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.
The good news is that I'm getting my second wind finally. I hope other Terri supporters are feeling somewhat better so that we can forge ahead.
We shall see what springs up through grassroots activism.
We need to research the over-use and illegal use of the Baker Act. I have a feeling that Florida is leading the way in the misuse of the Baker Act. This is another way for attorneys to make gobs of money by fleecing the victim. And, law enforcement is once again involved. They made sure Terri's murder was accomplished. They were rude to the Schindlers and always ready to arrest one blood relative or the entire family. The Pinellas Park PD weren't peace keepers. They were working for MICHAEL SCHIAVO and JUDGE GEORGE GREER, DEATH-KNELL AND FELOS (which means the one who kills.)
On Right March Radio will be Randall Terry, a long- time pro-life leader, who is running for Florida Senate against Sen. King (King led the fight to kill Terri Schindler-Schiavo by starvation). Randall was brought in by the Schindler family to try to help save Terri's life, and is now working to remove this turncoat state Senator in his district. More info: http://www.randallterry.com/
You won't want to miss today's show! And don't forget, we archive the show each week -- click below to catch the most recent show:
http://www.rightmarch.com/radio.htm
FV SAYS: Randall's interview today should be in the archives noted above.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/euthanasia/terri.htm
I still can't believe that Terri was killed, and killed with such brutality. She was an innocent, helpless, person. Her parents/family wanted to take care of her in their loving home. That's all. You'd think that anyone Left or Right, with an ounce of humanity would be outraged over her slow torture, execution carried out over 13 days.
Before this happened, I would have thought that protecting the disabled would be a no-brainer for people. Boy was I wrong. I was shocked by the cold blooded responses of many, including some FReepers.
I hope everyone reads Harriet Johnson's book. Disabled people are going to have to fight for their lives now, sadly, because we have become so shallow, calloused, and self involved that we no longer have any common decency.
They (disabled) need to show people that they are, as the organization is called, "Not Dead Yet" and worthy of life.
Lisa who is still demonstrating at Hospice Woodside is a Texan. Texans went above and beyond to help Terri's fight and are still at it.
Senior citizens are afraid too. That's why they tried to pass a bill in the Florida Legislature. It's pure spin that seniors are anxious to get to the afterlife. They don't want their lives cut short. The Fla legislature THINKS they aren't going to revisit this next year. We'll see about that.
Well, maybe the Texas message board would get a reply.
I just posted a note there asking for help.
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/profiles?location=91
We shall see. :)
FV
The three Georges: You captured the look, the eyes. The eyes are always sunken, always soul-less. It shows in these pics.
8mm
Thank you for being there to support Terri.
You can say that again!
Lisa who is still demonstrating at Hospice Woodside is a Texan. Texans went above and beyond to help Terri's fight and are still at it.
Can you help on this one? In the very early morning hours of March 31, just before Terri died, a lone lady showed up, having driven quite a ways, just to be there. She came up with one memorable phrase, "The End is Greer" and I asked her if I could use it. She said yes, but no attribution. She also refused to identify herself to the press. I did not get her name.
I used her expression as the title to a vanity post here.
I wonder if this is the one and same Lisa. She stayed near the first driveway on the side of the pen where most of the Catholics stayed.
8mm
Neither am I FV. He really showed his true colors when push came to shove. I wouldn't vote for him for dogcatcher now!
Jeb Bush did more for Terri than any other politician.
To keep on harping that he did not charge in to snatch Terri out of the hospital hurts your efforts more than anything else - especially at FR.
He acted within his position as he stated and decided not to break the law to act.
Please look at the facts - if he had done anything at the end, it would have been used to impeach him for overstepping his bounds, it would have immediately been overturned by the Florida government, the courts and the Florida supreme court and Terri would again be abused.
There was nothing he could do. But, note that now he is on board with the constitutional amendment. (This is even doubtful because of this same Florida inbred government).
You Florida grassroots people have to create the uproar to change this. He will support you but this is one time it has to come from the people.
How right you are and I am one that will not give up. Thought it might be time to reprint a copy of a letter (contained pertinent backup in the package) that I sent to our friends in Washington. It was better then a week ago that I mailed the packages (at the Post Office) but - needless to say - no reply so far.
Any suggestions as to how long to wait before hitting again and then, how?
The letter:
May 25, 2005
Senator Bill Frist
509 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Frist,
For over a month I have intended to write this letter, first to clear up some misunderstandings and to request your follow through with a complete and total investigation of the Terri Schiavo case.
First, the Senate did NOT act on it’s own in trying to get the Case retried in Federal Court. I know that most Senators and Congressmen have been bombarded, including officials in Florida, to take action on this miscarriage of justice. WE the people have requested OUR representatives take action because ALL OF YOU represent us. To prove my point, I am attaching a copy of one of my Telephone bills.
Secondly, that Senate subpoenas can be ignored is beyond my comprehension. Really teaches young people a lesson!
Thirdly, the way the world has perceived this is not good. I have included just two of articles taken from foreign papers. We better not try to teach Human Rights anytime soon.
Fourth, the entire system in Florida should be investigated. I am attaching a few articles that prove my point. Incidentally, the only media that has honestly covered this case is The Empire Journal - I find that their material has been investigated and checked out and can be checked even further - a lot of court documents, depositions, etc., are included in Adobe format.
Rather than send copies of all the reports which would require UPS to deliver, I am including the web address of The Empire journal - perhaps you or one of your staff might like to review their inputs over the years. Inputs such as those on the attached sheet should give you some idea.
Finally, there are two more cases that are very similar - one in Florida and one in Southern California. I have attached a report on each. These need immediate attention by someone!
Please, please schedule a complete and thorough investigation. Being a senior, widow and no local family, I could well find myself in the Same situation. I am also sending copies to those listed below in hopes something can be initiated very soon. Perhaps, just maybe, the LEFT was concerned about your following up on this case and tried to use the filibuster to cloudy things up. My own opinion of course.
God bless and please know you are ALL in my prayers every day.
Sincerely,
P.S. I am enclosing a photo of a rose bush I planted in Terri’s memory. May I ask that you, in Terri’s memory, make sure this miscarriage of justice never happens again?
Enc. cc: Senator Mel Martinez, Congressman Tom DeLay, Congresswoman Katherine Harris, Congressman Dana Rohrbacher, Congressman Dave Weldon
From the way the media/Felos portrayed it- seniors just can't wait to be starved and dehydrated to death. In fact, they are outraged that anyone is trying to interfere with their "right" to be starved and dehydrated to death at the behest of their guardians.
Common sense says that seniors would be concerned (to say the least) about what happened to Terri, and its implications. Then again, not to many people have common sense anymore. You'd think the Mae MaGourik (sp?) case would wake them up. She had a Living Will. They still tried to kill her. I'm sure that the stress of the ordeal took away whatever time she had left.
One of the few positives of what happened to Terri is that people are becoming aware of this. More need to know the truth of what happened to Terri, and the hidden agenda of the death freaks.
To me a "Living Will" is in the same category as a pre nuptial agreement- i.e. the pre-nup is a divorce paper. Signing a divorce paper before you even get married doesn't seem like a good idea. Neither does signing a "Living Will" which is really a death paper.
You're signing a paper that tells what you want to die of-i.e.- dehydration, starvation, denial of medication, neglect, exc... it's especially dangerous, since most people don't even have basic knowledge of medical care and procedures.
For instance- you might say you don't want to be on a ventilator, but, many times a ventilator will save a patients life. They are on it for a short time, and are then weaned off. But, if you have "no vent" you may not get that care, and you'd die when you might have recovered. You don't even give yourself a chance to recover.
I think this death agenda will have a negative impact on future medical research too. What's the point if we're just going to off people at the first opportunity?
Terri's plight has brought many important issues out into the open. That's the one positive I can think of, about the whole ordeal.
From the way the media/Felos portrayed it- seniors just can't wait to be starved and dehydrated to death. In fact, they are outraged that anyone is trying to interfere with their "right" to be starved and dehydrated to death at the behest of their guardians.
Common sense says that seniors would be concerned (to say the least) about what happened to Terri, and its implications. Then again, not to many people have common sense anymore. You'd think the Mae MaGourik (sp?) case would wake them up. She had a Living Will. They still tried to kill her. I'm sure that the stress of the ordeal took away whatever time she had left.
One of the few positives of what happened to Terri is that people are becoming aware of this. More need to know the truth of what happened to Terri, and the hidden agenda of the death freaks.
To me a "Living Will" is in the same category as a pre nuptial agreement- i.e. the pre-nup is a divorce paper. Signing a divorce paper before you even get married doesn't seem like a good idea. Neither does signing a "Living Will" which is really a death paper.
You're signing a paper that tells what you want to die of-i.e.- dehydration, starvation, denial of medication, neglect, exc... it's especially dangerous, since most people don't even have basic knowledge of medical care and procedures.
For instance- you might say you don't want to be on a ventilator, but, many times a ventilator will save a patients life. They are on it for a short time, and are then weaned off. But, if you have "no vent" you may not get that care, and you'd die when you might have recovered. You don't even give yourself a chance to recover.
I think this death agenda will have a negative impact on future medical research too. What's the point if we're just going to off people at the first opportunity?
Terri's plight has brought many important issues out into the open. That's the one positive I can think of, about the whole ordeal.
Apparently, ClancyJ thinks we have been too hard on him for the way he behaved at the end!
She looks very happy!
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