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.
How long before they show up here? I'm sure some FReeper is typing in his credit card information as we speak.
It is shocking, and it makes me sick.
Felos is a death merchant. He sells death in his books, and to his clients, and to willing judges. The bioethicists who stand to obtain grant money and recognition for work which ultimately concludes that disabled people aren't really persons, and therefore, can be killed (uh oh, can I even mention "killed" around here even if its true, or do I have to use politically correct terms like choice instead of abortion, and thereby lose the debate before it starts?) by the state.
Of course, operators of crematoriums and funeral homes are death merchants as well. They would stand to benefit from Felos and his ilk continuing to prosper. Maybe the pharmaceutical companies will benefit if euthanasia progresses.
Peace I'm out, for now.
I'd be shocked, too. That's absolutely awful if true.
Who is advising these parents??....put quacks on the stand, have Jesse Jackson pray over her and now let's sell her pictures for $100...wow
Knock it off.
In our church, our pastor preaches on the Lord's Prayer every year. He recently preached on the petition "forgive us our debts as we forigve our debtors."
We often do not realize that we should only expect God to forgive us to the extent that we forgive others. And if we are not willing, from the heart, to forgive our enemies, we should not expect God to forgive us. That is what animated our Lord when said to those that crucified, Father forgive them.
Therefore, isn't it appropriate, given our Lord's own teaching, to pray for Greer, Michael Schiavo and George Felos?
Besides, they WANT to start flamewars so they can get the thread pulled and us banned. Don't help them if possible.
Abrams talking about it now...MSNBC.
One more, and you'll be on a vacation. Knock it off. People are trying to make an effort to be civil, can you?
Are you serious? OMG.
Ok. I take it back as I came upon your apology as I was catching up.
And if you're wrong, it's called murder.
I wonder what the members of this little after-school club thought about Felos' comment that Terri looked "beautiful".
Simply disgusting. Anyone with any cajones (or the symbolic equivalent) would be appalled by this.
Dan Abrams said they are videos!
And he just said it's sick. And it is.
Dr. Cranford talking now. Says he has never seen anything like this. It's out of hand. Exceedingly bizarre. No credible doctor will sign an affidavit without seeing the patient. He's arguing with a woman who disagrees but he's a neurologist and says it does NOT happen.
Title on MSNBC:: Schiavo FUndraising Pitch
Abrams has been awesome on this.
Bye.
They have fooled you with their own incivility. If their manifesto had any credibility, it wouldn't be back here.
Bad move.
Sorry for the bother. Thanks.
No. This is a case of a husband who has the legal authority to make decisions for his incapacitated wife.
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