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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
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To: hushpad

The Judicial Tyrants and Trial Lawyers, Inc. have staged a stealth coup d'etat and stolen our democracy, our freedoms, and our Constitutional rights.


81 posted on 03/24/2005 2:27:27 PM PST by FormerACLUmember (Honoring Saint Jude's assistance every day.)
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To: Publius Maximus

They can reflect later. Action is required now.


IMHO, Felos could stand to do a little bit of reflecting himself.


82 posted on 03/24/2005 2:27:42 PM PST by green pastures
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To: FormerACLUmember

Yes, they have.

But all "good" things must end and every dog has its day.


83 posted on 03/24/2005 2:29:44 PM PST by hushpad (The Slippery Slope? The Judiciary passed it a few miles back.)
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To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

Wow. Thank you for posting. This is excellent.


84 posted on 03/24/2005 2:31:31 PM PST by k2blader (It is neither compassionate nor conservative to support the expansion of socialism.)
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To: Southside_Chicago_Republican
A bit too abstract article.

God's Laws supercede man's laws..."

Judge Greer's decree to starve Terri has NO AUTHORITY. People must REFUSE to starve her!!!!!!!

E-mail: jeb.bush@myflorida.com

Telephone: 850/488-4441
Alternate: 850/488-5603

Fax: 850/487-0801

85 posted on 03/24/2005 2:34:39 PM PST by mjtobias (Michael et al. aren't trying to starve Terri because she's dying, but because she isn't. - supercat)
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To: RightWhale

Her statement about Terri's slow-motion murder was extremely powerful.


86 posted on 03/24/2005 2:35:44 PM PST by bootless (Never Forget - And Never Again)
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To: bootless

I don't use the word d*mned very often, but it appears that we are in that condition, the whole country. The road to hell begins right where the toes point.


87 posted on 03/24/2005 2:40:46 PM PST by RightWhale (Please correct if cosmic balance requires.)
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To: Frank_2001; FormerACLUmember

No! Michael has stated that he has nothing to gain monetarily by Terri's death! I mean, he would never lie about something important, or anything. (/sarcasm-cynicism)


88 posted on 03/24/2005 2:41:31 PM PST by green pastures
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To: cinnathepoet

Very clever. Choke! Choke! Don't quit you day job for a career in comedy. This is too morbid for the average consumer.


89 posted on 03/24/2005 2:52:26 PM PST by jonrick46
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To: freecopper01
I have been thinking about the book of Esther, too. Occasionally I'm able to listen to Chuck Swindoll (Insight for Living.) Last Friday (3/18), he was teaching on Esther, Chapter 6. He said, "We've seen the principle 'Things are not as they seem' carried out in four different manners, haven't we?--

When all seems lost, it isn't
When no one seems to notice, they do
When everything seems great, it isn't
When nothing seems just, it is

Which is another way of saying when God seems absent, He is present"


I keep turning this over and over in my mind.
90 posted on 03/24/2005 3:20:49 PM PST by green pastures
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To: green pastures

RIGHT ON!!!!!!


91 posted on 03/24/2005 3:33:19 PM PST by freecopper01 (" The amount of people who are making fun of a blueprint for genocide is an alarming thing.")
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To: cinnathepoet

You are correct. And they must satisfy their urges in more depraved manners.

Unlide Dr K's case, though, the nation has had a few more years in which the evil citizenry have had a chance to nurture their own urges for violence and other evil lusts.


92 posted on 03/24/2005 3:36:58 PM PST by freecopper01 (" The amount of people who are making fun of a blueprint for genocide is an alarming thing.")
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To: FormerACLUmember

Former ACLUmember,

There's plenty of money. There's a reason why Greer announced today he will not open the propate papers to the public........


93 posted on 03/24/2005 3:38:31 PM PST by freecopper01 (" The amount of people who are making fun of a blueprint for genocide is an alarming thing.")
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To: TheDon
"I agree. I guess I'm just having a hard time accepting such thinking the Red Staters among us. From the FR poll, roughly 15 to 20% of our members are pro-abortion."

Libertarians. A whole different breed.

94 posted on 03/24/2005 3:48:41 PM PST by oprahstheantichrist (Terri's battle is NOT against flesh and blood....)
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To: GianniV
"Kass is a good writer."

I always thought he was pretty liberal.

95 posted on 03/24/2005 3:51:20 PM PST by oprahstheantichrist (Terri's battle is NOT against flesh and blood....)
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To: oprahstheantichrist

Libertarians does not equate with pro-abortion. Like everyone else, they have to define human life. There are plenty of pro-abortion Republicans.


96 posted on 03/24/2005 3:54:07 PM PST by TheDon (The Democratic Party is the party of TREASON)
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To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

bttt


97 posted on 03/24/2005 3:55:51 PM PST by timestax
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To: lysie

I appreciate the ping.Thank you.


98 posted on 03/24/2005 4:01:55 PM PST by kassie ("It's the soldier who allows freedom of speech, not the reporter..")
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To: lysie

Thanks. Continued prayer.


99 posted on 03/24/2005 4:09:50 PM PST by Miss Marple
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To: Frank_2001
PLUS the scumbag could get an estimated $20 MILLION for the book/movie rights!

He is such an innocent victim. He deserves it. (The mentality of every sociopath I have ever met.)

100 posted on 03/24/2005 4:38:52 PM PST by FormerACLUmember (Honoring Saint Jude's assistance every day.)
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