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.
I didn't know you worked near that hospice.
And yes, I think people were duped. It's classic overreach by the radical 10% of the party. And it's Politics 101 that you don't respond to the radicals within your own party. The Democrats learned that the hard way. And I think we're going to learn it too.
Unless there's another terrorist attack and national security becomes priority number 1 again, this matter we are discussing will be used against us during judicial nominations and election seasons.
I figured out what Terri's parents were about when they started lying on national television. If you can make your case without lying, then you don't have much of a case.
Not towards advancing their agenda, of course. But they'll be able to enjoy the sweet sophist flavor of their moral victory. No doubt, every time President Hillary Clinton does something they don't care for (which will be often), they'll cry the loudest. And fail to see the connection, as well.
The problem, in this day and age, is the most dangerous fanatics are the ones you agree with. In their quest to get you something, they'll cost you everything.
you seem to be confusing procedural due process with a substantive due process claim.
She enjoyed the Judicially recoginzed external right of life, and the burden for removing that right is far heavier, and merited far more scrutiny than it was given, at the end.
That was clearly Congress' intent in passing the law, and while you sit here weighing in on what YOU THINK the law means...Many highly skilled legal minds, and the bills chief
stewrads say the opposite.
" for the alleged violation of any right of hers under the U.S. Constitution or laws"
reaches far beyond a procedural due process claim.
That's what happened these last few weeks. The single issue voter has always surprised me because of their political naivety anyway and now will drag the party down, barring a national catastrophe that will require the turned off voters to once again decide that national security trumps everything else.
Really? Is it a blacklist? Am I going to get hate mail? You know you're moving up in the world when people send you angry, illiterate scribble.
I'm so excited. I hope I get something super crazy that I can share.
An excellent way to put it.
He can "out" us all day long.
Our personalities are more pleasant than his (not to mention our dispositions more reasonable) so I have no doubt our company will then be sought while he ends up the one being shunned.
And yes, I know I'm not pinging him. I've decided not to ping people who don't exhibit common courtesy and decency so don't deserve courtesy pings.
I hope you're wrong Peach. I don't know that the damage to the conservative movement as a whole has been badly damaged, but the Christian movement certainly has.
80% of religious Christians are level-headed, pragmatic folks who understand limited government and fiscal restraint. The rest - well it's here and on the 24-hour news shows for all the world to see. And it's not the "life uber alles" mindset; I can actually empathize with that to a great extent. No, it's the vitriol, the justification of violence - the lack of humility. It self-portays radical Christianity at the same level of radical Islam, and it's disappointing.
I guess "Taliban" nails it.
One of my knowledgeable Catholic friends agrees with you.
Catholicism question for you. Is Terri Schiavo someone who could seriously be considered as a candidate for sainthood?
I'm rather skeptical about that. She is emblematic of the culture of death, but it is not correct in any way to paint her as a martyr.
Well, if you could get the premise of the thread straight in your head, then I'm sure you'd agree and be pleased to join.
Ooooh, I like that better than the "life-or-else" phrase I've been using.
How could Terri be a saint, while Mother Theresa isn't?
Feel free to use it, free of charge.
I don't know who we're talking about here, but anyone that would make up a silly list like that is probably all fuss anyway. Still, maybe he'll post a long, pissy opus, and have a 'Nazi roll call' with our names on it. That could be fun, too.
I guess "Taliban" nails it.
ooops- 3657 was the post I meant!
I thought there were a couple of miracles involved, too.
SS Stormtroopers...everything.
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