Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Don't sugarcoat what's happening to Terri Schiavo
Chicago Tribune ^ | March 24, 2005 | John Kass

Posted on 03/24/2005 12:45:36 PM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican

I've been searching for the right word to describe what is happening to Terri Schiavo, a word that has some real blood to it.

It's important to find the right word now, because, by the time you read this, the severely brain-damaged woman might be dead.

Perhaps you've noticed other bloodless words being flipped at her, words like "viability" and phrases like "pull the plug."

These words were once the issue of bloodless people, of clerks and sophists who can prove almost anything with their fine arguments. The rest of us have fed on them until they shape how we think, shaping our options, shaping our future.

If you love someone who is severely disabled, you've thought about this, about their lives years from now, and you wonder about those folks who talk abstractly, using the phrase "quality of life" and you can hear the threat in what they say.

And if you don't think what's happening has anything to do with your own future, you're wrong. Our collective attitude toward her death will likely shape the legislation of tomorrow, when the Pepsi Generation is forced to realize that immortality isn't an option.

What's happening to Schiavo suggests that Americans have finally been taught to think like bureaucrats. Bureaucrats cover their flanks with e-mail and send copies to others to establish positions. They almost say what a thing is, but not outright, not exactly. The bureaucrat embraces the neutral and avoids conflict.

And we've allowed this. We've embraced the values of the bureaucrat, of the manager, and replaced those older, iconic Western values of self-reliance, accepting responsibility and meeting things head on. One of these values--albeit ignored through countless wars and cruelties--is that human life is sacred. But now we are about process. Now we are about avoiding consequence.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: abortion; aconflicofinterest; bloodlessness; conflictgreerwife; conflictofintrest; cultureofdeath; dehumanization; euphemism; euthanisia; greerswifeboard; greerwifeconflict; hospicboardgreerwif; schiavo; terri; terrischiavo
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-106 next last
Another one from "Chicago's Finest," John Kass. Well worth signing up to the Trib website.
1 posted on 03/24/2005 12:45:40 PM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Southside_Chicago_Republican
OK, here's another number to reach jeb Bush's office: 850.488.5603. A live person just answered and was polite. PLEASE BE POLITE! We gain nothing by insulting Jeb Bush. Please call this number and calmly tell the person who answers that you are calling to implore Jeb Bush to take Terri into protective custody. Again, I just got through to a live person at 12:40pm Pac time.
2 posted on 03/24/2005 12:46:03 PM PST by utahagen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: utahagen
OK, here's another number to reach jeb Bush's office: 850.488.5603. A live person just answered and was polite. PLEASE BE POLITE! We gain nothing by insulting Jeb Bush. Please call this number and calmly tell the person who answers that you are calling to implore Jeb Bush to take Terri into protective custody. Again, I just got through to a live person at 12:40pm Pac time.

Boy I feel sorry for the staffers that are having to field all these phone calls.

3 posted on 03/24/2005 12:50:40 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

I saw her on Norwegian television tonight and if you ask me she should have been dead long ago.


4 posted on 03/24/2005 12:51:09 PM PST by oilfieldtrash
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

Kass is a good writer. He's right - it's MURDER. And he has the stones to call abortion MURDER as well in this article, which is career suicide working in liberal Chicago.


5 posted on 03/24/2005 12:52:07 PM PST by GianniV
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

It would be kinder to use a Zylon gas chamber on her.


6 posted on 03/24/2005 12:52:33 PM PST by expatpat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bluegrass Conservative

I do, too, which is all the more reason we must be polite. The woman I spoke to was very nice, but sounded exhausted.


7 posted on 03/24/2005 12:53:46 PM PST by utahagen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: oilfieldtrash

You picked the right screen name.


8 posted on 03/24/2005 12:53:57 PM PST by expatpat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: expatpat

I heard Shiavo's attorney, Felos (former board of director of the "hospice" where she's being murdered, by the way), say that the parents, instead of resisting further, would be better served to spend their time in reflection. Talk about insult to injury: A lawyer without a conscience lecturing the parents about reflecting on one's actions.


9 posted on 03/24/2005 12:55:02 PM PST by Publius Maximus (Compassionate Conservatism: Profligate Liberal Spending With A Conservative Rhetorical Twist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: utahagen
The woman I spoke to was very nice, but sounded exhausted.

I'm sure she is. Honestly, if I were their office, I'd have a "answer only calls from within Florida" this week.

10 posted on 03/24/2005 12:55:17 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: oilfieldtrash
I saw her on Norwegian television tonight and if you ask me she should have been dead long ago.

They're covering this case in NORWAY?! Considering how liberal Europe is, I am not sure this a good thing.

11 posted on 03/24/2005 12:55:26 PM PST by Tamar1973 (The path to conservative brilliance starts at Free Republic!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Southside_Chicago_Republican
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
12 posted on 03/24/2005 12:56:24 PM PST by cripplecreek (I'm apathetic but really don't care.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Publius Maximus

"A lawyer without a conscience lecturing the parents about reflecting on one's actions,:

I am convinced that Law School sucks the heart, the soul and conscience out of a person....


13 posted on 03/24/2005 12:57:19 PM PST by AngieGOP (I never met a woman who became a stripper because she played with Barbie dolls as a kid.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: GianniV

Kass has stepped on worse "third rails" than this. I think he'll be alright. With all the bootlickers and hacks in the Chicago media, I think the people here appreciate someone who speaks his mind, no holds barred.


14 posted on 03/24/2005 12:57:34 PM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican (In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Bluegrass Conservative
Boy I feel sorry for the staffers that are having to field all these phone calls.

I don't know why anyone would apply for that sort of job unless they were willing to field all these phone calls (and they shouldn't apply).

15 posted on 03/24/2005 12:57:45 PM PST by steve86
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: oilfieldtrash

Why Scott Peterson - haven't seen you on a coon's age!!!


16 posted on 03/24/2005 12:57:48 PM PST by The Duke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: oilfieldtrash

And how would you recommend her death be brought about? Do you prefer gassing? The needle? Or is the starvation of this human being enough for you?


17 posted on 03/24/2005 12:59:09 PM PST by monkeywrench
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: BearWash
I don't know why anyone would apply for that sort of job unless they were willing to field all these phone calls.

Well, typically, they don't have the flood of calls that I feel sure they are getting right now.

18 posted on 03/24/2005 12:59:19 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Southside_Chicago_Republican
The word Mr. Kass is looking for is "murder."

Micheal Schiavo is absolutely brilliant.

Michael is openly (and completely legally) finally completing his murder of Terri, all before the rapt attention of the entire world. Judicial tyrants like blind Judge Greer assisting 100% in the hit.

He is the first cheating husband in history to publicly murder his wife without the slightest risk, and will (finally) inherit the phony malpractice monies he suckered out of the magnificent Florida courts. Not to mention get the proceeds of her substantial life insurance.

19 posted on 03/24/2005 12:59:40 PM PST by FormerACLUmember (Honoring Saint Jude's assistance every day.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oilfieldtrash
I saw her on Norwegian television tonight and if you ask me she should have been dead long ago.

Maybe you could be so kind as to let me know when I should be dead too.

20 posted on 03/24/2005 1:00:16 PM PST by Texas Federalist (If you get in bed with the government, you'll get more than a good night's sleep." R. Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-106 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson