Replies

MarMema-

I like Freeping as well, though I just signed on recently to the Free Republic website as a member. Granted, what you are advocating with regard to this insignificant poll sponsored by some Tampa Bay area television station's website is childish. It is akin to "seeding" a ballot box with votes just because they are votes (I thought that they only did that in Third World countries as well as dictatorships). What this reminds me of is some banana republic printing up more of its own currency to offset its debts ... sure, it looks like the banks are now stuffed with money and the debt problem of the country is solved, but you know what ... the currency isn't valid enough to wipe you rear end with. With regard to your comment "You never know when you do a small thing .... sometimes it may make a difference down the road. Have you never had that experience?" ... Yes, as a human being, I have indeed had many of those experiences. But, as I said before, this poll has no real meaning whatsoever. It is just a public poll put on by a television station to take the "pulse" of a current issue (and for that matter, the television station is not "very sick" as you state at the beginning of this post for doing so). You call it "very sick" because it does not fit into your realm of thinking. The station is not advocating removing Terri's feeding tubes or leaving them in ... it is just offering a teeny tiny forum in which to allow members of the public to put their two cents in on the subject. Simple as that. Now pat yourself on the back and know that you were a good little trooper and got the "NO" votes higher than the "YES" votes and you can sleep well tonight knowing that you fought the good fight for Terri.

Take care,

Front 242

You are way off base in telling us not to FReep online polls. If Tampa Bay news writers use those polls to justify writing inaccurate articles, then vote we must.

(and for that matter, the television station is not "very sick" as you state at the beginning of this post for doing so). You call it "very sick" because it does not fit into your realm of thinking.

Do you happen to work for this station? Cause you sure sound like you're trying to apologize for it.

I feel sorry for you if this disgusting "fun" little poll sits nicely into your realm of thinking.

"it is just offering a teeny tiny forum in which to allow members of the public to put their two cents in on the subject. Simple as that"

I'm sorry, but it's not as simple as that.
The station is offering a BOGUS poll, with a MISLEADING question that invites both sides of the issue to answer "Yes". My feeling is that many decent people may have been misled into voting "Yes". I, for one, would love to see Terri not dependent on her feeding tube, and able to eat on her own, and recover.
So, in the strict sense of the question, as it is worded ("Should the feeding tube be removed?"), I could have answered "Yes".

This is a FRAUDULENT poll, and merely a public relations gimmick to garner as many "Yes" votes as possible. IMHO.

When the poll first appeared on TBO.com, there were a ton of "Yes" votes. I believe the numbers were 298-88 , Yes-No. VERY SUSPICIOUS that in the early hours of this 'poll', there were so many "Yes" votes, and a much SLOWER rate since then.

Sorry to go on so long, but to answer your objections, I would simply summarize this way:

We are in a BATTLE in this country between the forces of LIFE, and the forces of DEATH.
Or to put it another way, the forces of LIGHT and the forces of DARKNESS.

In our own nation, it's a battle that's been raging for decades.
In the world, it's a battle from time immemorial.

Felos, Greer and company represent the proposition that some lives are more "useful" than others. Felos and his ilk make no bones about it. They support the killing of Terri Schindler-Schiavo by starvation and dehydration!
It's right out there in the open.

What we are trying to do, by voting in this 'poll', is to attempt to roll back the forces of DEATH just a little bit.
To try to EDUCATE the good people who might be listening in Florida and around the country, and alert them to the creeping evil that is working its way through our society.

The forces of death have been entrenched in our legal and educational institutions for decades.
The media have consistently bowed to them and applauded their every utterance.
What else can we do but shout "THIS IS WRONG!"
What else can we do but to give witness to Life.

So, in my opinion, I don't believe this to be an "insignificant poll".

Say "NO" to death.
Vote.

Welcome to Free Republic.

The television station is *very* sick to be running a poll about the life or death of a handicapped person, and especially when that death is one which is extremely cruel, slow, and filled with suffering.

I am so proud to be part of a group which cares enough to fight back, even in this way.

Wow. That's all I can say about your post. Wow.
I should stop here.