Turnout burnout: As Terri Schiavo's life ebbed, expected pro-life foot soldier army turned up AWOL

WORLD ^ | 4/2/05 | Joel Belz

[Trust but Verify]

That's because they're all right HERE typing furiously away on their keyboards and denouncing anyone who doesn't 'do something!"

[ClaireSolt]

If you believe in the power of prayer, you might not choose to demonstrate. Of course, if you do not, you might rent a riot, instead.

[stratman1969]

You said a mouthful and echoed a lot of what's been on my mind the last few days. I remember after the election how the media went on & on about the values crowd, the Christian right etc, coming out in droves to re-elect Bush and the Republican majority.

That may have been true (I don't think it was that simple), but what have we received as a dividend? The Republicans in the Senate seem to have lost the will to fight for the Constitutional option. Are they going to raise hell about this phony memo which the dying mainstream media said were Republican talking points? Sure, we may have people. However, it seems to me (and my observations/thoughts may be wrong) all we have is the grassroots. We don't have the well oiled activist machine that the Left has. Why? Funding. (Remember The Right Stuff? "no bucks, no Buck Rogers.") Who gets the millions of dollars from groups like The Ford Foundation and Ther-A-za's Tides Foundation? All the Leftist groups. The ACLU, PFAW, the gay & abortion on demand lobbies all get that money. Who pays for the buses, permits, etc for all the anti-war rallies around the nation? So they are able to organize and get their message because their activism is how they make their living. Plus, it doesn't hurt when you have an activist mainstream media who is sympathetic to your cause. If you're with the ACLU as an example, you're refered to as a "civil rights group." However, if you're with, lets say, the Heritage Foundation, you're labeled a "conservative," "neo-conservative," "right-wing," "Republican," "Christian" (any number of adverbs) organization.

[longtermmemmory]

The MSM must mistake the prolife crowd for the left wing wackos. I believe the pro life people were on their faxes and phones taking action.

While the left thinks a hootinanny folk song fest does something, conservatives prefer to do something useful and constructive.

This is more MSM spin to create something for democrates to hide behind. The Demcrats made a political calculation that Republicans would look bad instead of looking good for fighting the good fight.

These stories are just part of their pre-planned effort that is just out of date. It is just like their October stories in 2004. Remember the NYT and CBS were supposed to coordinate the fake missing munition story, they were supposed to coordinat the fake guard stories.

[longtermmemmory]

If just 10 people show up to protest a leftist cause then the MSM Mediots woudl report it as a massive turnout. If 1000 conservatives show up, the mediots say a mere 500 showed.

[djreece]

We thought the government was going to do the right thing, but evidently it was all a big show to keep the masses from getting too upset until it was too late.

[SedVictaCatoni]

Were the issues decided in the peoples house we would win them all.

The "peoples house" passed the law under which Michael Schiavo sued to have the feeding tube removed. The Florida legislature wrote the statute, not poor Judge Greer.

[GreatOne]

I'm somewhat surprised that the local Social Services agency has not attempted to apply for guardianship of Ms. Schiavo. Maybe they have tried already and lost out. They would be entitled to an evidentiary hearing automatically, and perhaps have grounds to have the feeding tube re-inserted. Would be heard in front of another judge, as it is a new file. Is this what was attempted by DCF?

On another note, I had heard a local radio lib talk down the medical report concerning Ms. Schiavo's bone breaks. Anyone here something about that?

[thoughtomator]

Maybe because it wouldn't necessarily be helpful to have a mob seize a woman on the verge of death?

[John Locke]

Isn't that what "leaders" are supposed to do, get out front and take the heat for doing the right thing, even if it might not be popular?

"It is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit..."

[I Peter iii:7] And part of the Epistle for today, Holy Saturday. No, these events are not a coincidence.

[Bernard]

It probably wasn't hard to find him. Besides the nicely done hair, I'll bet he dresses very well too.

[XR7]

Criminal...

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies, and Pinellas
Park, Fla., police officers arrest 10-year-old Joshua
Heldreth, of Charlotte, N.C., for trespassing on
Woodside Hospice property in Pinellas park, Fla.
Heldreth was attempting to bring Terri Schiavo a
glass of water. Schiavo's feeding tube was removed
by court order Friday, March 18, 2005.

"Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give
You drink?..." And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly,
I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My
brethren, you did it to Me." Jesus, from St. Matthew 25:37-40

[familyop]

"This PROVES that the bomb-throwers, hotheads, and wack-jobs that have been calling for a Jeb and/or GW to start a constitutional crisis over this issue are in reality a TINY MINORITY in this country! They can't even get twenty people out there for cryin out loud!"

Three of them were mentioned. ...from the posted column:

"Another unusual trio included Carol Cleigh from Brasstown, N.C., Eleanor Smith from Atlanta, and Heather DeMian from Columbia, Mo. . . . The three said the judicial actions threatening Mrs. Schiavo are anti-feminist ("they treat women like chattel") as well as anti-disabilities."

[gentlestrength]

"I wish there was a place we can go and have a decent life."

But that's just the point. We're not supposed to go away and cuddle together. We're supposed to be out sharing the good news of what Jesus Christ has done for the world. We're to tell the Laws they fail, and the Gospel of free grace in which He offers redemption to everyone.

These believers will be regenerate, and their hearts be changed, and their values and actions be changed.

It is going to be tough the entire time we're here. But He is with us, and will guide us, and I know of nothing more exciting!

[Darkwolf377]

I think you overstate a bit--Rush and company are doing their part, I think--but you make good points. I see an army of people sitting on their asses calling Jeb every name in the book, yet on his weakest day in this ordeal he's done ten thousand times what the pissers and moaners have done.

[gentlestrength]

God works differently than what man expects. The low turnout actually has God's fingerprints all over it. Just because there are not alot there, does not mean there are not ALOT in every city of America who are praying, calling, seeking God.

Christianity is not a religion of force. In fact, we turn the other cheek. God is the One Who does the work. He gets the glory. He has the perfect wisdom, and we trust Him.

You ask, "Where are all of the brave, heroic foot soldiers ready to go to jail?" Exactly where our Commander has placed them for His battle plans. To assume that He does not know how to direct His troops is a pride He disdains.

We all need to take a deep breath, thank Him that HE can and will do what is perfect. He always does. And we will trust Him rather than live in anxiety, or upset that rises to illegal threats. Pray!

[Darkwolf377]

I'm not a believer but I think you've nailed it. When Jesus encountered sin did he go run away and only live with people who thought his way? No. He lived his life in the world, not hidden away somewhere with people who said "Yes" to everything he said.

When the DUmmies were talking about running away to Canada we spent MONTHS mocking them. The first sign of something going other than our way, some FReepers are talking the same way. What wimps. This is my country, I'm stayin'. Those who turn to jelly when things don't go their way know where the exits are.

[Proud_texan]

Well, there's the little problem that those most likely to object have families and responsibilities and can't just drop those.

I did consider showing up to be arrested, probably to assuage my own guilt more than anything else, but there's the pesky problem of the obligations I have to my family.

[grassboots.org]

I was actually referring to Randall Terru's demonization of Jeb Bush. In other words, you can believe Bush has some options without equating him with Judge Greer if he doesn't exercise such options.

[grassboots.org]

Compare the reaction of folks now with the Nancy Cruzan case back in about 1990. No president or governor did anything back then. Believe it or not there is progress. A lot more people have spoken up now than then Don't lose heart.