ups the ante.
I bet there are more than a few on this board who could share the same thing.
sw
I have told my husband that if I've been down with no pulse for many minutes, certainly more than 6 or 7 minutes, don't let anyone near me with the paddles. It's a bad idea, because you can be pretty sure that my rain would then be irreparably damaged. Why restart the heart if the brain is mush?
What level of cognitive ability? What about the profoundly retarded? Down Syndrome? Where do you draw the line?
Yes, and one doesn't want to try and fool judges.
They've seen it all.
They've heard it all.
Fifteen + years worth.
An excellent article; thank you for posting it.
True.
And isn't that what we're really dealing w/here?
I'm Hitler on the other thread. That's why I am back here with the smart people.
I'm honest in my opinions since I have been there with family and strangers. Someone needs to say stop regardless of how many donations or how much insurance is available.
Thank you, NN for your kind remarks.
No, they are not -- and I think you know that.
I do think what you have gone through is more difficult, imo, because you can't grieve and move on.
I've long wondered if those of us on this board who aren't calling what is happening to Terri murder are those of us who have been in either your situation or have had feeding tubes and machines removed from loved ones.
I know we have and I've shared the stories several times on FR. And both times it was without benefit of a living will.
He makes me puke. Where does he get the stones for his phony moralism?
When there is NO cognitive ability. That's where I draw the line. And she clearly has none.
The 2nd DCA didn't have to conduct a de novo review. They did so anyway, to afford the maximum consideration of the claims asserted by the Schindlers. I guess nobody got around to telling Tom DeLay that...
None of which we are dealing with here.
She's never been diagnosed with Retardation or Down Syndrome.
Then so is George Bush, Jeb Bush, Jesse Jackson, Tom Harkin, Rick Santorum, Bill Clinton, etc., etc.
The real problem here, IMO, is we have badly written laws. They have failed to protect the weak and vulnerable.
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