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.
All you have to do is remind them that FR is pro-life and then see who is laughing.
By the way, I AM laughing with you, if you know what I mean!
In spite of several friendly warnings I sauntered into the arseonists' den.
There were flamethrowers everywhere I tell you.....the dense smoke was overwhelming. Then I heard a voice begging me "Come to the light"
And I did!
sp
Even overt subtlety is lost on dogs. (:-)
heh!
FR is pro-life. Overt enough for ya?
One can be pro-life and also pro-fact.
Or is that too subtle for you and makes your brain say "ouchy!"?
Just keep repeating to yourself, FR is pro-life, if I am not, maybe I shouldn't be here. Repeat after me, FR is pro-life, FR is pro-life, FR is pro-life, etc.....
FR is pro-life, and so am I.
I am pro-fact, and FR used to be.
I am so sick of hearing that. FR is still for ACTUAL FACTS. Peoples opinions are not FACTS. The only facts in this case were that no one really knew if Terri wanted to live or die and since that was the case, we should err on the side of life. And please, don't come back with the, "well, michael and his brothers heard her say that she wanted to be starved to death", crap, it is still hearsay and cannot be proven to be 100% true. So therefore, err on the side of life.
The FACT is that what happened was perfectly legal under Florida law. The solution is to pressure the legislature to change the law, not to blame the judges who abide by it.
There are judges who would have seen the case differently and ruled a different way, so that is all peoples opinion. It may have been legal under Florida law, however, I think one could argue that point also, but it was not moral and in the end that is what is most important.
Everything you just said is true, I really have no idea what you think, just responding to your posts.
But I am glad we agree that people's opinions are not facts and we can quit hearing that FR doesn't care about facts.
Yes, you uncovered a group of 'subversives' who had already openly stated that they disagreed with the majority view on this issue.
Great work, Inspector Clouseau.
Um, no. You can quit hearing it, but I won't stop thinking it.
That is fine, think it all you want, just remember, people's opinions are not facts.
Sure, but for all intents and purposes, TS died 15 years ago.
Do you think God thought she died 15 years ago?
Apparently not on the 11th Circuit or U.S. Supreme Court.
but it was not moral and in the end that is what is most important.
Like it or not, we are governed by man's law, not by 'morality', however you define it. If you believe a law to be immoral, you work to change the law.
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