March 24, 2005
"Conservatives"
Thanks to the Summamamas, I read this article on how so-called "conservatives" and evangelical (we must assume Protties here) are opposed to government intervention in the state-ordered murder of Terri Schiavo (on a side note, I am insisting on the proper Italian pronunciation of Schiavo: "skee-ah-vo", as Mr. Schiavo has proven that he cannot be trusted in any matters whatsoever, let alone the pronunciation of the Italian language).
I have to say that I am not surprised one iota. These are the people who were opposed to government intervention in the case of slavery, fer cryin' out loud. What do you expect? They holler for "states' rights" when their states don't do their own part in upholding basic human rights, and I have no use for their blather.
The Subsidiarity argument fails here for the same reason: Florida has failed to protect the life of one of its weakest citizens, and has thus abdicated its rights in the matter. The Federal Government must take decisive action, keeping in mind that the courts do not have police powers.
If the Federal government fails, perhaps Fidel Castro has some crack troops to send in.
What. You are laughing? Fidel Castro protecting innocent life in the United States?
Think of Terri Schiavo next time you get all gung-ho on bringing democracy and free markets, I mean, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to some hapless savages in the far flung corners of the world.
Because if Terri Schiavo dies in her starvation bunker, the last vestige of credibilty for our legal system vanishes (not to mention the last vestige of credibilty for Republican pro-life credentials).
UPDATED TO ADD:
Here, go read this story (and take a look at the picture). This lad was arrested for trying to bring a glass of water to Mrs. Schiavo. It seems that Judge Mengele Greer has ordered that Mrs. Schiavo not be offered any food or drink orally, either.
Because, you know how eating and drinking are really extraordinary life support systems...
I am thinking about officially boycotting Florida, but it would be pretty useless. As a loyal Californian I already would rather eat wheat bran than allow the juice of a Commie, East Coast orange to touch my lips.
I just got my annual summons to Jury Service. I normally get sent home immediately after I tell them what I think of our justice system. I bet I set a new record this year.
Posted by erik at March 24, 2005 10:38 AM | TrackBackyou all should pop over and read the secret agent man's loooonnggg post. It's the one on 'due process'. Let me quote from the section titles "Pilate's disciples"
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I used to think Republicans looked favorably on the culture of life, but just didn't "get it" enough to follow through on their good intentions. Now I see them playing games with that culture, treating it with a thinly-disguised contempt as a pawn in the larger game of creating "red America" for the sake of other goals. I remember all the Republican promises, the ones they made in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and in every Congressional election in between. Constitutional amendments overruling Roe v. Wade. Respect for the unborn, the helpless, and lots of quotes from Catholic and Christian thinkers, delivered in the best doe-eyed, teleprompter style by trim, blue-suited, red-tied candidates who always had pictures of their children at hand. Try holding them to all that now, and you'll hear that fighting terrorism is pro-life, just as you'll hear Democrats telling you that fighting poverty is pro-life. Everybody in Washington D.C. is pro-life, except the pro-life activists. They're just "divisive," and "politically foolish."
Betsy,
I generally consider myself a conservative, however there is a real problem with the terminology. What does it mean? I am certainly no Republican. I am suspicious of free market fetishists, as I am suspicious of free bedroom advocates. In short, I distrust Liberals of either stripe. It would probably be much more accurate to describe myself as authoritarian.
The reason I used quotation marks is that I hold the self-identification of these "conservatives" to be a bit deceptive (as I find the so-called "neo-conservatives" who I generally call pseudo-conservatives).
We desperately need new terminology, though.
Posted by: Erik Keilholtz at March 25, 2005 1:18 PMPLease do not put all Conservatives who are
pro-life in one basket. I am upset at what has
been happening to Terri. I sill don't
understand why, with all the evidence surrounding
Terri, that the court has not investigated
Michael. For example, adultry is a misdemeanor
in Florida; nothing has been done regarding this.
Why? Also, why was he allowed to use the
monies that were for Terri's theraphy used
instead for his legal fees? There is also a
more serious ques. about what happened the
night Terri became unconscious.
Regarding Florida, a boycott sound like a good
idea!
Nice one smockmomma's husband.
Posted by: BP at March 25, 2005 12:14 AMafter listening to me gripe and moan about this very subject, my husband finally said, "micki, most protestants don't even believe in the Incarnation. why would they care about her body? it doesn't mean anything to them. they just don't get it." BAM! he hit the nail right on the head.
Posted by: smockmomma at March 24, 2005 7:31 PM