Posted on 06/05/2005 11:45:26 AM PDT by 8mmMauser
"Too Late To Die Young: Nearly True Tales From a Life," by Harriet McBryde Johnson.
About two years ago, Harriet Johnson appeared on the cover of The New York Times Magazine. If you saw her portrait, you probably haven't forgotten it.
A thin woman in a wheelchair leans forward, a purple shawl draping one shoulder. Johnson describes it this way in her new memoir: "The portrait has been described as beautifully disturbing, and most nondisabled people seem to see it that way. I'd prefer to call it disturbingly beautiful, but I'll take it the other way around if I must."
Johnson has an unnamed muscle-wasting disease, but don't dare say she "suffers" from it. She insists on being her own complicated person, a Southern lady, for instance, as well as a socialist, an atheist, a lawyer and a born storyteller with a wicked sense of humor.
She eschews pity and sentimentality. She supports the work of Not Dead Yet, a group of anti-euthanasia activists who demonstrated outside Terri Schiavo's Pinellas Park hospice earlier this year, dramatically sliding out of their wheelchairs and lying on the ground.
And though Johnson hates the hackneyed trope of triumph in the face of disability, she nevertheless has a string of interesting adventures. She runs for elected office. She travels to Cuba to discuss disability rights. She protests the Jerry Lewis telethon annually in her hometown of Charleston, S.C., and she bribes her friends to join her with promises of free food.
Her gripe with the telethon is its grim prognostications. When she was 30, her mother became ill, and Johnson had to accept for the first time that, contrary to all expectations, she might indeed outlive her parents. "While anyone may die young, it's not something you can count on," she writes. "You have to be prepared to survive." It's that angry, proud but utterly normal brand of survival that is at the heart of Johnson's memoir.
The most fascinating chapter is her encounter with the philosopher and animal rights activist Peter Singer. (It was this encounter that rated The New York Times Magazine cover.) Singer believes that in some cases it is morally acceptable for parents to kill severely disabled infants. Johnson disagrees, so much so that she fears even debating him would dignify his ideas as socially acceptable. Nevertheless, she meets him, travels to Princeton University to debate him and ends up with a great story about it.
The best memoirs don't necessarily tell every event in a person's life, but they do capture the voice and the emotional feel of the author. Yes, it's impossible for a nondisabled person to fully know what Johnson's life is like. But her writing is so vibrant, so interesting and so funny that you can't help but feel as if you're in her world, sitting beside her and hearing her story for yourself.
I don't think Jeb is a fool.
I think he holds his office seriously and checked into the ability and restraints of his office. Also, should he have considered overstepping the bounds, I feel he looked at what the result would have been. It would not have helped Terri in the end because the Florida Supremes never support a Republican for anything. And, one governor taking on the Democrat supreme court and the turncoat legislators was not in a position to take on a constitutional question. The U.S. Supreme Court would have struck him down also.
Why? Because of the power of the courts - which is out of control right now. It will have to be countered other ways with good lawmakers and good supreme court judges.
It will have to be countered in Florida with the people demanding change, the state losing citizens that move out, the euthansia society called to account and the lobbyists countered. It will have to be changed by the people demanding-DEMANDING THAT THE END-OF-LIFE PANELS NOT HAVE THE POWER TO JUST CONTINUALLY REVISE THE LAWS AS THEY SEE FIT. Those laws need to be done by the lawmaking process -not the back door euthanasia society in league with the social security/insurance company interests seeking to save themselves money by killing off the elderly and weak (although all called "dignity at the end of life", "personal choices").
You do not get all that done with one man trying to fight AND WIN a losing battle.
He is the man that got involved and had a law created that was later struck down by the supreme court as unconstitutional. (Another reason it was known it would not work).
And, you don't overstep the limits of your office to make a point. Governors and Presidents either respect the power of the office or they do not need to be in the position to begin with.
Hearsay rulings in the favor of death ain't my cup 'o tea.
He's incompetent. Replace him.
(Another reason it was known it would not work).
Why would a man put his career as a politician on the line for a known loosing cause?
He didn't know Clancy...
According to my weather bug, it's 87 degrees. Feels like 100.
However, not saving Terri from murder made THINGS VERY CLEAR.
Freepers and lurkers, visit: www.judgegeorgegreer.com.
And, again, I apologize that we must talk about death so often.
Think about this: If we call Congress and push them to federalize a BAN AGAINST STARVATION AND DEHYDRATION, we celebrate a major victory, vow to be decent citizens the rest of our lives and enjoy life fully again.
This state by state stuff just isn't cutting it. The entire nation should be protected once and for all. US CONGRESS TOLL FREE CALL: 1-877-762-8762.
A Story of what Judge Greer did..
It is a fascinating summary of what we know, a good start to finish review of the sequence of events in the near perfect murder of Terri.
8mm
Jeb had a chance to step up to the plate and save a women from murder and he didn't! Lost all respect for me!
Lost respect. What about the 7 republicans that did nothing, what about the democrats, what about the euthanasia lobby, the insurance lobby?
What about the laws on the books? How come there were no complaints from the people?
Who did all of that?
Get a grip and quit trying to blame one man (a Republican governor by the way) for all that happened in Florida and not even doing a thing about the real problems.
OK - dislike Bush - he is a lame duck anyway. Now what do you intend to do to correct things, go to the federal government to solve your problems for you? Bush has no power?
Or do you just feel like you are doing something if you trash one of our best Republicans? Do you remember the law he got created for Terri that let her live for two additional years? Do you remember what happened to that law?
All of you sound exactly like all those whiners that always said "well Bush lost my vote because he did not get water to Klamath Falls." "Well Bush lost my vote because he did not veto Campaign Finance", "Well Bush lost my vote because he has not corrected all immigration problems".
So - who are you getting for governor in Texas - a Democrat? Good luck, Florida is such a mess, a democrat will fit in very nicely.
If I was Jeb, think I would resign and let someone else do that job. He is totally effective because everyone in that state decides they were not at fault for doing nothing but Jeb Bush should have saved Terri - only Jeb Bush could have done something.
The legislature could not do anything you know. The people could not do anything, the law enforcement could have rebeled, they did not. The hospice people could have snuck her out of the hospital - they did not.
In fact, the protesters could have barged in and taken Terri, how come they did not save her - they were right there?
Good grief!!!!
I'm through with all of the negative Jeb comments - a total waste of time. Get him out of office and shut up about it.
I think you misunderstand. Our disagreement is not just with Jeb, yet we feel that as the highest elected official in the state it was ultimately up to him what would happen to Terri.
We put our trust in him, wrongly as it turns out. I did not have any respect in the beginning for the others you mention, (although I was a big Bush supporter) and as to the laws, believe me, I did complain and so did the others here, hence the Terri threads.
No, we are not pro democrat, but we are pro-life. You would have us shut up and say nothing and watch the euthanasia mob take over, well it won't happen. Without life, immmigration and everything else you mention is meaningless.
Laws prevented Terri supporters from doing anything. You saw what happened to the children who tried to give her a drink. I still maintain laws gave Jeb the right to save her and he chose not to.
I'm through with all of the negative Jeb comments - a total waste of time. Get him out of office and shut up about it.
No..he doesn't need to be out of office because he tried...however badly he messed up.
Greer needs to be sent packing.
Yes..this is very clear.
"...If we call Congress and push them to federalize a BAN AGAINST STARVATION AND DEHYDRATION, we celebrate a major victory...."
Not convinced on this one yet. Give me more on this idea. How will you convince the "keep government out of my personal decisions" crowd?
This state by state stuff just isn't cutting it.
How do we know this yet? There hasn't been enough time. Look at Louisiana.
hall: Sorry I was so harsh on you. Did not mean you personally. Just tired of everything about Terri being laid on Jeb. One begins to think there is an agenda against one of the better Republican governors and a someday other office holder I hope.
trustandobey-Was not referring to "shut up" about Terri - but about Jeb. So easy to ruin one of ours and leave the democrats, the laws and legislators free to get out of this with no personal risk.
Just remember - if it had been a vote on Terri - where did Jeb and the legislators and the courts stand.
We just cannot continually expect our leaders to fly in as superman on issues. They are not supermen - they are our elected leaders who took a vow of office. You just cannot expect him to overstep his powers of office and usurp the laws of Florida. Just think for a minute - what would have been the outcome? Would Terri have been saved? What would the Florida Supreme Court have done about it and Jeb? Would the U.S. Supreme Court have supported Jeb against the State of Florida? No, because they do not want to get involved in state affairs.
So, Jeb would have been impeached and Terri would have still died.
But, if Jeb can be ruined politically over not being a superman, why not take him out of the picture as a future competitor for high office. Many might want that and I'm afraid some might have that as part of their agendas. Hope not - but seems the only one at fault in Terri's case happens to be the fine governor of Florida who instigated a law to give Terri two more years and attempted to get the legislators to do so again.
Of course, the fact that those legislators listened to the euthanasia/insurance/medicare proponents rather than save Terri is just ignored and the blame put on Jeb.
Hal l: Sorry, misaddressed reply
Halls: Sorry I was so harsh on you. Did not mean you personally. Just tired of everything about Terri being laid on Jeb. One begins to think there is an agenda against one of the better Republican governors and a someday other office holder I hope.
If there is no ban, both major parties are headed for trouble.
The perfect crime. And Judge Greer will receive his regular salary for pension when he retires. He makes about $137,00 per year. Why are we paying this CRIMINAL even a dime? Because of who he knows and they are propping him up. The American people aren't stupid. We know when we're being hoodwinked. I wish I had my download of Greer's tv commercial. If I can find it, I'll post it here. If I can't locate it, it's at www.theempirejournal.com.
Develop this. Repackage it..something.
Yes you are right..it's just not selling as is.
Does the average citizen know what they need protection from?
Did you see how many people where so confused about the difference between brain damaged and brain dead?
Gees ...it would be a monumental task to get it past Federally. Major teaching of the general public is in order to get this done.
Trying to take the blame off of the Governor and his inability to lobby HIS OWN GOP SENATORS and putting the blame instead on people who have worked tirelessly for years just does not hold water. I didn't see you scaling the brick wall and running towards the front door. One person made it to the front door and they were tazered. Someone got in the backyard and the dogs got him.
If you think Vigilers want to be shot by jack booted thugs or mauled by German Sheperds on the outside while law enforcement is assisting Terri being starved inside, you evidently were not there. I was ready to duck but the police here shoot first, they are trigger happy.
The Schindlers asked us to pray and they set up a Catholic Church on the lawn to east of Hospice. I get the chills thinking about the makeshift church. I think they were trying to protect us all. Her family treated everyone there like family. They came out and greeted the lines and lines of Vigilers and thanked them for their support and their prayers.
You weren't there and neither was Jeb Bush who was down the street at the Extreme Makeover house to show support FOR A DISABLED MAN. Jeb for women? Was that just a campaign slogan?
Yes it was a political fiasco.
Politics run this country..for better or worse. Look at your alternatives. Chaos?
He messed up and Terri is dead. There is no way around that.
I guess the only question that still remains if if you think he did it on purpose or not.
I maintain that no one could be that politically suicidal.
Go ahead and trash Jeb all you want.
It is apparent your goal in this is to blame Bush.
You are in Florida and Florida is your state - not mine. I am in Texas. So your point about me coming down there is ridiculous.
Now that Bush is blamed - what is next? Get rid of Bush and be done with it - or work on the Florida laws.
Wonder why that is not a target of your efforts? How did the laws get passed? Who voted the laws in? Who were the legislators that did not support Terri? What has been done about them?
Or, is it just sufficient to post tirade after tirade about how Jeb failed to save Terri - not the legislators your state voted in.
Or, move on to impeach Greer. That will be great since he is out of office soon anyway. Jeb, too, will be out of office soon and probably out of that corrupt state.
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