(Before you enter, please allow me to share and preface the intention which prompted this contest. No need for you state you agree or otherwise unless you so choose in the comment area.)
I personally believe that the world is in the last days of existence as we know it. I'm a student of the Bible, the only document which has proved to be the first and final authority, with evidence and uncontested power according to the numbers of things occurring. This means that I’m not deriving my statement from opinion, but the revelation of what is written. These are ways for the Creator to push us into a rung of moral accountability instead of personal self-serving. Not coincidentally, this is the week of Passover. That is when Moses informed Pharaoh of Egypt that God’s spirit will pass over all homes who place the lamb’s blood above their doorposts in order to spare the first born sons releasing Israel from slavery. The miraculous parallel of this occurrence is in the New Testament’s fulfillment to the very day and week when Christ‘s execution took place on the Cross which is the final blood sacrifice for mankind to be freely pardoned of sin, and , upon believing Him as God and Saviour, allowing us the eternal assurance of heaven. This being the case, it is also leading me to also realize that nothing‘s accidental in timing.
However horrific in content, we are receiving another wake-up call and being wooed into a personal relationship with His Son; considering that the last several weeks of events have nearly been impossible to believe, Passover week is the best time to consider one of the most unusual cases of life meeting death- the Terri Schiavo story.
As most of us know, the Schiavo case for appeals to reinsert the feeding tube so that their daughter can continue to survive was refused by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court and now is going to a Federal court. Up till now, there were two views being examined, and due to the exceptional details, we see another one that is prompting the conscience of America- the moral and spiritual one.
Before entering this contest, one must study both sides thoroughly. Choose and answer one or more of the following questions in your HONEST opinion. Think on these questions carefully. No need to give us the answers, just use this as your approach to your poem which will follow.
1-Is removing the tube an act of mercy to the victim, Terri who has no say in this matter? If so, can you elaborate on the reasoning?
2- Do you think that our court system is defining life as we know it to be valuable, thus playing God?
3- Do you think that due to the fact that Terri’s husband has, without divorcing, proceeded to continue a life with someone else, should or should not be allowed to act as the lawful decision-maker of her destiny?
Now. The Criteria of this poetry contest In TWO PARTS-
FIRST- There are FOUR slants. Insert letter of the directive in your Author’s comments. PLEASE adhere to these.
Write a poem beseeching the life or death of this woman, as if you are addressing the parents OR the husband depending on the particular slant:
A.) Compassionately, tell them why their daughter should not be spared.
B.) Compassionately, tell them why she should be spared.
C.) Write a poem to the husband as if you are pleading for her life.
D.) Write a poem that is agreeing with his decision.
SECONDLY
Rules. Only Four
Each poem -
1-must be no longer than 24 lines. Any style or form.
2- must not contain sticky caps, cyber terms or profanity. Street lingo is alright, as long as it is tastefully and not wastefully used.
3-Prewrites are fine, but since this is a contemporary issue, it is unlikely you have one.
4- Spelling and word use are the beginnings of a polished piece. Please strive for it, as that kind of entry will be highly favored.
I am anxious to give 400 points to the best poem for the Gold Cup. Silver cup will receive 100, and Bronze trophy,75. Winners and honorable mentions will be forwarded to the Schiavo family through a news media site and notified of any feedback!
Do NOT rush this so as to give your finest poem. I wish you the best!
For those of you who only want to comment, you are free to vent without restraint, but please ..absolutely NO 'f' words or God's name in vain. If you DO use them, I will have that particular word bleeped. Thanks!
I personally believe that the world is in the last days of existence as we know it. I'm a student of the Bible, the only document which has proved to be the first and final authority, with evidence and uncontested power according to the numbers of things occurring. This means that I’m not deriving my statement from opinion, but the revelation of what is written. These are ways for the Creator to push us into a rung of moral accountability instead of personal self-serving. Not coincidentally, this is the week of Passover. That is when Moses informed Pharaoh of Egypt that God’s spirit will pass over all homes who place the lamb’s blood above their doorposts in order to spare the first born sons releasing Israel from slavery. The miraculous parallel of this occurrence is in the New Testament’s fulfillment to the very day and week when Christ‘s execution took place on the Cross which is the final blood sacrifice for mankind to be freely pardoned of sin, and , upon believing Him as God and Saviour, allowing us the eternal assurance of heaven. This being the case, it is also leading me to also realize that nothing‘s accidental in timing.
However horrific in content, we are receiving another wake-up call and being wooed into a personal relationship with His Son; considering that the last several weeks of events have nearly been impossible to believe, Passover week is the best time to consider one of the most unusual cases of life meeting death- the Terri Schiavo story.
As most of us know, the Schiavo case for appeals to reinsert the feeding tube so that their daughter can continue to survive was refused by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court and now is going to a Federal court. Up till now, there were two views being examined, and due to the exceptional details, we see another one that is prompting the conscience of America- the moral and spiritual one.
Before entering this contest, one must study both sides thoroughly. Choose and answer one or more of the following questions in your HONEST opinion. Think on these questions carefully. No need to give us the answers, just use this as your approach to your poem which will follow.
1-Is removing the tube an act of mercy to the victim, Terri who has no say in this matter? If so, can you elaborate on the reasoning?
2- Do you think that our court system is defining life as we know it to be valuable, thus playing God?
3- Do you think that due to the fact that Terri’s husband has, without divorcing, proceeded to continue a life with someone else, should or should not be allowed to act as the lawful decision-maker of her destiny?
Now. The Criteria of this poetry contest In TWO PARTS-
FIRST- There are FOUR slants. Insert letter of the directive in your Author’s comments. PLEASE adhere to these.
Write a poem beseeching the life or death of this woman, as if you are addressing the parents OR the husband depending on the particular slant:
A.) Compassionately, tell them why their daughter should not be spared.
B.) Compassionately, tell them why she should be spared.
C.) Write a poem to the husband as if you are pleading for her life.
D.) Write a poem that is agreeing with his decision.
SECONDLY
Rules. Only Four
Each poem -
1-must be no longer than 24 lines. Any style or form.
2- must not contain sticky caps, cyber terms or profanity. Street lingo is alright, as long as it is tastefully and not wastefully used.
3-Prewrites are fine, but since this is a contemporary issue, it is unlikely you have one.
4- Spelling and word use are the beginnings of a polished piece. Please strive for it, as that kind of entry will be highly favored.
I am anxious to give 400 points to the best poem for the Gold Cup. Silver cup will receive 100, and Bronze trophy,75. Winners and honorable mentions will be forwarded to the Schiavo family through a news media site and notified of any feedback!
Do NOT rush this so as to give your finest poem. I wish you the best!
For those of you who only want to comment, you are free to vent without restraint, but please ..absolutely NO 'f' words or God's name in vain. If you DO use them, I will have that particular word bleeped. Thanks!
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on April 1, 2005
- Rewards: Gold: 400
- Final notes: I know..I know. I bet you get tired of contest holders telling you that all of them were great......BUT...they had to only choose 3? Well. Here it is again. The ones who got the trophies were probably the tighter, polished writes, and in a situation where philosophy was mingled with art, I have to choose the art of it if possible.
I'm so impressed with the deep-seated pain and anger that has rooted into such VALID arguments. All of you meshed together and made one another think, rather than held a hot debate.
Honorable Mentions:
~No Voice No Choice- eloquently floated to the page by surfergirl
~Heartless- by clear as air was another quality read that contained the elements I look in a good poem.
~No Easy Answers- written by Sherry had probably the most heartfelt- right to the skin. Uh. This was so hard.
Others
~Life by Donna-Jones had a well rounded poem that eminated of conscience and compassion as well wrapped in a neat little package of flowing words.
Love Her-Darkness Consumed - I felt the need to hold her after reading!
Science Can Take Us Farther From the Sun- steelvenom epitimized the pragmatics of solutions.
Grandma?- by Shira took us right down to the experience of her poem. I ached with each word.
Life by Mary6- This was another good write that contained all the elements of the criteria, treating the subject with forceless care.
All others will receive some points as well for contributing to this very contraversial topic that put us all on the hot seat.
Thank you and never EVER give up submitting to contests. It's hard work, but always worth it.
I thank God for all of you in this path.
As promised, I will post what I think of the situation, soon as I can *. Thank you again for entering!
Entries [11]
1 - 11 of 11
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I have heard of this disasterous thing,
and i pray for the being of Terry Schiavo.• Commented on by judge. -
"...Please give her a hug from me
And tell her I care."• Commented on by judge. -
Let the world use our Science
-To go farther then the Sun-by steelvenom 55 lines, 2 comments, on Mar 23 5:49 PM 2005. In Personal• Commented on by judge. -
I have had mixed feelings
I know what I would wantby pattyann4500 39 lines, 11 comments, on Mar 24 1:02 PM 2005. In Sad, Society, Love
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. -
Life?
A mother pushes,by Donna-Jones 11 lines, 12 comments, on Mar 26 9:29 PM 2005. In Sad• Commented on by judge. -
by g r e y i s m 22 lines, 13 comments, on Mar 27 12:47 PM 2005. In Other• Commented on by judge.
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I applaud you,for your love for her
your dedication is tender and sincere.• Commented on by judge. -
She has eaten gourmet food through a tube for the past 12 years. Her parents are selfish. She's the topic of conversation among many, but can not hold a convers• Commented on by judge.
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I wish i could take her pain,
watching her lay there is making me insane.• Commented on by judge.
Gold trophy winner
Add a comment
Comments
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My thoughts on Terri Schiavo are this: I don't care. There are worse things going on in the world. I am sick of this political gong show. Ugh.
These are my reasons for not entering, but good times to those who do! -
I appreciate the candor. I don't know if you noticed or not, but I am leaving out the media's exchange for the very reason you are not sharing. Interesting to call it a Gong show, as are most media debates. This being life and death, I found it very important. Thank you.
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SubjectiveObject--what a horrible thing to say. You don't care if this woman lives or dies. What worse thing can happen to anyone than for someone to make a decision on whether they should live or die and them not be able to have any say so. Also you are sick of the political gong show. I have to say that for once the politicians are getting involved in saving lives instead of taking them. I am so for that. In the Schiavo case I believe that the parents should be allowed to take care of her, her husband has moved on to another woman (and I believe he is afraid she will come out of this state and tell everyone he was responsible for her condition) and he should have no say so in her care. It would be a conflict of interest. May God Bless all of these politicians who have shown an interest in this womans rights and her life. Melody
Edited on Mar 23, 4:55 p.m. because ''. -
*tears*
Misty,
If the politicians show interest, God help Terri--while they argue over whether she is dead or alive, she WILL die...I was a medic in the air force, and saw supposedly "hopeless" cases...I know they heard me, even if they couldn't verbally communicate--they talked with their eyes. I pray she lives--God be with her family! -
hi, i am not going to enter this contest but i want to state my opinion... Terri is a person, and doesnt deserve to be starved to death. if she told someone that she wanted to die if she ever went into the state she is in now, find another way to let her be at piece. if your dog is old and gets brain damage you want whats best for your dog. right? you would probably take him to the vets and "put him down." terri, i think, should be "put down" it might sound cruel but i think she would be much better off. but it wouldnt even be possible for that to be done because it is aganst the law.
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Well explained. thank you for your comment.
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Actually I think that would make a perfect example to where you could take this poem
"Schiavo, Schiavo
Should she stay or shoud she go?
Schiavo, Schiavo
I DONT GIVE A DAMN!!" lmao I hope you wouldn't go that route though...but this reminds me of that poor kid Elliot whatever who had that Florida/ Cuban controversey. There is a LOT more important then that one dumb kid!! It's harder on him, and the Schiavos, to pull the media into the mess and make everything 20 times more complicated. -
Elian Gonzalez was his name.
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this is a very interesting contest.
I myself think there is nothing moral about starving someone to death but I don't think I'd be very good at articulating it in a poem.
I will keep my eye on this though. -
My opinion about this? Well, to be coldly honest, I don't think brain dead people are worth saving. To be pragmatic about it, I'm under the impression that a great deal of money is wasted on all the medical expenses, and it could be better directed towards other pursuits - saving lives, contributing to the tsunami fund, going towards research, whatever. 2 or 3 children are more valuable than one vegetable, in my eyes. I don't think preserving people's bodies who aren't conscious, contribute nothing to society, and will never make any impact on history and will just lie around and drool does anyone any good, and I can't understand why anyone in their right mind would want to be in this condition themselves. Talk about "playing God", I think extending the "life" of a body beyond its ability like this is doing exactly that, and all these fundies supporting her "right to life", to me, are a bunch of naive, ignorant hypocrites. I think her parents are deranged and need to learn how to let go. Their daughter's dead. I think this is all a bunch of hogwash anyway. Why is something like this in the news? Why the hell are troops still in Iraq? That's what I want to know. Then again, I'd rather not know. Maybe I'll move to some cabin in Canada so I don't have to listen to this BS all the time.
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You have a point. It holds water. Until this life is over, however, we'll never know the complete 'why' of anything awful that is allowable.
Consider- The ones, from whose bodies conceived, passed and breathed through the birth, had it raised ,nurtured, exalted and attended a history, who should pretend that it is less important than another. But, we'll have to explain the smiles and tears spent usefully, the holidays of favorite foods, toys, and selected moments of triumph. We'll have to explain to those folks that their constraints are lessened by a nation which holds other issues more valuable. Tell them why their child is hogwash level. Tell them and you'll be the first to sequence importancy in a world that brought the first individuals into existence.
I appreciate your response in spite of differences. Warmly, CookieZeal
Edited on Mar 23, 11:30 p.m. because ''. -
hmmmmmm everyone has some good ideas...you see the thing is with euthanasia is that it isnt just about morality as much as i hate to say it is a huge legal matter....law has to take into account many different elemens of the arguemnt you seem....and being a law student i have to acknowledge all sides of the debate....my personal view is that euthanisia shoukld not be made totally legal...and then again should not be made totally illegal...when it is a cae like terris....the courts have a hard job but i personally feel she should be allowed to die with dignity...life is about quality of life....and it is clear that this woman has none....but she still has her dignity...i am sure if terri xcould express her feeling she wouldnt want our pity...she woulndt want our sympathy...she would want us to be proud of the fighter she is!!!! the problem is that NO ONE can establish what terri would want...whether it seems clear or not no one knows....euthansia comes from the emaning of "good death" and i put it to you....if your loved one was in severe oain and was suffering what would ypu want? this is why i love all poetry...there are so many intelligent thikner who share ideas....no one should be ridiculed for havin an opinion...
this is too complex a topic to have one clear opinion there are so many oaths to go down...but i agree wi glacian when they say the starbing elemetn of it...now that isnt moral....sorry i am rambling now...its jst too complex....
fallen xxxxxxxxx
Edited on Mar 24, 7:53 because ''. -
Actually, I wrote a poem about Terri last night. My poem doesn't fit in your criteria, but it comes from a possible view from Terri herself. I would like to know if this would fit your contest. If not, let me know, and I'll try to write something else. Unfortunately, lately, my fingers type what they want to. If it isn't in my head or in my heart at the time, I can't always come up with something. If you are interested in reading it first, it is called "Why?" Hugs Patricia
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My mistake. I have that one in a contest. I'll try to write something new. Hugs, Patricia
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I think there is just too much going on inside my mind on this to be able to write a clear piece on it. I would certainly not want to live like that for many, many reasons but my heart goes out to those parents. Starving someone to death is not the same as 'pulling the plug'. It seems a cruel and horrific way to go and to watch your child, brain damaged or not, die that way would be a hellish thing. Then you bring up the spiritual side of the whole thing and it becomes even stronger in my mind. I absolutely reject the idea that a person's right to live depends on their input into society or ability to be productive. That to me...well...Anyway I hope you get many entries that do justice to the intent. My good wishes.
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you are absolutely correct. ....too much to pull together, actually. In years to come, as it is with any issue, we will soon see things come together that make more sense.
As I drew up the contest, I knew I was going to have to take a different perspective in presentation. I had to come from the only level from which we might see something that appears to be more reasonable.
Thanks so much for your commment. -
That's exactly what Hitler once thought, and I think we all know what happened there.
Don't get me wrong, if there seems to be no hope whatsoever of someone recovering, if all they are capable of doing is lying in bed, unconscious and/or unaware of their surroundings, that's one thing. Then again, they said that about Sarah Scantlin, that it was hopeless, but look now; not only is she awake, but she can also speak. But Terri isn't brain-dead; she's brain-damaged, but in no danger of dying. Personally, I think her asshole of a "husband" needs to get out of her life. He's got a new soon-to-be-wife as it is. I have an idea; why not send a letter to Terri's parents detailing everything you just said? I'm sure they'd love to hear from you.
As for your contest CookieZeal, I have a pre-write, but it wouldn't fit into this contest; it's a compassionate write (at least, I'd like to think it is), but it's rather sarcastic and cynical whenever it refers to Terri's husband. I'll see what I can do to come up with something new, but don't be surprised if I don't. Still, good luck with your contest; it'll be interesting to see what kinds of entries you're bound to get. -
ahhh, I see you invoked Godwin's law, as if Hitler analogies are somehow going to make me rethink my position by comparing me with someone like him. Not really; it just comes off as a bit silly. Also, if Hitler went around pulling the plug on vegetables, I would agree with his decision. Plenty of better things for humanity to focus on than preserving people in that state. Jesus, people die, and some people just aren't willing to accept that fact.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law
"I have an idea; why not send a letter to Terri's parents detailing everything you just said? I'm sure they'd love to hear from you."
I think that would be in incredibly poor taste. Also, I would assume that are receiving so many letters they can't handle them all, and may have already hired or had volunteers handle their letters. If this is the case, they have people filtering the letters so they aren't handed things like hatemail or rude, obnoxious, or offensive mail, which I would also assume people are sending them. Their plight isn't something I'm going to get personally involved in.. I do, however, disagree with their decisions and think they need to let go. I don't know who's got the legal position to make decisions about her life, and it's not in my hands to settle. I can tell that person where I think that point is (I think it's when there is basically no chance or an absurdly small chance of recovery, and that even if they do recover, they'll have massive, severe permanent brain damage) but I don't believe I am in a position to enforce that, and have no plans on pulling plugs on anyone I feel should die. I will, however, continue to believe that in certain cases the plug ought to be pulled on people's life support, and stand by my right to have these beliefs and express them without fear of reprisal. Sorry I don't fit your idea of how compassionate people ought to be, but I think there is more at stake than one person's body and the feelings of a few family members.
My mom tells me the story of a most pitiful woman. While my oldest brother was in the hospital, long before I was born, my mother encountered this woman, who dutifully took care of her "son". This boy, for whatever reason, suffered brain damage and became a complete vegetable when he was 4 or 5 (I think). When my mom met the mother, the boy was 15. He was emaciated and sickly, hooked up to machines to keep the body alive. The mother hovered around the unconscious boy day in and day out. She never had any other kids. She probably spent the rest of her life caring for a boy who would never regain consciousness, who would always be a vegetable, would never see light, would never speak, would never know a thing. For all intensive purposes, I consider that boy dead, and the mother a pitiful wretch unable to let go of a lost cause. In the old days, such a thing wasn't even a possibility. Death of children in families was regular - 3 or 4? Yes, happens all the time. Death was something that everyone was all-too-familiar with, but it seems these days one death is just too much for people to feel like they have to handle. I think the best thing the mother could've done, in that situation , was to let the boy die, and get on with her life. Have another child, raise him up. The one who became a vegetable suffered a terrible accident - his chance at life just wasn't going to happen, just like a miscarriage, and people need to have the strength and resilience to accept a loss where they have it and move on with their lives. I'm not going to pity or feel sorry for this Shiavo woman's parents. I'm angry with them, and if that upsets people - TOO BAD. Those are my feelings, and I'm not going to lie about them to pander to other people's softer sensibilities. -
Personally, I could give a shit about whatever position you have concerning issues like this; that's what this country was founded on (and seems to have forgotten somewhere along the line), being able to think, feel and say whatever we want. I'm not saying not to pull the plug on complete vegetables--people that show absolutely no ability to react to their surroundings whatsoever, that show no signs of life other than the ability to breathe. What I'm saying is that, since Terri Shiavo is aware of her surroundings and does have some ability to move (not much, but certainly enough to be noticeable), who's to say she can't live a life?
I suppose one of my problems I have with this whole situation is the manner in which they're killing her. Since she's in no danger of dying (so long as she has that feeding tube), they're killing her, not "letting her die," as I've heard some say. Why drag it out for weeks on end by starving her to death? If killing her is humane, why not make it quick by simply giving her an overdose of morphine? Oops, nevermind, that's illegal, but starving her to death is perfectly acceptable to the courts. Gotta love that logic.
The woman you speak of is hardly alone, I'm afraid. I have no reason to doubt what you are saying, so I'll just agree that she should've let go of her son in that case; he showed no signs of life other the rise and fall of his chest and the beating of his heart. However, I do feel sympathy for her; just because people 200 years ago experienced deaths of half their children, that didn't make it any easier than now when one's child could very well end up a vegetable like the one you described. I'm not saying what she did was right; just that I pity her. If you had a child end up in such a situation, would you not feel grief-stricken? I would assume so; I would hope so. Moving on from anything like this is never an easy thing; you make it sound shit-simple. -
And since I didn't design this to be a hot debate, nor embitter anyone since we're being briefed all day long , I thank you for sharing your view. I hope that it counts toward a better consciousness of these kinds of situations......after all, it's not entirely up to any one of us, is it? Control is only within human boundaries.
I understand your view. Really.
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"just because people 200 years ago experienced deaths of half their children, that didn't make it any easier than now when one's child could very well end up a vegetable like the one you described."
No, but it does mean that they wouldn't likely have had to deal with stupid BS like this whole Schiavo incident. Why is this being publisized so much? I think they should leave her the hell alone and if someone wants to waste their money making doctors rich stuffing tubes in her, they can go right ahead. I just think they're idiots for doing it.
I don't see the point in waiting so long in "letting her die" myself. I figure, if a decision is made that someone is to die...kill them. Killing someone is pretty simple. All this legal mumbo jumbo ties things up. Common sense should always take precedence over law. Unfortunately, it doesn't.
"If you had a child end up in such a situation, would you not feel grief-stricken?"
Nah. I'm a cold, heartless bastard.
To answer this honestly, I don't know how I'd react. I don't have kids and probably won't have kids, and I can't say whether or not I'd be "grief-stricken" if I had a child who died - a lot of facts about the case would need to be assumed, such as that I loved the child. As it turns out, not all parents love all their children.
Edited on Mar 24, 11:06 p.m. because ''. -
Thank you for being candid, no matter who would disagree. As I wasn't posting this contest for embitterment, but for venting the wonder of differences, I appreciate your sharing. I will be imparting my OWN feelings and statement after the contest is closed so as not to influence anyone's thoughts.
Thank you for time and hopefully, you're okay with any adversary. Let us pray for one another.
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I enjoy the discussions, don't worry about it. BlackKnight and I agree here and there and disagree in other places - not any hostility or hard feelings that I'm aware of.
I have very mixed feelings about a lot of issues and often just want to shrug and say I don't care, but when it comes down to it, I see a lot of people just reciting off the expected things about an event. In the case of the tsunami, for example, I heard an almost unamimous load of sympathetic baloney - even from people who would otherwise not give a second's thought to the plight of others outside their country and who didn't donate a friggin penny to the relief fund. -
In all honesty...in spite of all the flaming attention this and other subjects are getting in the news............I think it's going to joggle this country and others into acting more responsibly. It COULD be that what it's truly about.
As for the politicians and law makers, ....this is rather sobering and overall, I think they care very much....it's scarey to think what their pillows must carry through their sleep.
sigh.
Edited on Mar 24, 11:18 p.m. because ''. -
If I were Bush, I'd be a lot more worried about the blood I knew I had on my hands for lying and sending a bunch of troops off to capture Saddam and "disarm" all his pesky weapons of mass destruction. Somehow, I think many of these politicians really don't care beyond getting reelected and taking care of their own immediate interests.
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Yeah, I agree that the media needs to just drop the matter and let Shiavo's parents and her "husband" wrap up whatever needs to be done. Getting extra publicity for either side does little but tie things up, not to mention open up both parties to some rather idiotic media-based questions and "speculation" (which, as it turns out, is all the media gives a shit about). If the media is really going to actually care about this case (which, as we all know, it doesn't; damn ratings), they should at least present ALL the facts, not just the ones that generate moronic watchers. Such is the reason I've given up watching the news a while back.
CookieZeal, I seriously doubt there are many politicians that give a flying fuck about Shiavo. Like Glacian said, most only care about being re-elected and getting themselves into whatever kind of trouble the media is unable to find out about (kind of ironic really--the media sure has a talent for digging up shit that's only half-true most of the time; just ask Dan Rather). I find it depressing that this nation has been reduced to only half-caring about a brain-damaged woman; some feel she should die, others feel she should live, but let's face it: the majority of Americans, I imagine, simply don't care. No matter what side of an issue someone takes, they should at least have an opinion of it; after all, this is America, and that's one of the ideals that this nation was founded on.
Yuck; I can't stand society these days.
Oh yeah, and don't worry 'bout Glacian and I CookieZeal. We square off now and then about issues, but there's no ill will being exchanged; at least, none that I'm aware of. -
I'm not going to inflame a heated debate, but understand your take on it. Media scratches and scratches as if it were a separate animal....fleas ta' boot.
That is why I prefaced this contest with a more spiritual injection. The spirit is more willing to reveal the under-glory..not the underWEAR.
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Lol, trust me, you wouldn't be inflaming anything; as disgusted as I am over the Schiavo case, I'm not going to blow up on your contest page or anything. But yeah, the media sucks; it needs to die, or at least undergo a major reform.
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" THE SAD HISTORY OF TERRI SCHIAVO "
1990
Feb - Terri Collapses in her home
May - Terri discharged from Humana Hospital in St Petersburg, Florida.
Dec - Terri taken to California for experimental implant
1991
Jan - Terri moved to home with husband.
Feb - Terri moved to Bradenton Mediplex Rehabilitation Center.
Apr - Terri's condition is assessed as improving.
Apr - Terri's husband advised to move her to Gainesville Rehabilitation Center to receive advanced therapy to continue Terri's recovery.
Jul - Terri moved to Sable Palms Nursing Home.
1992
Aug - Terri awarded $250,000 in malpractice settlement.
Nov - Terri awarded $1.4 million in malpractice trial.
Nov - Michael Schiavo awarded $600,000 in malpractice trial.
1993
Feb - Michael Schiavo denies recommended rehabilitation treatment.
Feb - Schiavo and Terri's parents have falling out regarding lack of therapy for Terri.
Feb - Schiavo withholds medical information from Terri's parents.
Feb - Schiavo posts Do not Resuscitate order in Terri's medical chart.
Jun - Schiavo threatens Schindler family with lawsuit.
Aug - Schiavo orders medical staff not to treat Terri for potentially fatal infection.
Sep - Bob and Mary Schindler petition courts to remove Schiavo as Terri's guardian.
Nov - Schiavo admits in deposition that he knew withholding treatment of infection could result in Terri's death.
1994
Feb - Judge Penick dismisses guardianship suit.
Apr - Terri moved to Palm Gardens Nursing Home.
1995
Sep - Schiavo orders Palm Gardens not to treat Terri for potentially fatal infection.
1996
Jun - Terri's parents obtain court order for access to Terri's medical records.
1997
May - Judge Shames approves Schiavo action to remove Terri's nutrition and hydration.
Jul - Schiavo's engagement to Jodi Centonze announced.
Aug - Attorney Felos's letter notifying Terri's parents of action to remove Terri's nutrition and hydration.
1998
Jun - Guardian ad Litem appointed by court to investigate Terri's case.
Oct - Schiavo offers to donate Terri's inheritance to charity if family agrees to allow removal of her hydration and nutrition.
Dec - Guardian ad Litem recommends the court not approve Schiavo's petition.
1999
Feb - Attorney George Felos files bias charges against Guardian ad Litem.
Jun - Guardian ad Litem dismissed by the court.
2000
Jan - Judge Greer Conducts Terri’s Feeding Tube Removal Trial.
Feb - Greer Rules to Remove Nutrition Feeding Tube.
Feb – Affidavits filed by 3 doctors state Terri can swallow and is not PVS.
Feb - Greer denies petition to allow Terri swallowing tests.
Apr - Terri Moved from Palm Gardens Nursing Home to Hospice Facility.
Apr - Greer denies motion to return Terri to Palm Garden Nursing home.
Apr - Greer imposes restricted visitor list for Terri.
Jul - Appeal filed with Appellate Court to overturn Greer’s verdict.
Nov - Appellate Court Conducts Oral Arguments.
2001
Jan 25 - The appellate court upholds Judge Greer’s ruling to remove Terri's feeding..
Feb. 8 - Motion for an Appellate Court rehearing or clarification - Denied.
Mar 12 - Schiavo petitions to remove Terri’s feeding immediately.
Mar 23 - Florida Supreme Court denies motion with the to review Terri's case.
Mar 22 - Appellate Court issued a 30 day execution stay.
Mar 29 - Judge Greer moves up feeding removal date to April 20, 2001.
Apr 1 - The Appellate Court denies extending Terri's stay of execution.
Apr 12 - Attorney Anderson files motion disqualify Judge Greer.
Apr 16 - Judge Greer denies disqualification motion.
Apr 18 - The Florida Supreme Court refuses to hear Terri’s case & denies Stay.
Apr 19 - The Federal Court claimed the issue was beyond that court's jurisdiction.
Apr 23 - The US Supreme Court refused to hear Terri’s case.
Apr 24 - Terri Feeding was terminated.
Apr 25 - Schiavo bans Terri brother and sister from visiting Terri.
Apr 25 - Schiavo ex girlfriend (Cyndi) reveals Schiavo lied about Terri’s death wishes.
Apr 26 - Judge Greer refuses to hear new evidence about Schiavo’s lying.
Apr 26 - New evidence compels Civil court Judge Quesada to resume Terri's feeding.
Apr 30 - Schiavo files an emergency motion to have Terri's nutritional feeding stopped.
May 7 - Affidavit filed by Dr. Hammesfahr (neurology) states Terri is not in a PVS.
May 7 - Schiavo charged in the Civil Court with fraud.
May 8 - Schiavo ex girlfriend (Cyndi) refuses to testify for fear of Schiavo.
May 9 - The 2nd District Court of Appeals announces "Oral Arguments Hearing" date.
May 11 - Schiavo motion to negate Judge Quesada's order denied.
Jun 1 - Affidavits by five (5) Doctors were filed stating Terri was not in a PVS.
Jun 1 - Schiavo excused from rendering his deposition.
Jun 18 - Schiavo files an affidavit that Terri is in an irreversible vegetative.
Jun 21 - Chief Judge Demers gave Judge George Greer's Court authority to decide whether Terri should have any new medical evaluation or treatment.
Jun 25 - A three-member panel presided at the Appellate Court hearing.
Jul 11 - The Appellate Court ordered Greer court to conduct evidentiary hearings. The court denied Schiavo's attorneys request to order Terri's feeding stopped.
July 23 - Schiavo filed a motion for Judge Greer to immediately stop Terri's feeding.
Aug 7 - Judge Greer totally ignored or rationalized all the evidence presented to him. Orders Terri's feeding stopped on August 28, 2001.
Aug 10 - Attorney Anderson motion to disqualify Judge Greer denied.
Aug 14 - Greer denies request for Conducting Terri Medical Examinations.
Aug 16 - Attorney Anderson files a Notice of Appeal with the 2nd District Appeal Court.
Aug 17 - Judge Greer grants Terri a stay of execution until October 9, 2001.
Aug 20 - Schiavo files with the 2nd District Appeal Court to overrule Judge Greer stay.
Oct 7 - 2nd District Appeal Court orders Terri to be neurological tested.
Oct 23 - Schiavo files a motion to reverse the Appellate Court neurological tests order.
Nov 1 - The 2nd District Court of Appeals denies Schiavo's motion..
Nov 16 - Terri's medical testing plan will be determined before a mediator.
Dec 19 - Attorneys meet with a mediator in an attempt to agree upon the tests .
2002
Jan 18 - Mediated agreement failed, testing is back Greer’s courtroom to be resolved.
Jan 25 - Attorney Anderson petitioned the court for an evidentiary guardianship hearing.
Jan 29 - Judge Greer approved Schiavo's motion to cancel the evidentiary hearing.
Feb 7 - Schiavo files with the Florida Supreme Court to overturn the Appellate Court's October ruling which spared Terri's life.
Mar 14 - The Florida Supreme Court denied Michael Schiavo’s appeal.
Jun 19 - Schiavo objects to the medical and neurological testing.
Jul 1 - Judge Greer conducted a 3+ hr hearing involving three issues:
1. Schiavo’s Plan to Enroll Terri into a Medicaid Program
2 Termination of Schiavo's Attorney Fees
3. Equal Payment for Terri's Examining Doctors
Jul 10 - Court Hearing again was for the purpose of allowing certain medical tests that were requested to evaluate Terri’s true medical and neurological condition.
Jul 12 - Judge Greer ruled -not-to-pay- Terri’s doctors for their professional fees to examine Terri. Notably, in a previous hearing, Judge Greer -approved- payment for Schiavo’s doctors fees.
Jul 22 - Judge Greer approved three of Terri’s desired neurological tests and rejected a dozen other.
Aug 28 - Judge Greer established the dates for Terri's trial.
Oct 2 - Schiavo files petition to prohibit the media from seeing Terri’s recent neurological examination videotapes or airing the video’s to the public after they have been presented to the court as evidence.
Oct 2 - Schiavo petitioned the court to authorize Terri’s cremation.
Oct 11-22 Terri’s trial
Nov15 - Judge Greer conducted a hearing in response to a motion Attorney Anderson filed requesting time to investigate recent evidence suggesting Terri’s heart failure may have been caused by physical abuse.
Nov 22 - Greer orders Terri’s starvation death to begin on Jan 3, 2003.
Dec 9 - Attorney Anderson filed a ‘Notice of Appeal’ to the 2nd District Appellate Court.
Dec 9- Attorney Anderson filed a motion with Judge Greer to ‘stay’ the January 3rd feeding termination date.
Dec 10 - Schiavo filed a motion with Judge Greer to strike attorney Anderson’s motion to ‘stay,’ requesting a court hearing to argue his objection.
Dec 13 - Judge Greer acquiesced to Michael Schiavo’s attorney motion to conduct a hearing, which resulted in a ‘stay’ being granted, pending appellate resolution.
Dec 18 - Schiavo filed a motion with the 2nd District Appellate Court to overturn Judge Greer’s December 13th order.
Dec 23 - The 2nd Appellate Court denied Michael Schiavo’s attorney motion to overturn Judge Greer’s December 13, 2002 ‘stay’ order. Furthermore, the Appellate Court established filing dates and scheduled Appellate oral arguments to take place on April 4, 2003.
2003
Guardian Removal Petition Still Pending…
On November 15, 2002, attorney Anderson filed a petition with Judge Greer to remove Michael Schiavo as Terri’s legal guardian. The petition included a declaration of Adversary Proceedings, charging that Michael Schiavo violated a dozen or more specific Florida Statutes while serving in his capacity as Terri’s legal guardian.
Apr - Appellate Court Hearing.
Jun - Appellate Court Upholds Greer.
Jul - Appellate Court Denies Court Review and Stay.
Jul - Appellate Court grants 30 day stay.
Aug - Terri hospitalized under mysterious conditions, denied visits from her priest.
Sep - Emergency hearing to allow visitation and obtain current medical information.
Sep - Michael Schiavo ordered by court to give discharge summary to Terri's parents.
Sep - Judge Greer scheduled October 15, 2003 for the removal of Terri's sustenance.
Oct - 15 Terri's sustenance removed at Hospice Woodside in Pinellas Park, FL.
Oct - 20 Florida Legislature and Senate meet in special session Terri's bill is introduced.
Oct - 21 Terri's bill approved, signed into law. Governor Bush issues executive orderr.
Oct - 23 Michael Schiavo announces plans to sue Governor Bush and challenge Terri's Law as unconstitutional.
Oct - Dr. Jay Wolfson of Tampa, Florida assigned as independent Guardian ad Litem.
Nov - New Guardianship hearing in Sixth Circuit court.
Nov - Disability advocacy groups file Amicus Brief.
Nov - Judge Baird to hear case on Terri's Law. Governor not properly served in suit, appeals venue.
Nov - Governor Bush petitions to remove Judge W. Douglas Baird on suggestion of bias.
Dec - 3 Terri's birthday. Supporters convene at Woodside Hospice. Terri receives more than 1,000 birthday cards and gifts.
Dec - Governor Bush denied discovery in Schiavo v Bush. Governor denied subpoenaing witnesses.
Dec - 20 Guardian ad Litem dismissed by Judge Demers.
Dec - 22 Judge Baird rules that he will issue a summary ruling on Terri's law without a trial. His ruling is withheld until appeals by Governor Bush are ruled upon in the Second District Court of Appeals in Lakeland, Florida.
2004
Jan - 8, Judge Demers denies petition for reinstatement of Guardian ad Litem
March - 18, 2005 Court allows Terri Schiavo to be murdered via starvation and dehydration.
"NOTICE WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE MALPRACTICE SETTLEMENTS IN 1992"
Edited on Mar 26, 12:42 because ''. -
I'm ever so grateful that you took such an effort in posting it, in spite of it not meeting the criteria. I hope you don't mind if I print this out. It differs from other info I have.
What an artful labor this must have been for you. shewwwie. Thank you so much again, and I have taken note of the sequence of events as you have asked in your comment. Bless you, Warmly, CookieZeal/DB -
I see such biased comments laid out on your page and I feel emotions and logic are the cause. No one can know 15 years of facts between the families and the courts in a couple of months, for that's how long this has been going on.
I don't sit here each day watching this on the news and reading the rhetoric online etc., thinking that those who are in protest know everything they are talking about because they do not know everything of what they are saying and I feel it's saddening that people will gather together and place blame on a Judge who's doing his job by the State. He's a Conservative Christian Republican, I believe appointed by one of the Bush's (father or son) and now there are many websites designed and displayed to get him impeached.
Why?
He is only doing what his job is. One can't know all the facts, as stated, in a couple of months and this has only been widely displayed worldwide for just a bit over a month. Gov. Jeb Bush has been in this for over 2 years he has done what he can by the letter of the law just like Judge George W. Greer has, by the letter of the law.
This has gone in front of 20+ judges over 15 years and has been rejected by 20+ judges, it has been rejected by The U.S. Supreme Court yet people are singling out Judge George W. Greer and stating he's evil when all he's doing is his job.
Does anyone really know his thoughts on this whole matter? Has anyone asked him his thoughts? People are angry, I understand that, and it will subside, hopefully. But this is something that goes on, from what I hear from Doctors on TV, and from newscasters and etc., that this sort of thing with Terry Schiavo, happens 30-60 times a day. She's only special because of the connections of Governor Jeb Bush and the favor he asked of Congress and his brother the President. But that's my opinion, if this was any of those other cases/people it wouldn't be hitting the news with such vigor as it has.
I heard on the news just last week that a 6-8 month old baby was on a feeding tube, not a respirator but a feeding tube and they took it out of him so he could finally sleep. Terry Schiavo in any regard, is only special because of what I state above.
So much hate has been created out of this Nationwide, threats on Judge Greer's life, threats against Democrats who have opted to stay out of this situation even though a great number of them helped pass that article in Congress, but they are being attacked as well. There are Republicans (minus the Judge and Jeb Bush) who opted to stay out of this that are being attacked.
Judge Greer was asked by his Congregration to leave, his Church ostricized him and I read that he's a member of the Southern Baptist Convention and they are asking him to 'retire his membership' with them.
So, I agree on the stance that you feel there's an 'end-time' coming, but I feel it hasn't anything to do with what you perceive, but other aspects, but not the end of 'time' or anything like that.
I usually disagree with some things you write and why I do not read you that often or at all but I don't hardly read anyone at all these days so it isn't a big deal on my part and I am sure on yours as well.
And though I feel you're 100% on the side of the Schindler's I like the unbiased manner you present this Contest/Challenge (and it is a Challenge which are few and far between on this website) to everyone.
I never applaud a Contest/Challenge, because mainly they are just not worth the applaud, but I will relent on that and will applaud it.
The information posted above most-likely was taken from another source, perhaps a 'biased' source, perhaps not, but still, as stated above, no one knows 15 years of this case in 2 months except those who have studied all the paperwork, been with Terry Schiavo, and have been in this fiasco for years on end -- no one can know nothing but propaganda from one-side or the other-side in just 1-2 months.
Edited on Mar 27, 2:17 because ''. -
You gave a very contraversial subject a fair handshake with yet another aspect.
~~ Media coverage can also be political -I knew and realized that beFORE I posted this, which is why I am not judgemental. I have my own idea of some of the role-playing that goes on, but that's another matter.
~~ By conviction, I DO find not just this case, but everything that's happened in the world lately, (eg., the contesting of our president's choices in Iraq, the school killing involving innocent children, two of the most haneous pedafiles coming to terms being recovered and convicted, not to mention the Jackson event.) Though not directly involved, it is my conviction to take the spiritual one as platform to society, however distributed by media, and give others a chance to vent, and perhaps eventually know their real feelings on them, so it is very...very relative to me.
Thank you for your honesty, your facts rendered ( some of which I agree), and angle by which you treat this subject. Others will be able to use your comment before judging as well. Appreciate you. -
Murder is a legal concept, so lawyers hold the keys to its meaning. Take the 'right to define' and return it to the family, and the question of who lives and dies is held in the mind of the meaning...ie in the definition. Whenever it was that people quit thinking for themselves...that's the real problem. The Definers (government) live in our minds but don't pay rent. Not even God does that...
So "they" decide if she is meaningfully alive and assign 'the right to life' as death. The field is white and ready to harvest? -
Just what I told my husband the other day......
the definition is the key note
to lack or permission.
Thank you, brother!
Edited on Mar 29, 8:43 because ''. -
This is one contest I'm not so sure I could ever find the words to do justice to such a topic. I'm quieter than usual about this subject lately. I think perhaps part of that is the mere thought of "it could be anyone". I can't imagine that Terri would have wanted all of this in a million years. Though, I'm sure she would applaud anyone that can even come close to where "she may be" or "has been" over these years.
:: sigh :: -- back to being speechless about this. -
I'm not entering but I still have an opinion on this topic. I think that it depends on how you believe Terry would have felt on being in this condition. Personally, I wouldn't want to live in that condition and I wouldn't want to live. But I didn't know Terry or her views so I'm not going to enter this one. Interesting topic though.
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I don't even believe in an afterlife. When I die, that's it. For Christians, however, they get to go to an eternal paradise. Why the hell do THEY seem so adamanent about clinging to life? What are they afraid of? Hell, if I actually believed I'd go to heaven when I died, any one of you could shoot me now, bam, and I'd be on my way to infinite bliss.
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.. well, shes gone. the government legally murdered her.
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Thank you for sharing. It's not as simple as black or white if there is doubt. I don't think I would want to go on either, were I in this state. I would beg to be taken without the pulling of families. (I will share more after the contest.)
As for an afterlife, it was the plan from the beginning for us to accept that Christ is God, ( or the agony He endured was a waste) and those who believe will go there, while having the actual Spirit of God within them as they live this one (so that we can have a living relationship. . It is a promise and a sense of knowing that only comes after we are first drawn and compelled and accept. As the Word reads. " A Peace that passes all understanding."
Therefore, it is between the believer and God to know for sure, and we can't judge what is only under the power of the Creator, you see. So I don't know how Terri stood with Him, or what she believed. I'm hopeful that there was belief, and that the bitterness that her parents have will dissolve so that whoever's holding this woman's life/death sentence will be left with a conviction that won't stay hidden for long.
Glad you came by. I always treasure one's perspective.
Edited on Mar 31, 2:18 p.m. because ''. -
Thank you for your statement. It holds water.
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It saddened me to hear that she passed away this morning.
I wish you luck with this contest, and there will most likely be some very thought provoking, and tear inspiring entries. -
The government executes, assassinates, and sends soldiers into war to kill people, including civilian men, women, and children on a regular basis (although, of course, not all deaths are intentional, they are expected).
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That was one of the most ignorant statements that I have ever heard. First of all, you degrade other people's opinions based on the apparent fact that yours isn't based on opinion, but fact. Since when can the bible be considered fact. I believe in faith, and I have nothing against people believing in the bible, but to belittle their opinions based on what a book, that has in no way been proven as the truth, is ignorant. Proof is not just when other people with the same beliefs as you say it is fact, they were told by another group of the same people, and the word has just been passed on by one generation to the next. I believe in god, but I don't necessarily believe that the bible is his word in all of it's entirety. The world's going to end soon, how many times have we heard that, it seems like atleast twice a decade the religious fanatics state that the world is going to end, and what's your excuse after it never happens, again and again. If god should send me to hell for my beliefs, even though i'm a good person who has never committed any serious offense to which I should be punished by the fiery pits of hell, I don't want to be with him anyways. Religious people tell me that I will go to hell for using my better judgment and common sense to not believe everything that somebody tells me, i will burn, and suffer, and scream, and cry, until the end of time, but god loves me. That's like killing your children for not believing everything you say to them, what loving parents. I believe that the bible, and the christian religion itself was constructed by leaders of several empires, to give hope to the people of that time, who lets face it, had nothing to live for. I also believe that it was used as a form of law enforcement. The same way that you tell your children that if they are not good, they will get a lump of coal in their stockings. One more thing about the bible, compare it to a calculator. If a calculator says that 5 + 5 = 11, do you automatically assume it is correct, do you not pass your own judgment, and use your own commen knowledge to atleast question it. i'm not saying it is wrong to believe in the bible, i'm just saying that I strongly believe that inside every halfway compitent mind in this world, there is a small part of intellect over blind faith that has questioned the word that has been drilled into your head since you were too young to even know what the hell you were learning about. It isn't faith with most people, it's fear, they both start with an f, but only one of them is the real source behind most religion today. As far as Terri Schiavo goes, it is a complete waste of time. I understand it would be hard to let go of somebody, no matter what the circumstances, I lost my grandmother this year, she was braindead after an aneurysm, and had requested to our family years before that we take her off of life support, so we did. I want to live as much as the next guy, but terri schiavo is not living. Life is sacred, when the person who is living it has one bit of sense as to what is going on, but she doesn't. People say that taking away the feeding tube is morally wrong, but is it wrong to step on a spider, I don't think so, why, because spiders do not have feelings, they live and react to the world around them strictly upon instinct, they do not feel pain, that is a FACT. Terri Schiavo is clinically braindead, therefore there are not messages being delivered throughout terri's body that would enable her to feel the pain of hunger, so therefore, it is not immoral, personally I would not want my daughter to die if she was in that situation either, but they need to face facts, and realize that she is not happy, she isn't anything, she's a beating heart without a soul, and i think it's time for her to go on to heaven, and be who she once was yet again, sorry for my opinion if it offends anybody, i believe in god, but i don't believe in everything, please reply, with something else besides, THE BIBLE SAYS::::::::::
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"it was the plan from the beginning for us to accept that Christ is God"
It clearly wasn't God's plan for ME, or for most of the Earth's population, seeing that the majority of people are not Christians. If God is so perfect, failing on 2/3 of Earth's population is a pretty shoddy effort. That, or he wills that we fall under the dominion of Satan, or he simply doesn't care. The fact of the matter is, it seems obvious to me that God is either inept, uncaring, or malicious, or some other degenerate attribute incompatable with his "perfect" nature. I'll be sure when I die to thank him for infecting children with Ebola and causing them to die horrible, inconceivably excrutiating deaths while ignoring the despairing pleas of their mothers and fathers, who then contract the disease themselves, and die. Your Christ hasn't done anything for anyone, and what good is a "sacrifice" if he simply rose from the dead, and knew he would beforehand? I'd have no trouble leaping in front of bullets or jumping off buildings to save the human race if *I* knew I'd be coming back. God didn't make some "ultimate sacrifice". He had himself killed to appease...himself. Fella sure does make a lot of sense to the rational mind. -
I could never do that. I'm already in His hands.
However, we will stick to the subject at hand, and I will share much more after the contest.
As for the statement, and being a borderline cynic myself, I had to see for myself by studying the awesome word that has 350 prophecies that were fulfilled to the day and time. I'd be arrogant to say there's more than this awesome document.
I thank you for sharing just the same. -
Oh..and I never degrade anyone and I'm awfully glad of that. I couldn't sleep nights.
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How very sad.
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My, dear, you're getting a lot of Jesus-bashing from simply holding a contest asking for people's opinions. If they only knew. I admire you for your responses. Thanks for being a great example for all of us. *hugs*
Your Sister in Christ,
Sarah Beth -
I love it that you're doing this contest!
The true life story of Terry Shiavo breaks my heart.
I have no clue if taking the feeding tube out was right or wrong. Only god could say. It pisses me off that the goverment had to stick their sick twisted noses into something that seemed so private. My heart and soul goes out to the Shiavo family and Terry, may you rest in peace !
We love you!
May the sweetes of dreams find your family !
Love *~*~*RAELYNN*~*~*
Edited on Mar 31, 6:25 p.m. because ''. -
Not hostile. Bitter, and pretentious. Please don't be. And do not try to change my GOOD temptation into one that will harm you.
Just remember the most obscure one. The donkey. Know about it? It'll shake anyone as it did me.
Thanks. -
Oh, yes, sarah. It is written. All those who are in Christ will endure persecution. It's not a bad sign. I don't take it sadly anymore. They only reprove Romans ...that there would BE those who do this.
Thank you for being here, though. It's warmer when someone's in your corner! Warmly, CookieZeal -
"Bitter, and pretentious. Please don't be."
No. That's the way I am. I'm not going to request that you change your nature to suit my preferences. 'Stop being friendly and polite. It's irritating.' How do you like that?
"And do not try to change my GOOD temptation into one that will harm you."
Reading the Bible doesn't do humanity any good, unless you're rereading it with the "on" buttin in your brain switched, so you can critically evaluate it. It isn't a "good" temptation, it's a book full of savagery, bigotry, intolerance, strife, hatred, plagues, war, incest, rape, slavery, wickedness, maliciousness, perniciousness, jealousy, vengeance, wrath, slaughter, genocide, massacres, animal sacrifice, threats, promise of eternal torture and pain and suffering and damnation and condemnation and terror, it ridicules reason while promoting faith and blind obedience in a skymaster, and has been used as a tool to oppose science, reason, ethics, philosophy, learning, knowledge, morality, kindness, compassion, wisdom, equality, and freedom since its inception nearly 2000 years ago. It is a tool of destruction, a tool of hate, and a tool that has been used to justify every terror known to man from the dropping of bombs to the murder of babies in their cribs. No, you can take your Bibles and bury them in the darkest, deepest hole, because I am NOT tempted to shut the eye of reason and read your poison-apple of a book, masked in the sacred while being truly a tome of the profane.
"The donkey. Know about it?"
Which one? The talking one? Tell you what. Find me a talking donkey, and I'll become a devout Christian forever and recant everything else I just said. -
"All those who are in Christ will endure persecution."
Is it also written that those who are in Christ will persecute others? If not, I think they missed out on prophesizing that. History has numerous accounts of Christians persecuting others, all across the world: The far east, the middle east, Africa, Australia, the entire Western hemisphere, all over Europe. Wherever there were Non-Christians in the world in the last 5 centuries, Christians found some way to find and persecute them. Hell, Christians are even known to persecute eachother - even to this very day! It's truly fantastic, that Christians as a whole population possess the keenest ability to persecute, discriminate, and express intolerance for others, while at the same time their religion would feign to teach something entirely opposed to that.
"Of all religions the Christian is without doubt the one which should inspire tolerance most, although up to now the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men."
- Voltaire
Edited on Mar 31, 11:29 p.m. because 'To quote voltaire'. -
this is a touchy subject, but the idea for a contest about it is incredibly lame....i'm not entering, i know you dont care but...anyways, here's my opinion, yes, let her die, hate to say it, but her husband should definately be the one to decide, not her parents, because she chose to marry him, therefore recognizing his ability to make decisions, which he did....i agree with his decision, mine would have been the same
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Thank you for your view.
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No. It never prophesied that. However, there are sadly many who take their faith into their own hands instead of being led, and have ruined the beautiful name of the one who delivers us. To be led does not take a person who is stupid, nor does it mean we are pitiful robots that are zoomed out and don't think for ourselves.Just the opposite. It is one of the most misunderstood concepts of believers.
You seem so intelligent and knowlegeable. I read your author's page. I can't say that I see a lot of credibles, but I so relate to you. In fact, I was lots like you at one time. Still am in many ways. I, too, am a musician and songwriter.
Although I'm old now..lol, I see a part of myself there. But ...tell you what! What do you say I end this on this page since it's a contest.
Do you like history? Are you familiar with Jewish ancestry, languages, and root words? They're like DNA in a court of law. They TELL! It includes the donkey reference.
Give me a holler
Edited on Apr 01, 5:53 because ''. -
Cookie,
I put slant B in my authors comments not slant C the poem really wasn't addressed to her husband. Although I still in slant B would be feeling she should live re: on the bible's truth but it was more in general then to him so I put B since I didnt write it to him alone. But more to those involved although of course there are not easy answers and I try not point fingers even in the truth of what I believe. I tried to see even the hubby just wanted her out of that state of life. Yet speak how God looks upon the motive and heart because I wouldn't want to judge those even in what I think.
Sherry~
Edited on Apr 01, 12:07 because ''. -
Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for allowing me to voice my feelings on this. This contest inspired me to put the tossing thoughts into words.
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Thank you so much for the bronze and the points. This was actually such a worthy contest that I almost feel guilty for accepting.
My heart was broken by Terri's case, and I would like to thank you for holding such a loving and beautiful contest for this sweet lady. Hugs, Patricia -
Why are people making such a big deal about this? Terry Schiavo faced her condition because she willfully starved herself to death, and the amount of money spent on keeping her body functioning for 15 years and all the court costs they could have used to fee starving children it's unfathomable. That they'd let children, who had the potential to grow up and live full, meaningful lives starve because spending money on vegetables is more important is so hypocritical to me I want to just wretch. All the wasted effort, all the media attention - over 40 people at the last time I checked got arrested attempting to sneak her water. Imagine if those folks directed their efforts at giving water or food to a homeless person, providing shelter for the abused, or doing some charity for *people who are actually conscious*! People let the media carry them away, control them, encourage them to behave so irrationally. I am truly disgusted by all the picketers out there, whining about her "right to life", while they could be protesting for harsher sentences for child molesters or pushing congress to pass laws to contribute to more extensive stem cell research, so that maybe someday in the future, we would have the medical technology to help recover people who are in similar conditions as Terry Schiavo, who have suffered from brain damage. But No. The religious right wants to ban or put limitations on stem cell research - the type of research that would actually offer hope to people in conditions like hers (albeit more likely it would help people with less serious conditions).
For all intensive purposes, she killed herself, and this obsession with thinness often springs from vanity - the desire to be beautiful. For all the religious fundamentalists out there, her sins are compounded - her death was essentially a suicide, and a suicide caused by vanity, no less. YHWH's probably roasting her in the pits of hell as we speak.
No, lets not picket to end the war in Iraq, or push to minimize civilian casualties, or to help people in Rwanda or Armenia or Bosnia. Let's not push to have the government utilize its money more effectively, to "liberate" any of the millions of slaves and child-laborers, to promote scientific research that would benefit the whole of humanity, or to improve educational standards in our nation. No. Let's whine and complain and picket over one brain dead person. Ugh. Pretty soon, at the rate our education is deteriorating and superstitions and absurdities consume our nation, you won't even need to be a vegetable to be, in all practicality, braindead. -
those statements don't equal the quandry nor the extent of the problem. I am sorry to see your bitterness as others. It is also the reminant of sorries to come.
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Thank you so much CookieZeal for the gold, I was so compelled to enter your empathetic and timely contest. I am sure Terri's heart of gold is shining on us now. Diane
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"those statements don't equal the quandry nor the extent of the problem."
No, you're right. Religious fundamentalism, the decaying media, and the irrational positions people have about "moral issues" are much more severe than that.
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