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

[Wampus SC]

"It's not permanently harmful, but it reminds the floggee that there are rules in life, as well as consequences for breaking those rules."

It's also not torture. How do I know? Because we have an attorney general who gave an Official Legal Opinion that unless there's permanent damage to an internal organ or permanent loss of a needed body function, then it's not torture. It's just "aggressive interrogation" - thus we get to hear an Official Pronouncement: "we don't torture".

What about those pesky treaties the US is party to that still classify those things called "aggressive interrogation" as torture, and carry heavy penalties for it? No problem! We'll just get an Official Opinion that says, "it doesn't apply to us". Same for the Geneva Convention, now officially "quaint". So what if it's only the U.S.'s known adherence's to anti-torture conventions that prevent if from being widely used on our troops? Hey, what's the welfare of our troops compared to what's really important???? (sarc.)

You'd think that since we don't torture, the people who say - officially - "we don't torture" wouldn't care if torture were to be outlawed. But no. Threats to veto defense appropriations if an anti-torture provision is in it. Who cares about vets benefits. Tell the troops in Iraq, "sorry boys, we're broke. Can't buy bullets. Can't by fuel. Can't afford to fly you home. Everything comes to a halt, and you're on your own. Good luck." This torture stuff must be REALLY important to risk the troops just to be allowed to do it -- especially when "we don't torture" at all.....

Threats to veto the whole budget if an anti-torture provision is in it. Yep, go for broke and shut down the whole country. Yeah, torture must be really really REALLY important to risk it all just to be allowed to do it -- especially when "we don't torture".

What if some pesky POW - who was himself tortured - manages to get an anti-torture provision passed anyway? No problem! Just sign it, and tack on one of those "this law doesn't apply to me unless I feel like it" statements. To go to such lengths to insure the right to torture - especially when we don't - might cause the rest of the world to conclude that torture is the most important lynchpin of American policy. It might cause many Americans to wonder the same thing. It might even make some Americans wonder what country they just woke up in. But who cares? They're not important. Mission accomplished.

Then there's FR. Nowhere else on the net is there such an eager embrace of torture and calls to make it more widespread. And nowhere else is there such overt glee at the prospect. There's a fertile recruiting ground here. I know I'll get "either you're with us, or you're with the enemy" thrown in my face for what I've said. I'm with the United States of America, and oppose its enemies. It was explained to me early on that the enemies of America torture, and have leaders who use torture as a policy - whereas we do not torture, and our leaders have no desire for the right to do so..... Gee, it all makes such sense now!

One last thing for those who tie this up with Godliness and God's will. A question: Who would Jesus torture?

And that's my rant for this evening. If those who oppose what I had to say fear that their own ideas can't stand on their own merits, then it was probably the last rant I'll get to do.

[billbears]

I was speaking more of the occupation forces of the late 1860s and early 1870s. That 'fun' little time of military occupation called Reconstruction and the War that brought it on. The destruction of the Republic

However you're evading the issue(as any of you do when discussing Constitutional issues). Do the states have the right to pass laws that deal with the 'ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State'? According to the Father of the Constitution they did. The intent of the Framers was to establish two sections of government which were to be equal except on very specific issues, the state governments and the general government.

No amount of photos nor ramblings can deny this fact. Of course you aren't fond of facts aren't you?

[Wampus SC]

"It's all they have. If you refuse to worship God, you have to look somewhere else for higher authority. They usually end up worshipping the state. Kissing Pharaoh's toe is always popular."

Throughout history, whenever the people of a nation as a whole start worshiping the state - or a leader they claim embodies God's will - one of two things happens. Decay from within, or invasion from without. Or both. Doesn't matter if it's in the Old Testament or in WWII. It's a sure bet every time.

The saddest part is that those who do remember history get dragged down with those who are repeating history because they don't remember it.

[supercat]

Same for the Geneva Convention, now officially "quaint".

The Geneva Convention was based on some pragmatic principles:

1. Its conditions for treating prisoners would not likely influence the outcome of a war.
2. All signatories could confirm that all other signatories were abiding by its requirements.
3. Each signatory would have enemy signatories' prisoners hostage in case that other signatory ceased abiding by the Geneva Convention requirements.
4. Everyone would be better off if all signatories abided by the convention than if none did.
5. The Geneva Convention conditions which would interfere with an effective war effort may be disregarded, regardless of whether the Convention allows such.

The Geneva Convention was at times violated by the U.S. during World War II. For example, even though it requires that enemy countries by notified of all prisoners captured, the U.S. did not inform Germany that it had captured crewmen from the U-505; indeed, such capture was kept secret since knowledge of it would have caused the Germans to change their codes shortly before D-Day.

I am unaware of Al Qaeda having signed onto anything resembling the Geneva Convention. Have they done so? If they have not, the Geneva Convention is not binding upon our treatment of Al Qaeda prisoners.

[Wampus SC]

"They are faux gop."

That they are. Now say, "They are faux gop's", several times real fast. LOL

[bjs1779]

I was speaking more of the occupation forces of the late 1860s and early 1870s.

Lincoln was okay then?

[billbears]

Reconstruction and the War that brought it on

[Wampus SC]

"The Geneva Convention was at times violated by the U.S. during World War II. For example, even though it requires that enemy countries by notified of all prisoners captured, the U.S. did not inform Germany that it had captured crewmen from the U-505; indeed, such capture was kept secret since knowledge of it would have caused the Germans to change their codes shortly before D-Day."

Was the crew tortured, or just captured without notifying Germany? Does failure to notify of capture in the past justify use of torture in the future?

"I am unaware of Al Qaeda having signed onto anything resembling the Geneva Convention. Have they done so? If they have not, the Geneva Convention is not binding upon our treatment of Al Qaeda prisoners."

Good point, and you're right. Al Qaeda is not a country, not an organized military, and as far as I know they haven't signed anything at all. So Geneva wouldn't apply.

But this raises questions of morality vs. legalism; of consistency vs. hypocrisy. Do we really want to use torture as policy just because we're not forbidden to? Do we want to forbid it because it's barbarous and wrong? Or - God forbid - embrace it because we think it's good? (Or just because we can?) Do we really want to say one reason we should fight enemies in Afghanistan or Iraq - or anywhere - is because they're torturers, and their leaders used torture as an instrument of policy - then claim the right to make it our own policy? That's to say, "torture is wrong when THEY do it, but torture is okay if WE do it." Do we want to be one of the things we say is a reason to fight the enemy? I don't think we should go that route. Others may differ.

Speaking of international agreements like Geneva, that brings us back to those anti-torture agreements I mentioned that we're party to, which outlaw torture period. By military or civilian, to military or civilian. Why bother being part of it when Official Legal Opinions come down saying it doesn't apply to us? Why, when at the same time saying we don't torture (or at least don't call it that), yet simultaneously demanding the right to do it? Shed some light please, anyone. I'd like to hear from some Good American who can justify this, or at least make it make some sense, or just the least bit non-hypocritical.

[Ohioan from Florida]

I missed your post! Was that tonight? I thought it was going to be Sunday night at 8. I hope I haven't missed it, even though I will need that barf bag when I watch it.

[BykrBayb]

No state has the right to pass laws that usurp the Constitutional rights of the people.

[flaglady47]

"I trace Bush's big drop in the polls to his failure to protect Terri Schiavo."

Delusional is an understatement.

[T'wit]

>> On the subject of conspiracies, I'd say that's a term you're using, but it doesn't describe what I believe happened

The word "conspiracy" was not used nor necessarily intended by the original poster. I looked at the same sentence said to myself, "Politics as usual!" There were indeed a lot of important people who refused to help Terri, and others who tried to help her.

This was one of those landmark issues that call for a division of the house. All politicians are, in effect, called on to take their stand on the issue. Their constituents are passionately interested and want to know. The unfortunate effect -- politics has practically nothing but unfortunate effects -- is that in playing to their constituencies, the pols ideologize the issue and break out their most extreme oratory for the crowds. They will inevitably pick up on all sorts of peripheral issues that show off their position to advantage but have little to do with the case at hand. Then their stances are so hardened and the issue is so polarized that it can never be solved to anyone's satisfaction.

Congress's intervention is an example of the irrelevant "issues" that get dragged in. It had no effect whatsoever on the case in practical terms. It did not alter Terri's legal situation or slow her execution in any way. It achieved nothing. Yet, there was an amazing uproar about it, most of it completely beside the point.

[T'wit]

Terri was the poster girl for Florida's new, official Bop and Chop Shop -- that is, legalized murder and pillage of seniors. Jim King actually boasts of pioneering "death with dignity" laws, an unusually ambitious but not untypical polical scam. The name of the game is helping seniors (an abundant target in Florida) into an early grave, and turning their assets over to lawyers and "trust" officials with the usually sticky fingers. There is a HUGE amount of money at stake (i.e., available to be stolen by politicians and lawyers). We need not be surprised to find a friendly coalition of hospice and hospital officials, slip-and-fall lawyers and legislators involved in the Schiavo case.

[freema]

I could have sworn they said it was on 'tonight'. But now I'm wondering if they said "Friday". I've been 'off' a day all week from a trip earlier in the week...

I sat down to watch it, it wasn't in segments, it was about a man who murdered his wife.

And I fell asleep.

[8mmMauser]

A year ago, today...

In 2005, the family of Terri Schiavo said no more federal appeals on behalf of the brain-damaged Florida woman were planned after a judge rejected an emergency plea to have her feeding tube reinserted. The battle had reached the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Last year

8mm

(this includes Ohioan from Florida's ping list, update to 2/28.)

Terri after the attack and before bioethicking.

[8mmMauser]

Father Pavone wrote an open letter to Mikey, will read it today on an internationally broadcast service. Eternal Vigilance started a thread on this letter.

Open Letter to Michael Schiavo (Fr Pavone to read to worldwide audience tomorrow morning)
8mm

[T'wit]

>> whenever the people of a nation as a whole start worshiping the state

Have to "argue" with you :-) Not "whenever" -- "when." It always happens. Rulers insist on helping things along by posing as God (Whose authority they do indeed try to usurp). In recent memory, Bubba Billy never missed a chance to play Jesus. He was particularly good at hugging the afflicted and forgiving sin (provided he didn't have to mention his own). His act was great fun to watch, and no few people actually believed that he was the messiah (especially reporters).

Nothing exactly new there, huh. The famed "priestly class" around the Pharaohs of Egypt must have been the lamestream press of that era, and about as popular as today's presstitutes.

Americans had more sense once and it looked as if we might have broken the mold. But no, the old world flooded in again. We went from the smallest state on earth to the biggest in history. People are still arguing about constitutionalism as if there had been a binding Constitution since the ink dried.

[8mmMauser]

From Renew America...

As the anniversary of Terri Schiavo's horrific state-ordered slaying by starvation/dehydration approaches, people are again turning their attention to the effect this event is having, and may yet have, on countless other disabled Americans and ultimately on us all. That is an issue that will need many years of exploration yet, and prayer as well, that we may be spared from the gathering storm. In the meantime we seem to be hearing a lot of talk about "wishes" lately, which is in itself a cause for concern. Why? The word "wishes" is the end-of-life equivalent of the pro-abortion term, "choice." Let's take a look at what can be confidently expected to happen if we decide to engage in wishful thinking instead of insisting emphatically on respect for God's law and on its reflection in American principle.

A word about wishes

8mm

[8mmMauser]

ProLifeBlogs summarizes Matt Lauer's correction of Mikey's Clintonian lies.

As the release of his book approaches, Michel Schiavo and his wife Jodi have given their first network interview with NBC New’s Matt Lauer. Schiavo discusses the hydration/starvation death of his wife, Terri, and why he refused to give her care over to her family, the Schinders:

Schiavo: When you sit in a courtroom and you hear the father say, ‘I’ll cut her arms and lets off just to keep her alive.’ Why would I want ot put their daughter back in their care If he’s going to do that to her?

Lauer: Let’s make sure we understand that statement.

Schiavo: (interrupting)

Lauer: I think the statement was basically was, if she were to develop gangrene, and had to have limbs amputated, he would do that and would ok that in order to still have her alive

Schiavo: Right.

Lauer: That’s a little different than what you said.

Ironically, Schiavo’s book is called "Terri: The Truth."

Lauer Corrects Michael Schiavo Misrepresentation

8mm

[T'wit]

>> Oh, it so totally rubbed me wrong in another vein. She was never allowed to talk.

That's a whole book, and it would be wrenching to read. Medical science, for all its pride, has very little idea what's really going on inside a mind. The doctors with all their fancy instruments pronounce the patient to be without hope. Yet, over and over we hear stories about people who were unable to speak but were completely aware of what was going on around them. We have heard of people who were being intentionally starved who were screaming for help. It was only because they could blink an eyelash or move a finger that they were saved -- and then went on to something close to full recovery and were able to tell about their ordeal. But how many died when they couldn't move an eyelash to signal for help?

Terri wasn't even this bad off. She could communicate to a degree by both sounds and body motions. That's why Michael wouldn't let cameras into her room -- she was too alive to pass off as the "houseplant" George Felos termed her. The cameras and microphones were only for Michael and his particulary greasy lawyer. Terri didn't even have a lawyer to speak for her.