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

[8mmMauser]

A great article about Republicans with the values of R. Reagan. They may save the GOP from itself.

That brings back poignant memories of the good old days. But even then we had to fight every inch of the way just as we are fighting the death culture for people like Terri.

[8mmMauser]

An important anniversary is coming up this weekend.

From Dory

This Saturday, March 18th, is the anniversary of the day Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed. She died thirteen days later, on March 31st. The public airing of Terri's situation caused us to consider and debate profound issues of life and death. We asked important questions. What is life? What makes it precious? What makes life, "worth living"? What is the difference between medical intervention and ordinary care, and when, if ever, can they ethically be withdrawn? When, if ever, should the dying be treated differently than the profoundly disabled? At our best, we discussed these things on our blogs thoughtfully and graciously, in spite of the emotionally-charged atmosphere. At our worst, we angrily hurled insults and attacks at the "other side".

Blogger's Best for Terri Schiavo

8mm

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



Terri after the attack and before bioethicking.

[Miss Behave]

Thank you, Ohioan.

[8mmMauser]

Lifesite continues the topic of National Day of Remembrance.

Excerpt

CLEARWATER, March 16, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The family of Terri Schindler Schiavo are working to establish a national day of remembrance in her name to commemorate the growing number of patients who are being killed in hospitals by removal of food and hydration assistance. Robert Schindler and National Urban Policy Action Council president Kevin Fobbs have joined forces in an effort to help disabled people and other avoid Terri's fate.

The goal is to gather a million signatures to petition state officials to establish March 31 as a national day of remembrance, similar to the annual remembrance of the anniversary of the abortion decision, Roe v. Wade.

“Terri Schiavo’s legacy has taught us that life is precious and should be protected,” Fobbs, also a Michigan radio talk show host, said.

Schindler Family Seek to Establish National Day of Remembrance

8mm

[Miss Behave]

Ignore the trolls.

You're right in your assessment of how things played out. A swamp judge weilded more power than the Executive and Legislative branches put together. And the liberals squeeled with delight.

Hear hear, BykrBayb.

But "liberals" and "squeeled" are indistinguishable.

[8mmMauser]

FV, Here is a thread on Katherine Harris...

Katherine Harris pro-life candidate

8mm

[Miss Behave]

Thank you, 8mm.

[Miss Behave]

Whoops, thanks were to you, 8mm.

[Halls]

HMM, not sure what to think about this. However, I think that Terri's death was a day that should be remembered in our country as a day we all got to see that Euthanasia is alive and well in this grand old USA!

[8mmMauser]

What I keep in mind is the incredible parallel to Easter which will never be the same for me. It will be a permanent reminder of what happened to Terri and what will happen to many of us if we do not learn and be vigilant.

[Halls]

I agree about Bush's poll numbers. Our govt just failed to see that we Americans saw them let a innocent woman be put to death because one pathetic judge in Florida says she deserved to die. I for one lost a lot of faith in Bush after that. I won't go as far to say bad things about Bush here cause I want to stay a member and I love FR, but my opinion on the entire administration and the Governor of Florida changed drastically the day Terri died.

[T'wit]

I'd be tickled with a law actually taking government out of familial decisions. It should be called the George Greer Law after the corrupt government agent who put Terri Schiavo to death and who prevented her family from having any say in the decision.

We should have a Michael Schiavo Law too, that would make it a felony for a husband to petition a government court to murder his wife. Any judge who grants such a petition would be guilty of murder.

[Ohioan from Florida]

I'm glad you liked that pic of Terri. It's been floating around on various Terri threads recently, but I can't claim credit for finding it. Many of us thought it was important for people who believe the lies of the media (that Terri was in such bad shape all those years) to see that Terri was well on her way to recovery when Michael suddenly reversed course after the malpractice money came in. She was getting rehab back then. It's horrible that Michael was allowed to continue his guardianship of Terri.

[supercat]

I can't think of even one. That part was outside the law, which permits the removal of a medical device but not denial of mouth feeding. That was simply an arbitrary act of evil by George Greer. He had no authority to do it.

If Michael's claim that oral feeding and hydration would have 0.00000000% chance of success were true, then the refusal to allow it would have denied Terri nothing. Further, if Michael were doing everything possible to improve Terri's condition (and if the treatments Michael was refusing would have offered no benefit, he would have been), there would be no basis for allowing the parents to inflict ineffective treatments upon Terri.

I think we would both agree that the treatments Michael was refusing would have had some significant probability of success. If, however, one were to view the testimony of Michael's "experts" in the most favorable light, and those of the Shindlers' in the least favorable light, it would be possible for a reasonable person to conclude that the proposed treatments would offer no benefit to Terri.

I don't think that a reasonable person who was familiar with all of Michael's words and deeds, or those of some of his "experts", would regard them as credible. But if one accepts them as truth, then Michael's actions may be justifiable.

[supercat]

I take that as a question. The answer would be no, unless one is deceived or are a deceiver. Pardon my Christianity, but the bible speaks of both. You have seen the result of opposite thinking.(death) Not even a humane death at that.

Suppose that Terri's esophagus had been severed, whether by a bullet wound or other cause, such that her mouth was no longer connected to her stomach. Would it be appropriate to require that oral feeding/hydration be attempted in such case?

Michael's "experts" basically claimed that given Terri's condition, oral feeding/hydration would have no greater likelihood of success than if her esophagus had been severed. I don't think a reasonable person who knew about Michael and his "experts" would find such a claim credible, but if such claim was true, and if Terri had indeed expressed a clear and unambiguous desire not to be gastrostomically fed if she were incapacitated, then Michael's actions would have been legal and proper.

Of course, if I had received 270 electoral votes last election I'd be President right now, but I didn't so I'm not.

[BykrBayb]

"Squeeled?" Did I really spell it that way? Oh well, it sounds the same either way. : )

[T'wit]

There is no point in reading the minds of people who use far-fetched or false arguments to "justify" anything. They are wrong.

Judge Greer had no authority to prohibit giving Terri water and food by hand. He simply ordered it by judicial fiat. It was a repugnant and unlawful act.

To justify such cruelty is depraved.

[T'wit]

>> Did I really spell it that way?

Yes, you did. It was SO cute <g>

Ah, the delicious pitfalls of English spelling. You know the song, "It's almost like falling in love"? Think of this line: "And from the way that I feel when that bell starts to peal..." There we have a nice hard E sound spelled both E-E and E-A. But think if we'd written it, "And from the way that I feel when that BELLE starts to PEEL" -- then we'd be in a burlesque house.

[T'wit]

P.S. Of course you knew how to spell it. I'm just having fun.

Dunno about anyone else, but I make most of my spelling errors when I'm tired and typing fast. The odd thing is, most of the mistakes are phonetic, like squeel.

[8mmMauser]

That sounds a-peeling