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(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.
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*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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"...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.
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:That's some pretty condescending phrasing there, Mr. Priest Man.
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.
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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.
Posts: 4344 | Registered: Mar 2003
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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.
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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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Liz, you can get the audio at the PBS website. Scroll toward the bottom and click on "Online Newshour Reports."
Posts: 5771 | Registered: Nov 2000
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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. Posts: 2149 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Neuhaus was good, but very long-winded. Obviously a guy whose used to feeling entitled to the podium.
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.
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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. Posts: 4344 | Registered: Mar 2003
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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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I totally missed this, but I'll check out the audio. It's also possible to order the video. :sigh:
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
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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!
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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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.
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
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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".
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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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. Posts: 2069 | Registered: May 2001
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I'll see if I can find a TV I can tune to PBS.
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Danged people who get it live, when I have to wait another 40 minutes... ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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