Vince Avedon – 4/3/05

This page was last updated on April 3, 2005.

Parents saying ‘no’ to God; Vince Avedon; Beaver County Times; April 3, 2005.

Other than random bashing, I can’t figure out the theme of this letter. Regarding the Terri Schiavo portion of the letter, see this critique for an explanation of my issues with the case.

Mr. Avedon’s letter is full of falsehoods, but I don’t know if they’re intentional or not. Falsehoods appear to be a trait common in his letters. I document Mr. Avedon’s “errors” below.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“On March 25, in Phoenix, Sandra S. Froman the NRA’s first vice president, told The Associated Press ‘All options should be considered to prevent rampages like the Minnesota school shooting that took 10 lives, including making guns available to teachers.’

[RWC] Another falsehood from Mr. Avedon. The statement he attributes to Ms. Froman was the AP article’s author paraphrasing Ms. Froman, not a quote of Ms. Froman.

The article quotes Ms. Froman as saying, “I’m not saying that that means every teacher should have a gun or not, but what I am saying is we need to look at all the options at what will truly protect the students. No gun law, no policy that you could implement now or that was already implemented, I think, could possibly prevent someone so intent on destruction. I think everything’s on the table as far as looking at what we need to do to make our schools safe for our students.”

“Days before the Minnesota incident, trained law enforcement officers in Atlanta had their weapons taken from them by a criminal.”

[RWC] Note how Mr. Avedon glosses over the details. The criminal was 33 years old, 6’1”, and 210 pounds. His guard was a 5’0”, 51 year old grandmother. The criminal took the weapons of the other two law enforcement officers after he killed them with the pistol he took from the grandmother. In any case, how is this relevant to whatever point Mr. Avedon is trying to make?

“Now, Froman is suggesting that educators bear firearms. Would you be surprised if next she proposes that clergy go ‘packin’?

“This leadership is obviously hallucinating and should get her hormone levels checked. It’s blatant that Froman does her thinking with a Smith & Wesson and not her brain.”

[RWC] If Mr. Avedon weren’t a liberal and Ms. Froman weren’t with the NRA – and probably an evil conservative, he would be “lynched” by feminists for making a comment like Ms. Froman “should get her hormone levels checked.”

“As governor of Texas, George Bush ordered life support removed for the indigent. He then flip-flopped in the Schiavo case and added to a circus of a very private and personal nature.”

[RWC] Another falsehood from Mr. Avedon. Then-Governor Bush did not order “life support removed for the indigent.” Read the law for yourself.

“Why did we see Terri’s picture 24-7 yet we can’t see the coffins returning from Baghdad?”

[RWC] What’s the connection?

“And they claim their actions are not political?”

[RWC] Who are “they?”

“God was calling Terri. Bob and Mary Schindler’s [sic] were saying ‘no’ to God. How dare they. May God forgive the Schindlers for making a mockery of their daughter.”

[RWC] Exactly how would Mr. Avedon know “God was calling Terri?” How did the Schindlers make “a mockery of their daughter?” By fighting for her life?

“They even failed to visit Terri on Easter. Are they Christian only before a TV camera?”

[RWC] Another falsehood from Mr. Avedon. At the insistence of her family, Mary Schindler was the only family member not to visit Terri Schiavo on Easter. The family was present when Terri Schiavo received Communion. Michael Schiavo was not present according to an AP article.

“By the way, it was Michael Schiavo who arranged communion for Terri on Easter.”

[RWC] Another falsehood from Mr. Avedon. According to the AP, “By previous court order, Terri Schiavo was allowed to receive communion once more with the consent of her husband and guardian, Michael Schiavo.” The Schindlers arranged for Terri’s priest to give her Communion; Michael Schiavo merely consented. Michael Schiavo was not present. The court order was necessary because Michael Schiavo had occasionally prohibited Terri from receiving Communion.

Why am I not surprised Mr. Avedon would attack the parents while giving undo credit to the husband?

“Let Terri answer God’s call in private. Let Terri enter the Kingdom of God with the same respect, peace and dignity that we all are entitled.”

[RWC] I find it amazing Mr. Avedon knows so much about Terri Schiavo’s wishes and God’s will.