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'm taking suggestions for other analogies, if you got 'em. Anywhere else disabled people have been starved to death by government order in full compliance with the law?
Oh, and I should have mentioned although you must know this as a nurse, there are EEG's which register the upper and lower regions of the brain.
I've forgotten which one controls breathing but obviously Terri is breathing on her own so it's the other region which is flat.
They must have known about this, Dr. Hammesfahr said so, and wasn't he the big dog doctor that they hired?
Thanks.
DITTO.
There's a limit to the amount of pitchforks and torches that I can tolerate.
DITTO.
I think I'm close to edge now, but I'm willing to wait until after Terri's funeral to judge how it may have permanently affected the forum. We've let lunatics run the asylum far too long here. The damage will be lasting.
DITTO.
How about the Ukraine, in the earlier part of the last century? They didn't just starve disabled people, but pretty much everyone...
Good for Glenn. I do like the guy. I was really, really disappointed with the local hosts that just latched onto what Dr. H had said.
You are so great with finding this stuff; thanks!
The doctors who testified at the many trials confirmed this too, of course. But I'd have to wade through all the court cases and just didn't have it in me to do it tonight. LOL
You've described the open forum. As of last weekend over 125 threads were dedicated to Terri Schiavo. I'm sure you can find dozens that support your point of view. Enjoy.
You're welcome. It's been a long time since I've done any EEG-related work, though, so things might have changed ;0)
You should see my browser favotrites list ;0)
It takes time for the body functions to cease working.
It also goes by the age of the patient.
The younger they are, the longer it takes.
As of a few days ago, Terri's kidneys have likely been shrinking.
Bottom line.....Death is a process.....just like birth.
HTH
You can add me to that list.
Where were you given an explanation that starving her like a Jew, in your quaint words, was above board and legal?
Although, btw, of course, it is. Tube removal happens every day of the week in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and rehab clinics.
And the state legislature permits it in Florida as well as numerous other states.
And the US Catholic Conference of Bishops knows it is such a standard practice that they have an entire document which gives guidance to tube removal. If you'd like the link, let me know. I do have that one handy as well.
The whole thing is a disgusting mess -- nothing God-like about it whatsoever. Just human beings doing what humans often do best, which is to say they were acting like pigs at a through over the money and the power in their relationship.
And we're supposed to upset our entire system of government for these slugs? Heck NO!!!
You know I love GWB and will always support him. But as far as I'm concerned, he made a bad mistake upsetting his schedule and spending lots of taxpayer dollars to fly back to DC to sign that misguided thing the Congress stupidly passed. Their proper role is on the macro level, crafting legislation that would set national policy for cases similar to Schiavo.
I thought you were here for 24 hours? We're sorry to see you go.
Short answer--yes. As well, a single EEG is not reliable to indicate permanent status, particularly in the acute phase of brain insult. Serial EEG, absence of spontaneous respirations, absence of ocular reflexes, etc., are used in total to determine brain death.
I just got back home and the INTERNET connection in my hotel room was not working. Needless to say, I was NOT HAPPY.
I've got a lot of reading to do, unless someone wants to sum it up for me.
I've read almost this entire thread. You're post pretty much sums up what it's all about.
How these heartbroken parents became the enemy is beyond my comprehension. Never would I have believed it if I hadn't read it myself.
This is conservative? This is compassion? Not in my world.
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