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]

We haven't heard from you since... since {gasp}... Walpurgisnacht. Please tell us you're all right? The Saran Wrap creatures didn't get you?

[T'wit]

>> It's ridiculous that they would need to be told that.

True, but if they had any thought of their reputation, they wouldn't be doing this. I doubt that it ever entered their thick heads. They are obviously thinking about the cost of Clarke's care, not about morals. The irony is, they could do themselves vastly greater financial damage by letting Clarke die from medical neglect. People will certainly see it as a cruel and heartless act. A hospital could hardly get a worse image than that.

[Wampus SC]

"Besides, I was merely extending the theory by adding another theory, not challenging the theory. "

Aha! That's what they'd like you to believe! You've been snookered into diluting the theory by being tangential!

"Would you believe there are conspirators out there who conspire for eight days instead of ten days? There are and we can't ignore them. Good conspiracy theories have to cover every possibility, so you can keep adding conspiracies and theories to the original conspiracy theory until the very moment the world runs out of Saran wrap."

No. That's what they'd like you to believe. You've been hornswoggled into reversing conspiracy realists and coincidence theorists. And only coincidence theorists would associate saran wrap with conspiracy theorists. This bears further watching in case you're one of THEM! :)

Wampus Maximus says: "That was number 2"

[Wampus SC]

"Here is another May Day, May Day and Tora Tora Tora account for you. I ponder what Mikey and the Murderers, the insurgents from the south, Karl Marx, and the devil all have in common on this auspicious day."

A common goal?

"We have a lifetime supply of Saran Wrap, got a bulk package way back in the '70's. But my personal choice is a high quality stainless steel colander, only problem is it is leaky on rainy days."

May Day and the Leftist Hand of Illegal Immigration"

Colander is a good choice. It's metal, unlike the transparent plastic worn by the coincidence theorists. Plug the holes with Alcoa, and always remember that a properly worn tinfoil hat increases perceptiveness and discernment. We used to be able to get high quality American made colanders back in the 70's. Not now. They've been replaced by cheap, low cost imports. Just like what's happening to American made citizens.


He had the will to do what was needed to to protect our borders and sovereignty.

[Wampus SC]

""Michael Schiavo...said he believed reporters were overwhelmingly against him"

Does this mean he was listening to Hannity rather than CNN and the nightly news? I doubt it. It's just more of his usual babyfied whining.

[Wampus SC]

That's the bag I mean. Large, thick, not a briefcase. Paraphernalia of some kind? Who knows?

[Wampus SC]

I've seen some coverage, but it's all been favorable. No surprise there.

[Wampus SC]

"Is this the culling of women with health problems because statistically women live longer than men????? Maybe that's it."

Whoa. Difference in life expectancy times number of women of a certain age = a lot of potential profit loss. File that idea for future reference.

Do the insurance companies realize that their promoting euthanasia might provoke such a public backlash that they'll be put out of business, leaving us with a socialized medical system? Hmmm.... Hegel would have loved that.

[Wampus SC]

"We haven't heard from you since... since {gasp}... Walpurgisnacht. Please tell us you're all right? The Saran Wrap creatures didn't get you?"

Separation anxiety getting you down? I understand. The reason I hadn't posted since 3:13:45 AM EDT 5/1/2006 is I don't live here, and I'm not on any timer except mine. I'm touched that you missed me, though. :)

[8mmMauser]

Andrea's Fight Good News

Yes, we heard it before, and were let down, but the death staff have relented and her first hour of end was reprieved. She is doing better.

This is from Pro Life Blogs, in during the night.

Yesterday was the day Andrea Clark's hospital originally said they would end her life sustaining medical treatment. As a result of the efforts of her family and friends, Andrea's sister sent us the following email today:

How am I doing? I am doing FABULOUS! My sister, Andrea, is GETTING WELL. Her white blood cell count has been down to normal for the FOURTH day in a ROW now, and she has been able to get off of the blood pressure raising drugs that she has had to be on for MONTHS. She is doing GREAT. Her new doctor ... has also halved the amount of pain medications that she is taking, so that she can talk to her family. He says that her condition is "serious," but that she does have the ability to get much better.

The futility proceedings are stopped now. Because this new doctor took over her case, it is all stopped.

I'm so happy I don't know what to think, or say, or do. Not only is my sister NOT going to be put to death by St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, but it also looks like she is RECOVERING from her heart surgery, finally.

Melanie

Praise God! Yes, miracles do happen. We couldn't be happier for Andrea and her family.

Good News About Andrea Clark!

8mm

(this includes Ohioan from Florida's ping list, update to May 1.)

[8mmMauser]

North Country Gazette updates the story on Andrea with details on how the good news developed...

Just one excerpt...

Andrea's attending physician, Dr. Ronald Giveon, made the decision to remove Andrea from life support and then left for vacation. His decision was supported by the hospital's ethics committee and the respirator and dialysis keeping Andrea alive were scheduled to be removed from Andrea on Sunday, April 30.

Futility Proceedings Stopped; Andrea On Road To Recovery

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[8mmMauser]

Worth a repeat: June Maxam tells it like it is!

An update on the Zombie Jamboree on May 1, Law Day, Illegal invaders day, Stalin's day, Commie holiday, whatever.

Here is a glimpse:

Ethics? Does George Greer know the meaning of the word ethics? He's a Florida judge, why is he speaking on Law Day in Pennsylvania and on the Terri Schiavo case no less. As an active judge, George Greer shouldn't be speaking anywhere on the issue which is clearly defined as a political issue. Judges are definitely precluded from engaging in such political activities and his appearance clearly documents his prejudgment of all future such cases to come before him.

Schiavo Judge--- Law Day Hypocrisy

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[8mmMauser]

More on morons...the minds of a tightly focused cabal of killers. Mikey is feeling the heat, much more heat to come...

He said he regretted not speaking out in favor of euthanizing her sooner.

''In retrospect, I guess I should have spoken out in the very beginning, but I had no idea it was going to get so big and that the other side was going to run away with it,'' he said, according to an AP report.

Michael also attacked pro-life news services like LifeNews.com and other pro-life advocates who have closely followed the difficult plight of Terri's family to prevent their daughter's painful death and to protect disabled people from a similar fate.

''Every day, the pro-life blogs continue to bash me, as they are outside today,'' Schiavo said.

In fact, a large contingent of pro-life advocates protested outside of the University of Pennsylvania campus, host of the bioethics conference.

"We are going to this symposium to say that Terri Schiavo did not die with dignity," Brandi Swindell, director of the youth pro-life group Generation Life, said about protesting the conference. "Rather, she died a barbaric death that if she were an animal would have been against the law."

Michael Schiavo Attacks Pro-Life Advocates, Says Terri Should Have Died Sooner

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[8mmMauser]

Mikey, wonder what he thinks, well maybe not...

[T'wit]

>> Colander is a good choice.

Yes, and we have an anthem about it from my favorite a cappella group, The Bobs. The lyrics convey only an inkling of the true majesty of this original Bobs song. You've got to hear it to believe it :-)

If you have to choose only one song about wearing a colander on your head, choose this one.

[8mmMauser]

Andrea's Fight inspires resolve...

....................

Disability advocates say that the Texas 'futile care' statute is a violation of patients' rights and autonomy. They suggest the law should be 'euthanized' and replaced by legislation that protects the rights and lives of patients in the health care system.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 2, 2006 -- The publicity surrounding the struggle to save the life of Andrea Clark - sentenced to die under Texas' "Futile Care" Statute - has brought attention once again to little know hospital policies regarding so-called "futility." There is also a second case in Texas right now that hasn't gotten as much attention involving a Vietnamese woman named Yenlang Vo, in Austin, TX. Ms. Clark is in a hospital in Houston, TX.

This isn't the first time the Texas law on "futile care" has received national attention. During the struggle for Terri Schiavo's life, Sun Hudson, a 6-month-old boy with a serious condition was removed from a feeding tube over his mother's objections under the Texas law. It received brief attention from Democrats pointing out that Sun Hudson was dying against his mother's wishes under a law signed by ex-governor George Bush. But the critics (U.S. Rep. John Conyers for one) seemed more motivated to score political points than in having serious moral qualms about the Texas "futile care" law.

Disability Advocates Say Texas 'Futile Care' Law Should Be Euthanized

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[T'wit]

>> No. That's what they'd like you to believe.

Careful! I have to tell you, Wamp, you may be slipping into the thrall of conspirators with TEN FINGERS!! Having eight fingers gives you vast new theoretical vistas. IT IS NO COINCIDENCE that Lenin and Hitler have birthdays two days apart.

[8mmMauser]

Poor lambs...

Tyranny work just isn't easy.

..............

Judicial independence and impartiality are under assault from many directions these days.

Supreme Court nominees are bullied into expressing their philosophies as judicial Pablum lest one interest group or another take offense. The failure of state and federal judges to knuckle under to pressure from Congress last year on the Terri Schiavo case resulted in threats of retribution. A Maryland lawmaker even tried recently to have a Baltimore Circuit Court judge removed from office because she ruled against the state ban on gay marriage.

And now it seems no holds are barred in judicial election contests, thanks to a Supreme Court decision that struck down prohibitions on judicial candidates expressing legal and political views.

Take the pledge

8mm

[T'wit]

Wow! What a surprising and heart-warming turn of events.

[8mmMauser]

More from North Country Gazette....Judge Greer, what he said at the jamboree.

As Judge George Greer spoke Monday, saying that legislators are "ill-equipped" to make critical right-to-die decisions, inferring that judges without medical training are, about 40 protesters appeared outside. Michael Schiavo was reportedly in the audience for Greer's presentation.

Greer claimed that 30 state and federal judges had "painstakingly" reviewed the expansive testimony and evidence submitted in the contentious case. Based on the self-serving hearsay of Schiavo and his family members and with total disregard of the testimony of Terri's parents and her closest friends, Greer determined there was clear and convincing evidence that the incapacitated woman wouldn't want to live. He didn't just order that her feeding tube be removed, he ordered that she not be given any hydration or sustenance. She died March 31, 2005, of marked dehydration, 13 days after the removal of the feeding tube.

Schiavo, Greer Advocate Court Playing God

8mm