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A few comments. I do not belittle Terri's supporters. I praise their DEDICATION... while at the same time I point out that their TACTICS have resulted in a loss of public support for her.

The purpose of a demonstration, like the purpose of any political or PR campaign is three fold.

Most importantly, it is to move the vast field of undecideds into your supporters. Undecideds also includes those for whom Terri's problems were not a major part of the life or thought process.

Next in importantance, you work to have your opponents stop caring about the issue, to have them move onto other things.

Lastly, and least importantly, you work to encourage those who already agree with you. Certainly you want to "preach to the already converted" but of the three areas, motivating those who already agree with you is the least important. It's great for the ego, but produces little real results.

This was the classic mistake Elian's supporters made. They had the support of 97% of the Cubans in Miami, and worked to make it 100%, while ignoring and sometimes offending the "little old lady in Peoria."

You say I work to support my own cause. You are right. My cause is an EFFECTIVE campaign for Terri, one that will build support rather than drive it away.

You also claim that I say "over and over that the Schindler's creditability has been put in question. I (you) certainly don't see other supporters seeing that happen."

First of all, I do not believe the Schlindler's creditability or motives or honesty are in question in any way, not have I claimed anyhting of the sort.

I do know from watching the poll results and talking to outside observers that many people in the area feel that way, because the demonstration efforts have ignored the vast majority of undecideds we spoke of above, and have energized Terri's opponents, rather than "put them to sleep"

Remember,it's not enough that Terri's supporters continue to agree with her cause. Success comes when you move others to her cause.... and I'm sorry to say that effort has failed miserably here.

People who want to justify their prior actions, and those who want to continue to use Terri's plight to promote their own cause will continue to fight me on this, and fine, they can do so. My efforts have one simple goal; increase the EFFECTIVENESS of the PR campaign.

If this PR campaign does not become EFFECTIVE, then Michael will continue to win on the legal issues, and the campaign will be lost. It matters not if the campaign is loud or long or motivates those who already agree with Terri's family. Hitler's invasion of Russia was "loud" and long... Our eforts in Vietnam were loud and long and doomed to failure because they were not EFFECTIVE.

To be successful, this campaign must reach the undecideds and those who don't have string feelings about the issue, or it will not save Terri's life. To do that, it must be EFFECTIVE.

And yes, I have been in touch with the family's PR person. Since working through her now gives me the opportunity to be EFFECTIVE, and this forum only speaks to those who already support Terri, I now move my interest there.

MB, I'm glad to hear that.

I would suggest that you also contact Atty. George Tragos directly. He also just came on board w/fresh energy and ideas to support Terri and her family.

He is a member of Professionals in Excellence -- it's awesome how many people are concerned about Terri and want to do the right thing for her.

You are in my thoughts and prayers in this, as are all those already in Terri's fight organization. May God give all of you all wisdom, discernment, prudence, knowledge -- and every big and little thing that He knows is needed for Terri. And may He bring the plans of the enemy to nothing.

I'm glad you can admit you support your own cause, but that is exactly what you have been condemning other supporters for doing.

You have belittled Terri supporters, saying they only want camera time, that their vigils have been ineffective when they have not been ineffective. You have even gone so far to belittle a huge group of Terri supporters (pretty much all of them) by saying that their efforts have been ineffective.

I'm sure you feel at least somewhat offended when someone calls you a spy or a mole (if you don't, you lack human compassion). Now when you say things to other Terri supporters, that are actually going out and doing footwork, you are belittling them and don't for a minute think you are not.

Calling a true Terri supporter a spy/mole or any other belittling remark in a public forum hinders everyone's efforts. It makes those who support Terri look like squabbling children. It is this exact behavior that you have exhibited in this forum that has caused us to lose supporters or have supporters crawl into a corner and remain silent. I was inadvertently a victim of someone calling a group which I belonged to a bunch of moles, and it virtually closed down the group which has scores of important information filed for easy access to other's. I know first hand how berating other's can destroy the fight for Terri.

Don't sit here and tell me you have not belittled and berated other supporters, that very behavior is what has made you look so bad. You have gone after FV many times and even outright accused that one person of causing a downfall in support. I have seen FV in other groups and happen to know that (s)he had never once stumbled off the track of supporting Terri. FV is involved in another group that I am in and has been fairly quiet, so I don't for a minute think this person is trying to get attention as you claim. You have categorized supporters, that is another no no. I suggest you go back and read your posts to see just how you are coming across, it is not good.

From the opinions you give, it seems to me that you believe the disabled individual that is confined to her/his home and can do nothing more then write letters or make phone calls is unimportant. Let me tell you, we are working to save the life of a disabled woman and for that reason, all our disabled supporters are extremely supportive. What about the people that live outside of Florida, do you think they are not important?

If you really want to spread the word, you need to step outside of the INTERNET and reach those folks that do not have the INTERNET. If you really want to help in the cause, you need to first apologize to those supporters you have offended and then try to pick up from them and ask them to help you, get them on your bandwagon. Putting them down is certainly not going to help you in your task at all. When you put one person down, not only does everyone reading the forum see it, each of those people spread the word to other people that they know and it makes your task all that much harder. You need to try a different tactic, how about saying nothing about those supporters you may not like and may not approve of their way of supporting Terri? Instead, how about saying something like, "I have another idea that might be succesful, anyone who wants to join me please let me know". How about doing what you just did in this letter in response to me...rather then state everything that you feel is being done wrong, state that "we should try this", it would be a much better approach.