Monday - March 28, 2005

Once More Into The Breach

All right, I’m going to stick my neck out again and try to warn everyone about the problems with the Terri Schiavo situation. First, let me state point-blank that I do not support the idea of letting her die. Several of you have misinterpreted my thoughts on this matter and your unkind words have deeply disturbed me. Second, the comments on this matter at this blog illustrate my point that Christians and Conservatives are doing more harm than good with the emotional outbursts and calls for government interference over Terri. Third, I am a Christian, having accepted Christ many decades ago after hearing the call from Rev. Billy Graham.

Neal Boortz has an excellent editorial this morning that echoes my thoughts perfectly and may help explain better the problem here. All along, I have urged everyone to think of Terri and use common sense in this matter but the Far Right Christian activists have turned the entire mess into a three-ring circus that the Left is thoroughly enjoying and Conservatives will pay a price for in the next elections. Do any of you remember the 1992 Republican Convention? It was almost completely hijacked by Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and the Christian Far Right. That, combined with Pat Buchannon’s insane rants, George H.W. Bush’s indifference and Ross Perot’s temper tantrum put Bill Clinton in office. Let’s not make that same mistake again. I’ll let Neal put it into words ....

I can’t tell you how much I wish this story would just go away ... and that it had never come along in the first place.  Believe me, this is territory I would just as soon leave alone on my talk show.  Why?  Because it involves religion, that’s why.

Many people who profess strong Christian beliefs seem to feel that any negative statement about any action undertaken by anyone in the name of Christianity constitutes “Christian bashing.” It doesn’t matter what the Christian activist does or what they say, you simply are not permitted to criticize their actions in any way.  To do so is to provide conclusive proof that you are anti-Christian at best, and a Godless atheist at worse.

Let’s just take a look at the actions of some of the people protesting outside of Terri Schiavo’s hospice.

At the end of the street is Triple O Auto.  It’s an auto repair shop operated by a single father trying to raise two sons.  The triple O stands for “On Our Own.” Protestors have been parking in the Triple O driveway.  When Scotty Jackson, the owner, asked one of the protestors to move his car the man waved his Bible at Scotty, shouted some obscenities and walked off.  Criticize this protestor and you’re Christian bashing.

Protestors have been demanding that Florida Governor Jeb Bush ignore the rulings of the various courts in this matter and seize Terri Schiavo from the hospice.  If you point out that we are a government of law and that it is wrong for someone to ask a government official to ignore the law, you’re Christian bashing.

Over the weekend Governor Bush did dispatch a team of State agents in vans to travel to Pinellas Park and take Terri Schiavo into custody.  The Pinellas Park police told them that they had better bring a Judge with them or they were going to go away empty handed.  If you criticize Governor Bush for his actions, you’re Christian Bashing.

If you question the wisdom of a father sending his 10-year-old son to be arrested trying to take water into Terri, you’re Christian bashing and you hate God.

There are 70 other patients in that hospice.  They’re all dying.  Because of the protestors they can’t come outside the hospice to sit in their gardens and enjoy their last Spring.  If you say that the protestors are hurting the other dying patients at the hospice, you’re Christian bashing.

If you mention that Randall Terry, the Schindler’s chief spokesman, has repeatedly called for Christians to conquer America for God and to turn it into a Christian theocracy, you’re Christian bashing.

If you tell a woman standing outside of the hospice with a sign that says “rehabilitate Terri,” that Terri can’t be rehabilitated, you’re Christian bashing. 

If you suggest that the Republican Party is being held hostage by religious extremists ... you guessed it.  You’re Christian bashing.

This story will not die after Terri Schiavo passes away.  Republicans will be feeling the repercussions for some time to come.  Randall Terry will be sad to discover that the majority of Americans don’t want a Christian Theocracy.  They want to live in a society where people are free to practice their religion as they see fit, but where they are not free to use the police power of government to impose their religious beliefs on other people. Most Americans now realize that Terri Schiavo has already been kidnapped.  Jeb Bush would have been too late.  She’s been kidnapped by religious extremists and the anti-abortion movement.  To point this out is, of course, to engage in Christian bashing.  Most Americans don’t want complete strangers to be able to use the police power of government to interfere with their wishes as to how their final days should play out.  They are overwhelmingly disgusted with the eagerness of the Republican Party to pass one specific law relating to one specific issue with one specific individual ... all to pander to the anti-abortion movement.  This is not something they will soon forget.

Have you stopped for a moment to consider the long-term consequences of the Republican Party’s fawning over these religious extremists?  Watch President Bush’s judicial nominees.  Watch the Democrats use the Schiavo matter to illustrate what might happen to other Americans if Bush’s nominees are confirmed.  And watch the congressional elections next year.  If it’s close, and if the Republicans lose their majority, look back to the crowd gathered since last week in Pinellas Park for an explanation.  That, too, is Christian bashing.

While you’re at it, go read this diagnosis of Terri from Dr. Steve Collins, a noted oncologist.

Posted by The Skipper     on 03/28/2005 at 09:12 AM   
Filed Under: • Editorials •  
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It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

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