Hi Bob,

I did not intend  for sexual orientation to be an issue with the list,
however, Maine has a solid foundation of so-called religous wannabee's that
think that tolerance is something only they can provide by being intolerant
of people that are not exactly in their mold.  I will stop right there
before I really tell you what I think of these zealots.

Sorry! Bob, I agree with you 100 % that it is not an issue on the list.

Have a good one!
Greg Leemana 37/7
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Chapman <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, April 10, 1998 9:45 AM
Subject: Re: Ivan & Karen TV show(4/6/98)


>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
>> >
>