Terri's Day challenges the nation to unify

Renew America ^ | March 13, 2006 | Kevin Fobbs

[KevinNuPac]

Terri's Day challenges the nation to unify

Kevin Fobbs

March 13, 2006

Terri's Day — A Celebration of the Culture of Life honoring Terri Schiavo with a day of remembrance challenges each and every one of us to stop for a moment and ask ourselves a question, do we respect ourselves, our families, our lives?

And if we are faced with the question of the possible certainty of death, does anyone truly know, or even have the faintest clue about, our wishes? That is the greatest good, the greatest legacy that Terri Schiavo's death and an annual "Terri's Day" can bring to our lives and to the celebration of the Culture of Life.

On March 18th, we as a nation will begin to grieve again, to reach into our hearts and feel with our collective national spirit what the Schindler family felt last year at this time as each moment since Terri was disconnected from the feeding lifeline, the moments crept by like hours and hours like days.

All of us have felt in some way that pain — even if it were only in the privacy of our loved one's home, hospital room, hospice or perhaps talking with an attorney and doctor attempting to make sense out of some fleeting comments made in a conversation perhaps voiced ten, twelve or even two decades earlier — not necessarily an expression of her true feeling about an end-of-life decision but merely an incidental musing in a long-forgotten side conversation.

For at least one million Americans, and quite possibly a whole lot more, this is an opportunity to voice an opinion through a pledge supporting a resolution in each state called "Terri's Day — A Celebration of the Culture of Life." Each and every person who cares that your family, your spouse, your mother, your father, your sister or brother understands with clarity what you wish the end of life for you to be, with dignity and certainty should sign the online pledge at www.kevinfobbs.com and take the additional step to sign a Living Will — or as they call it at www.terrisfight.org, the Will to Live.

Some have asked why Americans should care about an annual Terri's Day. It is quite simple, we tend to keep turning the page on the Culture of Life because we feel it does not affect us. We tend to believe that seemingly universal belief that those who are handicapped, those who are not quite living a "perfect" life or by contemporary notion "ideal" then those lives are possibly disposable, marginal, not relevant, and part of the Culture of Death which embraces a "disposable society."

But life and our values for the Culture of Life are not disposable. Think about the young people today who would rather hurt themselves or even take their own lives rather than feel "imperfect" or the elderly person whose family is told by an insensitive health care professional while the stricken person struggles to cling to life, "she would be better off in another place," — just let her die, disconnect her from life, because her quality of life is not up to "contemporary standards. "

Why does celebrating the Culture of Life in Michigan become so essential for all of us in America? It is important for several reasons. Dr. Jack Kervorkian, also known as "Doctor Death" helped launch first in Michigan and then the nation the notion of the death culture. Secondly, and equally as important, at the May 12 event — just two days before Mother's Day — there will also be a "Mary's Moms" celebration of those women and mothers who have met challenges in standing up for some aspect of the Culture of Life.

This past weekend I sat at my cousin's funeral — or going home celebration, which more accurately describes it — thinking about the dearly departed and how she packed so much caring for others into her life even as she struggled with illness and advancing age. She was a wonderful woman who had lived through many, many challenges in her life, but in her 73 years she had met these challenges with dignity and had conveyed to her family when would be the right time to allow her to pass away.

Her daughter, who is a minister, spoke to the packed church about the times when, with all of her pain and then a stroke, the doctors had informed them that perhaps it was better to let her go. Yet that was three years ago that that occurred, and if the family had listened to the doctors and refused to see how she fought back and not only recovered but went back to volunteering at the church to feed and clothe the homeless. The medical professionals didn't care about an elderly lady who was on dialysis, but the family did and they knew better. Patricia lived three more years — years her extensive extended family considered "a gift from God."

So isn't part of the lesson of Terri's legacy and Terri's Day for families and loved ones to have a meaningful conversation with their family and to have the written document on hand as well that conveys the wishes clearly and concisely? You betcha.

As I sat in the church I thought of all of the families across the nation and the world who were sitting at their loved one's bedsides — or even standing outside of a hospital emergency room — overwhelmed with emotion, torn by what may be days of conflicting anguished decisions. I thought again of how out of death we may have the certainty of life. Terri's death reminded the nation that yes a state can and will starve you to death, and your family may be rendered helpless as you watch your loved one's precious life forces drain slowly away.

By signing the online pledge at www.kevinfobbs.com or going to www.terrisfight.org, you can learn about how to encourage your state legislature to establish March 31st as an official Terri's Day. Hold a Culture of Life Home Party or meet-and-greet to sign pledges, share ideas and support The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation as well as Culture of Life activities and events in your community or around the nation. Between now and March 31st you can make a dramatic difference for yourself, your family and for the nation. Stand up for the Culture of Life because one person, one life, one family can and does make a difference in America. Make the difference and be the difference today. America...The countdown for the Culture of Life has begun.

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Kevin Fobbs is President of National Urban Policy Action Council (NuPac), a non-partisan civic and citizen-action organization that focuses on taking the politics out of policy to secure urban America's future one neighborhood, one city, and one person at a time. View NuPac on the web at www.nupac.info. Kevin Fobbs is a regular contributing columnist for the Detroit News. He is also the daily host of The Kevin Fobbs Show on News Talk WDTK - 1400 AM in Detroit. Listen to The Kevin Fobbs Show online at www.wdtkam.com daily 2-3 p.m., and call in toll-free nationwide to make your opinion count at 800-923-WDTK(9385) © Copyright 2006 by Kevin Fobbs http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/fobbs/060313

[T'wit]

If I read this aright, they held his mouth shut and made him breathe ammonia fumes. That wasn't a beating that got out of control. That was murder.

[pickyourpoison]

"That was murder."

Yes, it was murder. It was first reported that he died from sickle cell problems. A cover-up all the way. Will anyone be held accountable for this? In Florida, anybodys guess.

[BykrBayb]

"The findings of Dr. Vernard Adams regarding the cause of Martin Lee Anderson's tragic and unnecessary death shock the conscience.

Let's just leave it at that. Don't make a federal case out of it. /sarcasm

WTF does he mean by "unnecessary?" Sometimes it's necessary to murder people, but not this time? Unlike the murder of Terri Schiavo, this murder didn't serve a higher purpose? WTF?

[T'wit]

>> ...report represents the first evidence-based indication that Martin's death was not by natural causes

Did you ever hear such weasel talk? The kid was beaten to a pulp ON CAMERA. Was that, perhaps, "evidence" "indicating" that something was wrong? And "not by natural causes" is a wildly evasive phrase for murder.

Crist is a worm-tongue. You can NEVER trust a man who talks this way.

[T'wit]

>> It was first reported that he died from sickle cell problems.

Yes, it was. Apart from that being such a bizarre medical finding, do we not hear a racist taunt as well?

>> A cover-up all the way.

Agree.

[bjs1779]

WTF does he mean by "unnecessary?" Sometimes it's necessary to murder people, but not this time? Unlike the murder of Terri Schiavo, this murder didn't serve a higher purpose? WTF?

The kid was under government authority when he was killed. Keep government out of this! Sounds like another Terri to me....., everybody skates....

[T'wit]

>> WTF does he mean by "unnecessary?"

I don't know. I think Crist just likes to drop in unnecessary words to make it sound good. He oils his tongue before he speaks.

He misused the word "tragic," too. The whole Death Cult loves to do that. But this wasn't a tragedy, it was an evil, vicious, outrageous murder. It was a capital crime -- a crime, moreover, committed by the very people who are entrusted with protecting the public from crime.

[BykrBayb]

I think he just misspoke. He meant to say "natural disaster."

[T'wit]

:-) :-)

[Wampus SC]

Thirty-six years plus yesterday.
We were right then. We're wrong now. Lessons learned, live and learn.
Then, the First Amendment could get you killed. Lessons learned.
Lessons forgotten. The 1st is allowed behind chain link and barbed wire.
And if you're not satisfied with the 1st in a cage, what?
If someone else's sticker's on a car two miles away will you be arrested?
Will you frogmarch for catching the lie of a Chosen Anointed One?
What were we thinking?
If you don't acquiesce, is thirty-six years plus yesterday just tomorrow?
The men who courted, served and craved power then are back again.
With power. What were we thinking? How can you run when you know?
Now you're their thing. But rejoice! They're our guys!
Praise your god that you're being used up for their goals.
Praise your god doubly when they off you early for your innards.
Know your death is man's highest goal. Die to save someone else money.
Until trash-heap day, remember there is good and evil.
Evil is good when we do it. Rah rah rah!
Good is evil when they do it. Go team go! What were you thinking?
An epiphany beats you with a 2x4 so you'll listen.
When you listen, speak it out. Or say, "go team go!"
Your choice. The only one you'll get.
Epiphany beats you with a 2x4 so you'll listen.
Just as it has every day for thirty-six years plus yesterday.

[8mmMauser]

North Country Gazette on Judge Greer, by Leo Floyd...

The first thing that struck me about the conference was how Arthur Caplan looks on video like one of these big fat pains in the butt. He opened with a snipe at legislators and said that he couldn't find a living breathing legislator who wanted to be there. His comment drew laughter from most of the 20 or 30 that comprised the audience, which consisted of about 20-30 pro-death enthusiasts.

Anyway, since Greer appeared on the last day, I believe it is safe to say that he was one of the headlining acts. I wonder if they sacrificed a Down's Syndrome person for the Finale?

OpEd - Reviewing George Greer

8mm

(this includes Ohioan from Florida's ping list, update to May 1.)



Terri on the road to recovery before the second stage began.

[8mmMauser]

Ping to a new thread on Martin Anderson killing. Thanks to TheSpottedOwl.

Autopsy: Boot camp guards killed teen

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[8mmMauser]

More looks into the darkness known as Greer...

Opinion Editorials, by Janice Sanford

If "lawmakers" aren't equipped to make right-to-die decisions for Americans who can't speak for themselves, what makes a judge eligable, except the laws that have been made by lawmakers?

After the Greer Court had Terri Schiavo starved and dehydrated to death, Greer supporters applauded him for following the law. In doing so they all, in my opinion, made a mockery of everything good and right that the United States has ever stood for.

Activist Judges Do More Harm than Good

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[8mmMauser]

Canada Free Press pegs Greer, too...

It seems that every time a rock was lifted during the Terri Schiavo tragedy, another conflict of interest came slithering out.

Some of the main players pressing for Schiavo’s death were on the board of directors of the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, which ran Woodside Hospice, where Terri died. Others were prominent members of the right-to-die crusade.

Among these conflicts of interest was the Everett Rice-George Greer connection.

Judge Greer moonlighting on pro-death speaker’s circuit?

8mm

[8mmMauser]

Andrea's Fight...

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)--“The odds are against her. She’s in critical condition and any new complications could be life threatening" -- that's how Dr. Matthew Lenz described Andrea Clark’s medical status to the Houston Chronicle. “But,” he added, “We’re going to give her a fighting chance.”

A fighting chance may not seem like much, but a couple of weeks ago it did not appear that Andrea Clark, 54, would even be given that.

FIRST-PERSON: Andrea Clark given a chance

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[8mmMauser]

Andrea's Fight....

National Review Online.

After complications during surgery at a hospital in Austin, Tex., Andrea Clark ended up on a respirator and needed kidney dialysis. She was not brain dead, but she had lost consciousness, partly owing to the pain medication she had been given. Her doctor decided it would be futile to continue caring for her. Her family disagreed. There is a law in Texas that, in such a situation, an “ethics or medical committee” will decide whether to continue “life-sustaining treatment.” On April 19, a committee decided to cease such treatment. Clarke’s family had ten days to find another physician. Fortunately, they found one last Monday; it was far from certain that they would. The decision whether to use extraordinary care to keep an unconscious patient alive should be up to his family, not an “ethics committee.” Yet this is not only a matter of extraordinary care. According to the Texas law, “life-sustaining treatment” includes artificial hydration and nutrition. Providing nourishment is not a form of extraordinary medical treatment, and death from starvation is not death from a sickness. An ethics committee should never be allowed to make such a decision against the wishes of an unconscious patient’s family. This law denigrates the value of both freedom and life.

Window on the Week - 5/5/06

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[8mmMauser]

Andrea's Fight...

From the Mainstream Media, here is a summary of all the coverage given:

Zip, blank, empty. Nothing at all.

8mm

[8mmMauser]

Ms. Vo's Fight...

No updates yet found, but sounds like she is on a path to safety. North Country Gazette carried her story earlier by Jerri Ward, J.D. who helped Andrea.

I filed papers with the court in one case (Yoland Vo) and got close to doing that in the other case (Andrea Clark). In one, a new attending physician has assumed care. In the other, the hospital is, so far, cooperating with grace and compassion to find alternatives.

I cannot express the gratitude that I feel for the bloggers, journalists, radio talk hosts who have informed the public about these cases, and the readers and listeners who have clearly expressed to the hospitals, physicians and bioethicists who support denying people autonomy in medical decisions by replacing the desires of patients and families with subjective judgments about "quality of life", that such a position is not acceptable.

OpEd - Texas Futile Care Law Doesn't Work

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[8mmMauser]

Here is a topic right up the alley of greer and felos. Something to replace the cigar store Indian outside their places of business. Warning, graphic:

Corpse showman's pick-up service for new exhibits

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[T'wit]

>> when a dispute arises between a physician and a patient or a patient’s family, the doctor can appeal to the ethics committee of the hospital

That's like an alligator appealing to an alligator committee whether it's all right to eat the dog.