Neal Boortz commentary on Terri Schiavo issue, entitled "Because She's Earned It"

[thebeat]

taken from www.townhall.com

For those unaware, Neil Boortz is a nationally syndicated radio talkshow host which originates from WSB in Atlanta.


I signed off my talk show yesterday, stuffed unused newspaper articles in my briefcase, and headed home. As I pulled out of the studio parking garage I did what I usually do … I tuned in to see what Rush was talking about. On this particular day I had no doubt as to what the subject would be, but I wanted to hear his latest thoughts.

My studio getaway was so efficient, so swift that I was on the road in time to hear Rush come out of his hourly newsbreak. Now … before I go any further, let it be clear; I’m a Rush Limbaugh’s fan. Nobody does talk radio better, not even me. I love what he’s done for our radio format, what he’s done for America, and what he’s done to the left. Liberals hate him. I love him for that too. Rush has made me money by elevating the talk radio format to the top of the heap, and saved me even more through the tax cuts that came from his promotion of the Republican agenda.

As Rush opens the hour he has a question; a question for “you liberals.” He wants to know “Why do you want Terri Schiavo to die?”

I’m on the opposite side of this issue from Rush, Hannity, Liddy and most of my not-liberal talk radio colleagues. So the question intrigued me. Why, indeed, do I want Terri Schiavo to die?

Rush’s question deserved an answer. Not some glib response, but an honest, heartfelt answer. So, … here’s mine.

I want Terri Schiavo to die because I believe she’s earned it.

I don’t view death as the end of the journey of a human soul. I view it as a transition. The God I believe in would not waste the total life experiences of a man or woman made in his image on a total and complete death; a dead end, if you will, with nothing to follow. I cannot believe that it is God’s plan that the life experiences of a man; wisdom gained, lessons learned and love experienced, should, upon death, disappear as if they never were. I believe that there’s something to follow the life we know on this earth; and I believe that most of the people fighting to keep the body of Terri Schiavo alive feel the same way.

These feelings give rise to some questions of my own; questions for the devoutly religious people who are fighting to keep Terri Schiavo alive. Do you believe in God’s promise of everlasting life? Do you believe that the reward for a life well spent on this earth is a life with God in heaven after you die? If you do, then a few more questions if you will.

Do you believe that the human soul can make the transition to everlasting life while the human body that carried that soul through life clings to life on this earth? If you do, then you must surely believe that Terri Schiavo has earned and is already enjoying her reward in heaven. That being the case, why is it so important to you that the now-unneeded body of Terri Schiavo is kept alive?

But perhaps you believe, as I do, that the human soul is so connected to and integrated with its earthly body that any transition will not be made until that body ceases functioning -- until death occurs.. That being the case, why do you so ardently desire that the soul of Terri Schiavo spend five, ten, perhaps 30 years or more trapped in a useless and non-functioning body, unable to move on to whatever reward awaits her? Isn’t 15 years enough?

Where do your concerns truly lie, with the eternal soul of Terri Schiavo, or with her earthly body?

Most of us are aware of the stories related by people who have near-death experiences. The usual scenario is a surgical procedure or some other medical emergency. These people describe a sensation of leaving their body at the very time the heart stops beating and the brain ceases functioning. They tell of floating above their body while watching doctors below working hard to resuscitate, to bring them back to life. As the heart once again starts beating and as the brain resumes its functions, they tell of a sensation of falling back into their own bodies to resume life.

We don’t hear from the patients upon whom resuscitation efforts are not successful. We don’t hear from them because they’ve left us. They’re gone to experience whatever lies beyond. They died.

Is it possible that the soul of Terri Schiavo has been floating – held in some prolonged and excruciating limbo – waiting for doctors to stop interfering with the process of her death? I believe that this is so, and that is why I have supported her husband’s desires to have her feeding tube removed. Terri Schiavo isn’t being murdered. She’s being allowed to die. Death will not be an end for Terri Schiavo, it will be a beginning. She will finally be allowed to claim the reward that ultimately we all seek, a reward she’s earned and deserves.

[host]

In edit..... I listen to Neil, too. It's about time that he gets some overdue recognition......

[thebeat]

considering I just came across the guy after reading it from a Totalfark thread, i'd have to say no. Tolerance..

[irateplatypus]

neil boortz is one of my favorite political commentary personalities.

i'm usually a very opinionated person... yet i haven't been unable to make up my mind in this particular case. on one hand i believe in the inherent value of human life in that it has value whether or not it is wanted or desired. on the other i believe that what makes human life special is the ability (or potential) to be a thinking, self-examining being. she has lost that ability and the potential of re-gaining it. gosh... difficult for me to decide.

nice to read what boortz thought about it.

[whocarz]

Originally Posted by host

Does this ''thread' consist solely of Neal Boortz promotional spam?

Well fuck me sideways. This has got to be the most hypocritical post I've ever seen on the TFP. Do your "threads" consist solely of liberal website promotional spam? Your posting style is similar to the orignial post here, a short sentence or two, then a long article or two (or three or four).

I think his intention was to show that there are differing thought processes that conservative religious people can have. So nice to see you responding so well to him agreeing with the liberal position on this topic. I guess because he agrees for a different reason makes him a lesser person.

For me personally, being an atheist, I say stop feeding this vegetable. I refrain from calling it a human or giving it a name because all it is is an empty shell. There is no intelligence or potential for intelligence in this husk anymore. Terry Schiavo died a long time ago. Let's stop wasting so many resources on a corpse.

[host]

Originally Posted by whocarz

Well fuck me sideways. This has got to be the most hypocritical post I've ever seen on the TFP. Do your "threads" consist solely of liberal website promotional spam? Your posting style is similar to the orignial post here, a short sentence or two, then a long article or two (or three or four).

I think his intention was to show that there are differing thought processes that conservative religious people can have. So nice to see you responding so well to him agreeing with the liberal position on this topic. I guess because he agrees for a different reason makes him a lesser person.

For me personally, being an atheist, I say stop feeding this vegetable. I refrain from calling it a human or giving it a name because all it is is an empty shell. There is no intelligence or potential for intelligence in this husk anymore. Terry Schiavo died a long time ago. Let's stop wasting so many resources on a corpse.

You're right.....what was I thinking? Please accept my apology. I corrected my comments and I'll try to stay with the program. It will be much easier for
me to structure new threads that I launch.

[jorgelito]

It was a well written and thoughtful article, thanks for posting. I have never heard of Neil Boortz before.

[ShaniFaye]

I have been listening to Boortz for about 11 years, its interesting...I started listening because I hated him lol...I disagreed with everything he ever said...if he'd said the sky was blue I'd have decided it was purple. But the older I get the more I understand both him and his views.

I spend every work day from 830 to 1 listening to him....particuarly this last week..There has not been one thing that I can think of that he has said on this situation that I dont agree with 100

[thebeat]

from what i understand he is a libretarian. sp?

[irateplatypus]

yes, he is a libertarian.

[JBX]

I agree with him.

[mike059]

I am a liberal democrat, and I don't want anyone to die, but I agree with Boortz, she has earned it, Her family concerns aside, there is no one home there. She is in hospice, she is there to die, not to prolong her life... people in hospice are there to die, not to wait for a miracle.

[Ace_O_Spades]

These people describe a sensation of leaving their body at the very time the heart stops beating and the brain ceases functioning.

I don't mean to nitpick... well... yes I do, but there has NEVER been a case where someone has come back to life from brain death.

Brain death = death. Heart stopping != death

At least in all the research I did into OBE's (out of body experiences) did I ever come across a case of someone coming back to life from brain death. Feel free to correct me.