This is topic I'll be on PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer tonight (Probably mayfly thread) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
(I'll post on Terri Schiavo and the exhausting weeks behind me sometime soon, but here's a notice for anyone who is interested...)

Tonight, March 31st, I will be one of four guests on the PBS
NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. The segment will be a long one -
approx. 16 minutes. I'll be on with Richard Neuhaus,
Barbara Coombs-Lee and Alan Wolf.

Obviously, the subject will be Terri Schiavo, who died today.

The show is live and airs at 6:00 pm ET.

Car picks me up in 30 minutes.

[ March 31, 2005, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: sndrake ]
 

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Posted by Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged (Member # 7476) on :
 
Goodluck. I'll be watching.
 

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Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
Richard Neuhaus from First Things? I've wanted to meet him since I was undergrad.

Break a leg tonight!
 

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Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
 
Wow. I would have watched this anyway.

Break a leg!
 

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Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
 
Cool! Is that filmed live?
 

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Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
Congratulations! I'll be watching.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
*makes note to watch*
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Hmmm. It's apparently not on live here, but at 6 o'clock.
 

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Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
 
Good luck. I'll see if I can find a TV I can tune to PBS.
 

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Posted by AndrewR (Member # 619) on :
 
When you get back, can I have your autograph?
 

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Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
 
Wow, that is great, Steve!

I love that show, and I'll watch tonight for sure.
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
I'll get to see that at 11:30 i think.
Congrats!
 

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Posted by prolixshore (Member # 4496) on :
 
Awesome! I'm watching.

--ApostleRadio
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
*nudges neihbor and whispers* Don't tell anyone, but I don't really get what a mayfly thread is. Do you? Shhh!! Don't TELL anyone! They'll all think I'm oblivious!
 

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Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
 
Watching now.

A Mayfly thread is a thread that is subject to deletion by the original poster at some later date.
 

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Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
 
Stephen is on right now, for the east coast.
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
That twinky. He's a great guy.

How did I miss that? That must have been when I was sleeping...or something.

Good luck sndrake!!!
 

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Posted by Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged (Member # 7476) on :
 
Is now watching....
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Danged people who get it live, when I have to wait another 40 minutes...
 

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Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
 
"...which you will remember from the Biblical parable..."

That's some pretty condescending phrasing there, Mr. Priest Man. So far sndrake has only had a paragraph or so, but he's due for another turn momentarily.
 

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Posted by prolixshore (Member # 4496) on :
 
My favorite line so far was "if she could wake up and see that she had very little chance of waking up, what would she want"

There seems to be an internal inconsistency in this hypothetical.
 

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Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
 
Heh heh heh heh.

Well, it's over now. Unfortunately I missed sndrake's last sentence because I had to take a leak something fierce.

[ March 31, 2005, 06:28 PM: Message edited by: twinky ]
 

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Posted by prolixshore (Member # 4496) on :
 
Well I guess they are done now. Good job, sndrake! Your points were clear and concise. Thanks for the heads up that you would be on.

--ApostleRadio
 

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Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
 
Hmm. That's odd. I'm in Michigan, yet it doesn't seem to be on until 7:00 here.
 

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Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
 
I saw it too!
 

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Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 

quote:

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That's some pretty condescending phrasing there, Mr. Priest Man.

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Why is that condescending?

I only saw Stephen's last comments - I really liked the way it started, but I can't remember what it was now . I also liked what he hinted at about how untrustworthy such a decision made before one experiences the disability is.

Prof. Wolf was a jackass. I tried to think of a nicer way to phrase that, but someone who starts with "this isn't a political issue" and spends the rest of his time bashing the politicians.

The "autonomy" v. "beneficence" argument is good, but she either doesn't really mean it when she says autonomy always trumps or she's grossly simplifying the issue. She also fails to realize that removing the tube is also a potential infringement on personal autonomy. I do think this is the central ethical issue, but even taking into account the context of the time limitations of the show it was not dealt with in any real fashion.

Dagonee
P.S., Please don't mayfly this.

[ March 31, 2005, 06:36 PM: Message edited by: Dagonee ]
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
I don't now how it went - I came away from it not feeling very good about it. I was "fueled" on one-half peanut butter sandwich (the only food so far today) and almost 5 hours of sleep. I was up against a bunch of much more well-rested and (probably) less-hungry people.

I'll log in later tonight. Gotta eat a little and drive home in a bit. I'll return tonight.

Neuhaus was good, but very long-winded. Obviously a guy whose used to feeling entitled to the podium.
 

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Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
 
It's on in half an hour here...you're going to make me break my no TV at dinner rule.

[ March 31, 2005, 07:27 PM: Message edited by: dread pirate romany ]
 

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Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
 
I liked when Stephen said he "rolled his eyes when conservatives" uhh, talk about or mention "activist judges". Ditto.

You came across better in your second segment, Stephen. I thought you did OK--you presented your side well.

You made a good point that most not involved in these issues were thinking of stuff in terms of years ago and hadn't realized feeding tubes were considered medical intervention, and could be withdrawn. I consider myself well-read on current affairs, yet I didn't know this until the Schiavo case.

[ March 31, 2005, 07:39 PM: Message edited by: Morbo ]
 

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Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
 
BTW, it's the first segment after the news summary--like Stephen said about 15-16 min. long.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I think you did well, as much as you were allowed. I wish they'd cut the priest guy off sooner and let you talk more, you did it much better. I think everyone on that show probably has some annoying habit or another, but his was pounding with his fists like he was on a pulpit. It was seconded only by that lady's incessant blinking. Now I'm reminded why I don't like to watch poor debaters.

Not that you were a poor debater, Steve. I also liked the fact that you were respectful and followed the moderator's lead, unlike a few people I could mention. Good job.
 

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Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
 
Dagnabbit! Is this ever played again at a different time?
 

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Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
 
I agree with Morbo.

Liz, you can get the audio at the PBS website. Scroll toward the bottom and click on "Online Newshour Reports."
 

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Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
 

quote:

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I wish they'd cut the priest guy off sooner and let you talk more, you did it much better.

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Anne, I agree...that priest did ramble on a bit. Usually the moderator cuts people off who do that.
 

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Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
 
I saw all but the intro. I'm not too impressed with the format. It doesn't really seem to give anyone enough time to talk, much less actually respond to what the others say. Actually, I couldn't help thinking that it was a lot like a thread on Hatrack, except without links and without any real give and take.

Other than that, I think there were some good issues raised. I agree with Dag about the professor, though. He was absolutely ridiculous.
 

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Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 

quote:

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Neuhaus was good, but very long-winded. Obviously a guy whose used to feeling entitled to the podium.

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I heard a story from someone who was at his ordination that the Bishop gave a really long blessing or speech while Neuhaus was prostrate during the ceremony. There were rumors that it was an intentional commentary on the length of his homilies.

Dagonee
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
We don't get it for another hour?!

That sucks.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
Thanks for the kind words and feedback - I guess I can believe I didn't disgrace myself entirely.

I've been doing media almost continually all day. Talking to reporters and also on live talk shows. I had 10 minutes on Laura Ingraham's show, which went surprisingly well.

I really blasted the media on her show, commenting that Fox, the NY Times, NPR, the major networks - everyone, in fact, seemed to be working the story from a script. The script viewed the situation with Terri Schiavo as an extension of the abortion debate and the "culture wars." There was no room in that script for lefty disability groups taking the position we did. There was also no room in the script to quote Tom Harkin when he held a press conference on March 19 with Frist and other in support of the bill that was passed.

The politics really break down on close inspection - there are conservatives out there who have been talking in ways that would lead people to believe they'd be perfectly happy to see more people like Schiavo die earlier if it could keep their taxes low. And there are equally base writers on the left.

Ingraham - and at least some of her audience, judging from the emails - liked it. Who knew?

Anyway, I have to log off - WGN *might* want me in the studio tomorrow morning. They'll be calling at 3:00 am to let me know if they want me there at 5:30 am.

This is not an exciting prospect. I am exhausted. But we're in no position to turn down the media when they ask, since it hasn't happened very much.

I'm still fantasizing about that two-day nap.
 

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Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
Steve, I missed out on the broadcast as I'm just getting onto Hatrack now, but I wanted to let you know that today I saw the Chicago Reader article you were interviewed for. They were handing out copies of the issue on street corners all over the Loop instead of just having stacks in the bookstores and coffee shops like normal.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Oh!!!

*catches last few minutes*
 

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Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
 
I totally missed this, but I'll check out the audio. It's also possible to order the video. :sigh:
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Stephen, the part that I heard you did quite well. Although it was obvious to me (I do have the advantage of having met you in person) that you were really tired.

Even so, I really liked what you had to say, and how you said it.

It amuses me how much like what someone else I know has to say about the issue -- even though you and he are coming at it from completely different angles. (I was just telling Rabbi A yesterday that he should check out NDY's website.)

Hope you get some rest soon!
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I also noticed Steve looked tired, and I have never met him.

You need some sleep, dude.
 

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Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
 
The link to the real audio of todays segment is broken, but if other reports are any indication, there should be streaming video later in the week.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Works fine for me, mt.
 

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Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
 
It was weird to see "Stephen Drake" on one caption under your image, then to see "Not Dead Yet" under that--like you were about to keel over on camera. Later PBS changed it to "Disablity Activist".
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
Going to watch it now.
 

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Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
 
It is funny to me that they changed it, Morbo.
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
That was extremely interesting.
 

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Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
 


Apparently although the show starts on the hour everywhere else in the country, it starts on the half hour here. When it didn't start at 6, I finished making dinner and turned the set back on at a little after 7 and missed Stephen. I really wasn't interested in Paul Wolfowitz (or what ever his name is... David? Mike? Mark?)

To phooey with this.
 

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Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
 
Paul.

quote:

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Why is that condescending?

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quote:

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I had 10 minutes on Laura Ingraham's show, which went surprisingly well.

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quote:

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For many disabled Americans, seeing the final images of Terri Schiavo was like looking at a terrifying picture of themselves -- undervalued and at the mercy of others.

"We do not identify with the spouse or the parents," Diane Coleman, president and founder of the disability rights group Not Dead Yet, explained just days before Schiavo's death. "We identify with her. She is one of us."

The battle over the severely brain-damaged Florida woman sparked a wave of congressional and legal wrangling and a renewed interest in end-of-life directives. But for many who are disabled -- whether from a recent accident or a lifelong illness -- the case triggered a much more immediate, personal reaction.

Watching the Florida drama from the opposite coast, it looked as though Schiavo was "put to death for the crime of being disabled," said William G. Stothers, deputy director of the Center for an Accessible Society. "Among the disability rights community, it is a generally held belief that in society at large the view is 'better dead than disabled.' "

Distrustful of the medical establishment and worried they may be considered a "burden," disabled people such as Stothers fear they may be one ER visit away from becoming the next Terri Schiavo.

"What happens if I go to the hospital and they say, 'He's so disabled anyway, should we do these heroic measures?' " said Stothers, who contracted polio 55 years ago and now uses a wheelchair. "It scares me."

Although Schiavo, 41, may not have appeared handicapped in the conventional sense, "to people who have disabilities or advocates for people with disabilities, they [saw] Terri Schiavo as a disabled person," said Lennard Davis, a professor of English and Disability Studies at the University of Illinois in Chicago. "People with disabilities perceive they are on a continuum between themselves and Terri Schiavo."

Immediately after her death Thursday, Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, linked his sister to the cause: "Terri, your life and legacy will continue to live on as the nation is now awakened to the plight of thousands of voiceless people with disabilities that were previously unnoticed."

Internet chat rooms dedicated to disability issues have revealed a range of reactions, said Karen Hwang, 37, a quadriplegic in New Jersey.

"For some people, the big fear is being kept alive in this persistent vegetative state," as Schiavo was for 15 years, Hwang said. "I'm one of them. For others, it's that somebody will put them to death prematurely."

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