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]

I thought the most important thing the Schindlers said was that they both now fervently believe Michael was involved with Terri's "collapse." Once upon a time, they did not, or had doubts, or were to polite to say anything. Now, however, they say so much has come out, they think Michael did it. (So do I, of course.) They didn't say what they think he did to Terri, just that he was involved.

They also said that Michael, a relative stranger, came into their family and smashed things up everywhere. But that he could not come between them. The Schindlers remain a close-knit family.

[T'wit]

[TheSpottedOwl]

I saw one taken in '98, with MS graduating on sptimes.com. I was hoping she was ugly or something. She is very attractive in that pic.

[freema]

Thanks.

{{{hugs}}}

[TheSpottedOwl]

I see what everyone's saying about the teeth. They're great looking. Thanks for posting that. I found one from '98. MS has had some undereye surgery. Last photo I saw of him, he had suitcases under his eyes.

[TheSpottedOwl]

{{{{hugs}}}}

[T'wit]

Here, let a man show you how

{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}

[Halls]

oh my word,that is Jodie? WOW is all i can say.

Also, Bob Schindler tonight on Hannity said this is over yet with Schiavo and hinted to either a law suit or criminal charges brought against him. Whatever he ment it was interesting!

[freema]

Guess I'm not a feminist, cause I loved that!

[T'wit]

It would be very hard to get an investigation launched of Michael's doings that night. Therefore, it is very unlikely to happen -- at least not without some big break in the case. It's something to work for, but don't get your hopes up.

>> oh my word,that is Jodie? WOW is all i can say.

If anybody says she has a "killer" smile or she's "drop-dead" gorgeous or has "looks to die for," I hope they get hit with lightning.

[Sun]

I think part of the reason that the Schindlers can now say that Michael was involved is because before, they knew Michael could stop them from seeing Terri.

[Lovergirl]

LOL








LOL!! They look alike. That's scary.

[T'wit]

Good point. Some of each, probably. I'd like to think that the autopsy and our own hard digging for facts have added a lot of new leads and thinking in the case. The presstitutes are using less biased language now too. George Felos has little or nothing new to say, so he can't command a slavering audience the way he could before. Progress is slow but we are moving in the right direction.

Michael must really be feeling his guilt if he's willing to brave public attention as he has. He is not a glib speaker and he is not a good liar, either. He comes across poorly at best and will certainly not earn a reputation for telling the truth.

[Sun]

"I'd like to think that the autopsy and our own hard digging for facts have added a lot of new leads and thinking in the case."

Absolutely.

Yes, Michael does come across poorly and isn't the brightest light bulb in the room. I think if it weren't for shoddy police work and Greer covering his butt, he just might be in jail.

[T'wit]

>> I think if it weren't for shoddy police work

That's one of the attention-grabbing facts that came out: the entire "investigation" was 2 hours and 22 minutes. It had no forensic work. The original papers were lost (not that there was anything much to be seen). Michael was not asked any embarrassing questions. The investigating officers did not wait to get a medical report though bruises and other symptoms sometimes show up as much as two days later. That is, they didn't really know what her medical condition was, so they couldn't tell if she was a victim of domestic violence (by far the most likely answer, statistically).

Where are the police when you need them.

[Tequila25]

In honor of Terri's Day, I will spend all day in bed. I may even drool a bit. But I'm not sure if I can fast the entire 24 hours.

[Sun]

November 1992
Testimony of Michael Schiavo, Medical Malpractice Trial
Q. Why did you want to learn to be a nurse?
MS. Because I enjoy it and I want to learn more how to take care of Terri.
Q. You're a young man. Your life is ahead of you. When you look up the road, what do you see for yourself?
MS. I see myself hopefully finishing school and taking care of my wife.
Q. Where do you want to take care of your wife?
MS. I want to bring her home.
Q. If you had the resources available to you, if you had the equipment and the people, would you do that?
MS. Yes, I would, in a heartbeat.
Q. How do you feel about being married to Terri now.
MS. I feel wonderful. She's my life and I wouldn't trade her for the world. I believe in my marriage vows.
Q. You believe in your wedding vows, what do you mean by that?
MS. I believe in the vows I took with my wife, through sickness, in health, for richer or poor. I married my wife because I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I'm going to do that.

http://www.terrisfight.org/change.html

[Sun]

Quotes from Bob Schindler (Terri's dad)
“Long before and during the malpractice trial, you made a number of commitments to Mary and myself. One of your commitments was that award money was to be used to enhance Terri’s medical and neurological care.”
BOB SCHINDLER: And after the money came in, it was maybe two months after that, and I confronted him and asked him when are you going to begin Terri's rehabilitation? And he told me to mind my own business. Now, he had, you know, promised that before. So it was a complete change. And that was the onset of the problem.

http://www.zimp.org/stuff/contradictions.htm

[Sun]

http://www.gwinnettdailyonline.com/...F7E3050713C.asp

"The Schindlers question why Michael Schiavo only belatedly recalled his wife's "casual statements" allegedly refusing life support. Specifically, they point out he changed his story after winning nearly $2 million dollars in a medical-malpractice lawsuit against Terri's physicians who, Schiavo successfully argued, should have treated her potassium imbalance before it resulted in cardiac arrest. As WND reported, Michael Schiavo filed a petition in May 1998 to disconnect his wife's feeding tube reportedly to carry out her wishes.

During the malpractice-suit trial nearly six years earlier in November 1992, Michael Schiavo made no mention of his wife's alleged wish to die and conversely pleaded for the opportunity to personally take care of his wife at home for the rest of his life. He sought $20 million to cover the cost of her future medical and neurological care, estimating her life expectancy was 50 years.

Schiavo told the jury he was studying nursing because he wanted "to learn more how to take care of Terri." According to a transcript of his testimony, Michael Schiavo was asked how he felt about being married to Terri, given her condition.

"I feel wonderful. She's my life and I wouldn't trade her for the world," he replied. "I believe in my wedding vows. ... I believe in the vows I took with my wife, through sickness, in health, for richer or poor. I married my wife because I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I'm going to do that."



Just because a man marries a woman, does not mean that he is allowed to murder her.

We do not practice radical Islam in this country, at least we didn't until now.

An accused murderer can be set free in a court of law, if only ONE juror out of twelve has a doubt. Should we not have afforded an innocent, but disabled woman, that same right AT THE VERY LEAST?

[Sun]

Minnesota Committee Approves Measure Helping Patients Like Terri Schiavo


by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 15, 2006

St. Paul, MN (LifeNews.com) -- Minnesota legislators have approved a measure backed by pro-life groups that would make sure patients like Terri Schiavo are not denied food and water that could lead to their death. The bill they approved would allow patients to continue receiving it even if they cannot express their own wishes.

During the Tuesday hearing, a paraplegic woman wrote a letter to lawmakers about how she had considered committing suicide but was glad now that she was still alive.

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life backed the measure, which the committee approved and is expected to pass through the state House as well. Its prospects in the Senate are less certain.

"This is reasonable legislation," MCCL's Laura Gese told lawmakers. "Food and water are basic care not medicine. To withdraw this basic human need when the purpose is to cause death without the express will of the patient is simply inhumane."
excerpt

http://www.lifenews.com/bio1382.html