Greg , I agree with your posting (below), except for your comments about Ivan's, or anyone's
sexuality. I have been a member of this list for 2 1/2 years now and the only thing I have seen
from the list is that IT DOESN'T MATTER!  IT'S NOT AN ISSUE !
Why does it keep coming up??
Bob Chapman
[log in to unmask]

Ivan M Suzman wrote:

> ^^^^^^WARM GREETINGS  FROM^^^^^^^^^
>
> As I sit here at Ivan's computer at 3 am, Ivan is  finally resting after
> a couple of very traumatic days.  After the News program on Monday, Ivan
> had some personal problems that needed attention after what was an
> exhausting day.  I hope he doesn't mind, but I am going to tell you a
> little bit about our friend.
> First of all he has the most severe off times of anyone I have met.  He
> has dystonia so severe all his digits and limbs curl up  to the point
> that he has to sit like an Indian or yoga style (whichever is politically
> incorrect) on the floor.  He has severe cramping of all of his muscles.
> He has severe festination.  If any of you have downloaded the avi file
> from Pallidotomy.com he is more severe with his gait than that young man
> was prior to surgery.  He is sometimes, shall we say melodramatic,
> however there is not a soul I know personally that shows courage on a
> daily basis the way Ivan does.
> He is also subject to this countries misplaced priorities.  What are
> these eggheads thinking of when they appropriate fund for the endowment
> of the arts and not one cent has gone through for this most insidious
> prison for our brains.  I don't want to hear any bull----- logic about
> how important the arts are.
> PPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> Spare me the tired old lines about who draws the line on art being
> acceptable.  I just don't see the logic behind supporting something so
> insignificant and benign.  Why should we provide federal funding in a
> capitalist society for a private enterprise. Right now I think the
> Googenheim is some maneuver to dislodge the excess pork from the gluttons
> who serve in Congress.  Ivan won't agree, somehow I think this opinion is
> a no brainer.
> Back to our friend.  He tries insatiably to get things done on our
> behalf.  He will not take no for an answer.  He has tried for several
> weeks now to get one of the local politicians to attend the gala on
> Saturday in Falmouth, Maine.  He finally got Tom Allen the first district
> Congressman from Portland to commit. He is one of two Democratic House
> members while we have two Moderate female Senators whom have big shoes to
> fill for George Mitchell and Bill Cohen.  Ivan also wouldn't rest until
> he got the wording he wanted and worked so hard to pen on the Governors
> Proclamation.  You see,  Ivan is a survivor in the truest sense of the
> word.  He speaks his mind, when he has overstepped he usually succumbs to
> politeness even if he does so stubbornly at times.
> Ivan is honest about his sexual orientation.  I am sure some people can't
> get past that.  Homophobics are alive and well in most locals in this
> country  I don't hold it against him even if there is not a genetic
> disposition.  Think about that next time someone stares at your pill
> rolling hands or your chorea like dance to the movement Gods. If you feel
> it is unfair that you are singled out because of something beyond your
> control, try and remember that next time you question a person's sexual
> orientation.  I would invite anyone  whom thinks a 13 year old with gay
> tendencies had learned  behavior instead of a gene alteration or
> mutation.  A little toleration can go a long way in keeping an already
> difficult existence alive and somewhat positive.
>
> Your List Friend
> Greg Leeman 37/7
> created on the computer of
> Ivan Suzman      48/11                 [log in to unmask]
> Portland, Maine   land of lighthouses         deg. F
> ***********************************************************
>
> On Thu, 9 Apr 1998 19:57:45 -0500 Ivan M Suzman <[log in to unmask]> writes:
> >^^^^^^WARM GREETINGS  FROM^^^^^^^^^^
> >Ivan Suzman      48/11                 [log in to unmask]
> >Portland, Maine   land of lighthouses      43   deg. F   "warm"
> >***********************************************************
> >
> >On Wed, 8 Apr 1998 09:43:10 CST Margaret Mates
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >writes: >Ivan S. and Karen B.... are there any plans to duplicate and
> >>sell copies of your TV appearance as was done with the first
> >>TV appearance of Ivan???   I would certainly like to get a
> >>copy of this show also.     Margaret Mates
> >>
> >Dear Margaret,
> >
> >  Tonight my friend Nancy and I, and a painter named John,watched the
> >video together for the first time..  It is really amazing.  First of
> >all, half-way through, enters Jon, Karen's husband.  His emotions and
> >his honesty and coping mechanisms, and the shock at the deal of the
> >cards Karen has received are all wonderfully and openly shared.
> >   Karen is just extraordinary!  With unshakeable  determinedness, she
> >doesn't let PD get in her way.  She is planning on climbing Mt.
> >Katahdin in June!!  She talks about SO many of her symptoms,
> >explaining how "intenal tremors" feel, how she got diagnosed, how
> >eating became impossible, how she tells EVERYBODY she has PD.  Inform
> >and educate are two o fher key words.
> >    Nancy laughed when once or twice she saw me give way to Karen
> >instead
> >of answering.  Well, I figured, why be a control freak when it was
> >already my 2nd TV show.  I did see my own facial mask for the very
> >first time.  My mouth twists stiffly down into a growing frown, even
> >when I'm feeling no anger or sadness at all!  I talk about how I was
> >diagnosed, and we plug the Udall bill and its need for funding.
> >    Margaret, this TV show outclasses the 1st show, and NEVER deviates
> >from the topic of PD. The LIVE, called-in questions are amazing-- like
> >the woman who, after her husband's death, shares her posthumous guilt
> >feelings for having beenn too demanding on him, the woman who shakes,
> >scared to face the facts, the woman who wonders about how we PWP's
> >manage to socialize within a fearful and withdrawn society, the need
> >for support groups,
> >   I highly recommend this tape, BUT attention folks, I am NOT able to
> >distribute copies  this time around.  I am tired this spring, and
> >muist save my energies for other important projects.
> >Give us Mainahs some time to pondah, and we'll figure out how you can
> >get
> >a tape. thank, Maragret!! I'm sure Karen and Greg will figure out the
> >answers.
> >
> >Yours,
> >Ivan
> >