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.
Good grief.
Someone else who survived the 60's! You'll find that most everyone on this thread was escaping the lunacy. I haven't been called a Nazi on this forum yet, but I've been called a few other things. Glad to have you along for the ride. And I think this one isn't over yet.
You too, though I must confess to seeing your posts in the months I lurked while over at LGF and other spots.
LGF?
I think you might be thinking about another tiamat...
Or maybe I'm just being clueless?
I haven't quite got to the stage of calling it lunacy yet, just emotionalism, but I'm close.
Jesse doesn't eat the swine either, I'm told. It's the obvious connection.
Had a chance to see many posts here before I signed up.
Did you read my post #3337?
Ah!
Okay!
I'm Catholic, but I checked for the latest requirements - here they are:
Canonization is the process the Catholic Church uses to name a saint.
The process begins after the death of a Catholic whom people regard as holy.
The local bishop investigates the candidate's life and writings
for heroic virtue or martyrdom.
A panel of theologians at the Vatican evaluates the candidate.
After approval, the Pope proclaims the candidate 'venerable'.
The next step is beatification.
This requires evidence of one miracle (except in the case of martyrs).
Since the Catholic Church considers miracles to be proof
that the person is "in heaven" and can intercede for the faithful,
the miracle must take place after the candidate's death
and as a result of a specific petition to the candidate.
Only after one more miracle will the pope canonize the saint.
For the Catholic Church, the title of saint means
that the person lived a holy life, is "in heaven,"
and is to be honored by the universal Church.
Canonization does not "make" a person a saint;
it recognizes who is already one.
But the Sainthood investigation must originate within the candidates' diocese.
Whoooa! Glad I missed that one...Thorazine big gulp commin' right up...wanna super size that.
Yeah, a couple of days ago I thought being called a Nazi - by people who didn't think they were engaging in hyperbole - was bad. It is so far beyond that now...
I don't mind the emotionalism on the Terri threads. But I was on a thread about dealing with feral cats and some one brought up Terri! It's like trying to get through an obstacle course.
astonishing!
Love the collegiality
There is absolutely nothing I've posted here that I do not stand behind 100%. If you don't like it, tough.
You need a reality check.
Intuition, common sense, life experience, good manners and an open mind.
Gosh, you've described me and almost every poster on this thread.
I fail to see any evidence that these attributes apply to you.
So you're saying we share the power among our colleagues?
She may be one, but the Catholic Church is not going to go through the formal process to recognize it.
It's all about you isn't it? You cannot stand the competition in this forum. It must be your whole life.
I feel so sorry for you.
good night
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.