Why the RW is obsessed with the Schiavo case.

[brainshrub]

Teri accidentally killed herself. Her husband did everything he could for 8 years, then turned the case over to the courts to make a call on whether Teri would reasonably want to live this way.

It's a simple sad story with no winners, no evil people, no underground Liberal conspiracy and this case sets no legal precedent.

So why the brouhaha?

The RW rank-and-file identify strongly with the Schiavo case because the mythology built by Schindlers fit the paradigm that conservatives are victims of a culture that wants to see them destroyed. It doesn't matter how many elections Republicans win, how many levels of government they control or how many media outlets drill the party line: Social Conservatives feel they are powerless to stop the intellectual latte-drinking Liberals from destroying their way of life.

When Teri Schiavo's body dies, this will be a validation of the victim-based belief system that much of conservative ideology is based on. You can be sure that the corporate elite knows this, and Republicans are hoping to tap into this feeling of victim-hood to energize a new generation of conservatives. This is why Bush was willing to cut his vacation short for Schiavo, where the deaths of hundreds of thousands of tsunami victims did not.

The fact is that Teri is Dead. She died decades ago. We can choose to shake our heads and give in to the fear-mongers... or we can learn from Teri how fragile life is, and how important it is that we help each other live our lives the best we can.

The rhetoric from the RW over this issue has been heartening: "A nation is judged by how it cares for it's weakest members" Republicans now declare. "Society has a responsibility to make sure that the infirm are able to get decent care and justice regardless of social status" is the mantra that you read repeatedly on conservative forums.

Liberal ideals, like life itself, can flourish in the most unlikely places.

[katsy]

1. Mind if I

email this to some friends?

Excellent analysis. Thank you.

[brainshrub]

3. Go for it.

Just link to my site please: www.brainshrub.com. This is just one part of a larger essay I'm working on.

[katsy]

4. Of course!

Thanks.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. I love me some good irony.

Don't you? ;-)

[KT2000]

5. Good points

and good essay

[Lindacooks]

6. Yep, you're right, and we need to use this statement against the Repukes:

"The rhetoric from the RW over this issue has been heartening: "A nation is judged by how it cares for its weakest members" Republicans now declare. "Society has a responsibility to make sure that the infirm are able to get decent care and justice regardless of social status" is the mantra that you read repeatedly on conservative forums."

on the issues of cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, universal health care, food banks, WIC programs, public housing, welfare - all the things Repukes are trying to destroy.

[melissaf]

7. I don't know...

It seems to me that many social conservatives have some issues with psychological projection. I agree that they _think_ they are always under attack by vicious latte-drinking liberals who want to destroy their way of life, but in fact _they_ are the ones who want to attack liberals and destroy their way of life. They think that's the way liberals work because, by gum, that's the way their minds work.

All the more reason to stay the hell out of their way whenever possible and fight when you have to. One of my college professors, who was a Freudian psychologist, did a study about prejudice and she came to the conclusion that the bulk of such hateful feelings are irrational, therefore there's no way you can educate them away. You can only use the law to fight against them.

God help us all...

[morcatknits]

9. Projection

Absolutely, there is a strong thread of projection that runs throughtout this issue. It is interesting that some persist in calling Mrs. Schiavo "disabled," which is a euphamism. They should call her neurologically devastated. I'm sure that worries genuinely disabled folks who wonder if they are next.

If only the righters could extend their passion to the living children who could have a bright future if only the benefits of our society were extended to them, like basic healthcare, quality education, a chance for a good job. There aren't enough resources for them, of course. Had to cut that back.
morcatknits

[purduejake]

8. It's really not a liberal idea though...

They don't give a damn about the black baby who was removed from life support against it's mother's wishes because of the costs. Hell, Bush was responsible for creating the law that ordered the life support to be pulled. It would be a liberal idea if it applied to everybody equally. Oh, except the whole right-to-die thing, but I know what you meant.

[Fescue4u]

10. Proably the same reason the left wing is.

Its a complicated case, lots of human emotions and politics can be made from it.

[applegrove]

11. It is a bonding excercise. The plug was pulled on two peole in Texas

who ran out of money. And Bush passed the law. You cannot bond over that.

[ExpresS]

12. Personally...

I think it was just because the Jackson case is losing momentum and Scott Peterson got the death sentence... the RW needed a new target - any target.

[applegrove]

13. Oh yes.. they need some opium. And Bush had dissed them by

refusing to go forward on any of their issues despite the fact they won him the election again. And this time he was in control of all levels of government.

And then he refused to show up at a anti-abortion rally going on around the corner from the WH. He just phones in a hello. Did not want to be seen with them.

They needed something big time to reconnect with the supporters. And Terry Schiavo doesn't cost Bush anything.. except it demonstrates his hypocrisy in regards to life (and Texas law).

Now it seems that there are freepers online here trying to get us all to say the words "I want big government out of my private life" which is the rallying cry of the repukes. And little psychopath surround game where the WH goes at Democratic supporters from all sides and tries to confuse them.

[brainshrub]

14. kick