The Schindler's are a prime example of what's wrong with religion...

[Modem Butterfly]

Bob and Mary Schindler are a prime example of what's wrong with religion and politics. They had an agenda, to keep their daughter in a state of living death despite her wishes and the medical facts of the case, and they used religion to try to force the issue. They slandered their son-in-law mercilessly, using the fact that he appeared to violate some tenents of their religion as a club with which to beat him. They tried to use their religious faith as a way to meddle and interfere with how all American families run their affairs, thereby imposing their beliefs on all of us. They tacitly endorsed the use of religion to brow-beat anyone who dared object.

Edited to correct grammar in title.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. This is a case study of why politics and religion don't mix.

If I ever saw one.

[FreedomAngel82]

23. I agree

Reminds me of the Salem "witch" trials. Good enough reason for me. I don't want that to happen again. Definietly no. Oh and Hitler and the Jews.

[Walt Starr]

2. Too many religious sects are demonstrating themselves inflexible

and thus incapable of dealing with modern advances.

[FreedomAngel82]

24. You're right

Don't forget they also pick and choose out of the Bible what they want to use for their particular agenda. For example the whole gay marriage thing. Someone once posted a good article from the Tennessan newspaper about that where someone was basically talking about that. It was a great piece.

[tx_dem41]

3. Personally, I thought their arguments were much more based....

...on medical matters (backed by their "doctors"), than religion. The protestors, who I don't feel they had any control over, were the ones that brought religion into the issue.

[Modem Butterfly]

6. The Schindler's didn't really argue the medical facts

In fact, they stipulated to her being in a PVS in the original case. They instead argued their daughter would want to live forty or fifty years because she was raised Catholic.

And while the Schindlers didn't have much control over the protestors, they sure had control over their spokespeople, such as Randall Terry and Frank Pavone.

[tx_dem41]

13. Having witnessed Terry and Pavone over the years...

do you really think anyONE has control over those two?

[Modem Butterfly]

19. They were the family's official spokespeople

And god knows the Schindlers weren't shy about having press conferences. If the Schindlers didn't like what Terry and Pavone were doing they could have easily disavowed them and not allowed them to visit their daughter in the hospital.

[tx_dem41]

22. Ummm...that was kind of a joke.

:)

[Modem Butterfly]

41. Sorry, I forgot to unknot my panties this morning.

:blush:

[FreedomAngel82]

26. I think they could've controlled the protestors if they wanted

The mother could've easily come out and said something along the lines of how they appreciated the support but please leave us in peace. But nope. Didn't even try. They just fueled the fire by going on all these rightwing groups.

[China_cat]

7. Their 'doctors', if you look at their credentials

list their religion first before their academics.

[tx_dem41]

10. That's why I put "doctors" in quotes.

They still argued medical matters, based on sound science or not.

[Inland]

37. Schindlers first had a position, then cooked med evidence.

I think first they decided, either for religion or out of heartache, that the feeding tube and other measures, should be kept in. Then when it is revealed that the tube will be pulled unless there is evidence she could recover, they go get that evidence.

Terry Randall and the fransciscan order showed up on camera speaking for them because the Shidlers saw the religious angle as important. The doctors were for the court.

[Baconfoot]

40. What of their claim that Terri's religious freedom was violated?

This argument of theirs was, shall we say, politely ignored for the most part in the court decisions. However, if you look at the actual complaints, petitions etc. they keep making this bizarre argument for reinsertion of the feeding tube.

[arwalden]

4. Have They Inked A Book-Deal Or Movie-Of-The-Week Deal Yet?

Surely they can use this to turn a personal profit. People are already clamoring to pay big-bucks for Schindler's (Mailing) List.

[Modem Butterfly]

11. Chuckle

That's bad, but witty.

[Selteri]

16. I'm sure that's in the works

they've already profited from the donations they've recieved from thousands of fundies who... quite ironically... have been sold to a mailer list by the Schindlers...

Greed is one of the seven deadly sins... I somehow doubt the money will really protect them from dieing.

[FreedomAngel82]

27. Yep

And don't forget a "lifetime" movie and book deal. I give it at least a year to two tops. This isn't the end folks. Just the beginning.

[MountainLaurel]

39. I'm giving it 6 months

Before we see "The Terry Schiavo Story" on a Sunday night movie-of-the-week.

[Discord]

5. Yes indeed. I fear God!

Not his wrath mind you, because I don't believe in his existance, but his presence in the minds of these friggin wackos and their intrusion into polotics

[Selteri]

18. You can argue an idea, you can't argue a dictate from God

Religion - Opiate for the masses since Civilization Began - Get some today.

[Dhalgren]

8. And they have stirred up vicious, violent, dumbed-down

mobs of self-hating Christocrats into threatening the very fabric of our nation and society. We have enough troubles keeping a lid on these blood-thirsty goons without self-serving pity sops adding to the mess. Sorry, the rant just popped out...

[Triana]

9. I agree...

...out of touch with reality is how I've described them. They are so blinded by their own religious dogma they can't even grasp and semblance of Reality.

They used their daughter in a parasitic manner, just as the GOP and the rest of the Religious Reich did to espouse their religious dogma.

I thought that was an absolutely horrid thing to do to Terri and her husband and a disgusting way for that poor woman to have to spend her last days.

May she FINALLY, FINALLY rest in peace, though I know the Schlindlers STILL won't let it go. The Religious Nutz / GOP (ONE and the same entity) will USE the fact that those numerous judges wouldn't order her tube reinserted to SHOVE extremeist judges into the system.

They WILL use this debacle as a lever with which to propel their activist, extremeist judges into the courts...that's what the Religious Reich expects them to do and they will - as they already have, CONTINUE to parasitically use Terri Schiavo's dead body and her previous life as their host to advance their extremeist agenda and judges into the court system.

BANK on it.

Thank GOD Terri is finally gone to a better place. Wish I could say the same for the rest of us. We're still stuck here with the loonies -n- Moonies.

[Greylyn58]

20. I fear you are so right

She's gone, but the issue won't be. I fear we have just witnessed the beginning of this mess.

I really hope I'm wrong, but the whack-jobs really crawled out of the woodwork for this and I'm willing to bet this won't be over anytime soon. Not if the "Rapture Rightists" have anything to say about it.

[FreedomAngel82]

28. What I think is

just when you think they'll disappear they'll keep popping up. If not nationally at least in Florida.

[Greylyn58]

36. Kind of like cockroaches...n/t

[kliljedahl]

38. Let's call "Bugman" Delay

Maybe he can get rid of them, or at least bring them down to a controllable number.


http://www.kliljedahl.net

[countryjake]

12. Religion was their tool, the Schindlers capitalized on their position...

and the condition of their daughter, from the time the mal-practice suit was settled...this was about money, not religion.

[jonnyblitz]

14. they are just the tip of the iceberg re what is wrong with religion

just the tip...

[demigoddess]

15. One of the reasons I would not want to be kept alive like that is that I

believe it better to go and make room for my grandchildren to live a good life. I think it sad that religion does want to keep brain dead people alive rather than contribute that money and effort to keep children alive and healthy. That is part of my religion, but I try not to force it on others.

[BlueEyedSon]

17. Was their "political" position based on religion? I did not get that.

Aren't they Jewish (i.e. not fundigelical xtians)?


I think the blame of religion-izing this case lies elsewhere.

[Modem Butterfly]

21. No, they're Catholics

They beat the religion drum whenever they could, even sending their son and daughter out to bitch that Terri wasn't given communion every day.

[BlueEyedSon]

25. My bad, some spin I got from somewhere, I guess.

[Modem Butterfly]

30. I think they're converts

The Top 10 this week mentions that Terri was born Jewish. I guess they converted to Catholicism.

[onager]

29. Oh, you can bet the movie's coming...

...with Patricia Heaton as Terri Schiavo...which will at least keep her mouth shut for two hours. Except for the Miracle Part, when she will sit up in bed and announce that she feels like dancing and would really love to hear the new Wang Chung album.

Also starring Kirk Cameron ("Left Behind") as Evil Michael Schiavo, and David Soul as Randall Terry.

[FreedomAngel82]

32. I could totally see that

I remember Kirk Cameron. He'd be a good Schavio.

[countryjake]

34. Hilarious thought if it weren't true!

I'm cracking up watching the wheels turn as the financial possibilities begin popping up. And every penny will go to the fight against women's rights to make medical decisions!

[FreedomAngel82]

31. Communion every day??

Do Catholics do that? I'm Church of Christ and we only get it on Sunday (the first day of the week). :shrug: I've never heard of getting communion every day. New one on me.

[Modem Butterfly]

33. They can

Most Catholic churches have masses during the week, sometimes two or three on a given day.

[ultraist]

35. Well said!

They tried to use their religious faith as a way to meddle and interfere with how all American families run their affairs, thereby imposing their beliefs on all of us. They tacitly endorsed the use of religion to brow-beat anyone who dared object.

Hopefully, this will cause the federalist type Republicans to distance themselves from the pro life fundie Repubs. That would cause that extremist cult to get pushed out to the fringes.

This would not have become a national charade if the Bush bros weren't in office.

To add: Bush made an announcement offering condolences and encouraging people to continue to work for the "culture of life." :puke:

[Vinca]

42. I'm getting pretty sick of the judicial bashing, too.

It it wasn't for the courts - state to supreme - the religious nut jobs would entirely rule the country. Now we're subjected to "blah-blah-blah activist judges" and you know the only reason it's happening is because they didn't side with the fanatics. But, there are good things coming out of this: Bush looks like more of a fool, Congress stepped into a big pile of doo and Randall Terry and his wacko buddies are mad as hornets and seeking revenge.