I have a way to go in  reading my mail, I don't recall a posting "casting
the first stone". I do recall saying I thouht he (MJF) took PD too lightly in
the people magazine article. The 20/20 feature last night confirmed my
feelings. I think he's a good actor and I'm glad if some star  HAD to
get PD it was him. (Not that I would EVER wish this disease on anyone!)
He is of course the perfect spokesman, IF he chooses to be. That is his
decision and right. He still has a full time career and a loving family.
If I'm not mistaken he already does some charity fund raising. But it;s
a little hard to champion one's own cause, it could appear very self
serving. Also, he's had this for 7 yeaers and not a peep. Why?
The shame that comes with this damned disease. I wonder if Hollywood
is ready for a sexy pwp.

Bill




At 03:03 PM 12/5/98 PST, you wrote:
>I strongly agree with you.
>I have heard several different things about Michael J Fox on this list.
>Some of them good some of them down right angry.
>Saying that his case is different because he is rich is unfair.
>Everyone's case is different.  Some people make it sound like his
>shouldn't count because he can afford better care.  No, he will never
>have to worry about medical treatment or the rent.  But why should that
>make his PD so different?
>Diseases don't just hurt the poor.  Yes he can afford the treatments and
>the best doctors. But that is no reason to judge him so harshly.  If any
>of us could afford the treatments for ourselves and/or our loved ones,
>that he can we would.  So since he can why shouldn't he?
>
>Michael J. Fox has always been an upbeat person and because he isn't
>totally devasted by being a PWP, nor is his wife, they have received a
>lot of criticism.
>
>Because he has hope for a cure, his hope has been ridiculed.  Well,
>where is life without hope?
>
>Because he can well afford treatments he has been really criticised.
>Should he have waited until he was in the last stages of the disease
>before having an operation?  Then maybe it wouldn't have worked as well.
>Who know.  But it is his life and his call, and I am thankful that it
>worked for him.
>By Michael J. Fox having this operation, it might make more people
>decide to also try it, or to at least look into it.  It might make the
>drs, work on perfecting it even more.  Until someday that it isn't
>something only done every now and then and only if you can afford it.
>It seems to me that when certain operations are focused on that doctors
>have a tendency to work on perfecting them.  By him having th operation
>he might have helped it along to being available to more people and at a
>better cost..  I hope so anyway.
>
>So he has a job that he can ask them not to focus on his hands.  That
>doesn't mean that the individuals around him don't see his hands shake.
>Those are the people he works with, and he can't hide from them, we are
>only the people who enjoy his movies. So he probably experiences the
>same embarrassment and frustration as does any PWP at work.
>
>He is an individual with an individual case of PD.  He is a PWP but also
>an actor with an image.  He looks at life as something great, not
>something doomed.  What is wrong with that?
>Laurie
>
>
>
>>Dear List Friends,
>>
>>We're appalled at the lack of compassion and quick, negative judgments
>=
>>shown by a number of members on this list.  Who are we to sit in =
>>judgment of Michael J. Fox?  We tell the world that each case of =
>>Parkinsons is unique.   We, more than other people, should understand =
>>this.  Each of us faces this challenge in our own way, in our own time.
>=
>>Together we have the power to do much good, but not when we undermine =
>>one another.  We support the thoughtful and informed sharing of =
>>opinions, but let's do so with our hearts open.  If we thought that =
>>Michael J. Fox and his wife were reading this list, we'd be embarrassed
>=
>>to be on it.  Does anyone else feel this way?
>>
>>Len (62/4) and Hilary Zunin
>>
>
>
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