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.
Picking nits is a popular but ineffecual tactic. Have a good night, FRiend.
Very true.
As to her being bulemic, nobody knows that. If she was undergoing fertility treatments, she could well have been having a reaction to that. That may also be the reason for the fractures in her bones. Any time you fool around with hormones, all kinds of things happen.
Quite frankly, I'm tired of people trying to make villians out of the various sides in this.
Do I think MS is evil? No, I think he's a controller and this is a question of control. Do I think the Shinders are after money? No, I think they are doing everything possible to keep their daughter alive.
Do I think Terri should have the tube pulled? No, I think having a PET scan right before any decision was made would have made all the difference in the world.
I think both sides on this matter have gotten so tied up in being right that they have become downright mean.
NOBODY knows what's right here. And pulling out all the "facts" in the world is rediculous because the simple fact is, the FACTS have been sealed by the court.
Some podunk probate judge in backwater Florida is making life and death decisions along with a lawyer who talks to comatose people and decerns their desires for life or death.
Felos and Susan Estrich are on their side. No thanks, no thanks, no thanks!
Estrich was absolutely grinning ear to ear over the 11th Circuit's latest passing of the buck.
Catherine Crier is handing out the spankings tonight.
Man, Catherine Crier just b*t*hslapped Joe Scarborough into next week.
And there's more after the commerical!
Did you hear her? WHEW.
And now she's going to go head to head with Pat Buchanan.
Talk about "Must See TV."
The rumor is, they are asking 80K for it...if I could afford 80K for a dang floor, I would fly you all here, and we could indeed have a big party...
He just made a correct correction.
Joe and Pat need to put their hands in both pockets and hold on. LOL
Where?
I hate always having to do the research for lazy people. If you had read the 'MANIFESTO', you would have seen this right off the bat. Right there in section 8 (below), we're basically told that 'real conservatives' would not be making such a big deal out of the Terri Schiavo case.
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.
No thanks! I think I'll listen to this 'REAL CONSERVATIVE':
Ronald Reagan's record reveals that no issue was of greater importance to him than the dignity and sanctity of all human life. "My administration is dedicated to the preservation of America as a free land," he said in 1983. "And there is no cause more important for preserving that freedom than affirming the transcendent right to life of all human beings, the right without which no other rights have any meaning."
There's a big difference between "power" and "rights".
Catherine rocks. I'm looking forward to her smack-down with Pat Buchannon.
Yeh, she's a pain!
yes
But the slow learners just don't understand that without the right to life and liberty, an individual's power is zero.
WhhhoooooooHoooooo...did you hear Joe? Joe- "Catherine kicking me all over the tv-"
Oh lordy - and they're off....
Pat uses such emotion-neutral language, doesn't he.
Pain is an understatement. I wouldn't carry her bags - ever.
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.