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Thank you Paula. While I was a bit skeptical at first, I reviewed this site with an open mind. During my review I was not offended or made to feel that myself or people I respect are the root of everyone's suffering. While I still feel it may be a bit biased it fills my needs to go to one place get the facts and make up my own mind. It is well put together and admirably serves the function of getting the message out without bashing or calling names. That makes it a place I will visit over again and is deserving of my respect and support. Before I finished this posting I set it in my favorites and felt better informed than I had been before. You are right it is not designed for posting and inflaming readers. For that very reason it was able to get its message across to me in a way that could serve to influence my actions. It also presented the PAN group which is a political action group. PAN can guide people to more effectively put their beliefs to action. In other words instead of posts that alienate and offend others that same bit of effort can be put to action where it will have some effect in our system. My suggestions to those who would bash candidates here would be to reformat their posts and point to one of these groups when new information is posted that may require action and support. Don't add your own spin on it just focus on the need for support. Let the facts speak for themselves. I follow those embedded links and take action when I am presented with the facts. Issues in Canada could also be presented in much the same manner. This is not something I would delete. I would recommend it as the first stop along with Pan before I posted some rambling dissertation with personal spin and misinformation in support of or against some candidate or respected leader of any country. Well presented Paula. Frank cg. Teri 52/47/40 15024 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paula Wittekind" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 3:51 AM Subject: Re: We have still lost our way and ignored the main mission of this board > You have made several very good points about including political posts on > the list. As a co-editor at Grassroots Connection along with Linda, I enjoy > learning about the issues that affect us and discussing them with others. > While my first instinct is to (respectfully) argue in favor of political > discussions at the site where one is most comfortable and familiar with > posting and the posters, (people like to stay put and new forums often don't > succeed), your reasoning is well taken about this being a list originating > in Canada and about some voices being louder and the issue confined to one. > I invite you to read an Op Ed at GRC that addresses the same topic if you > wish to, rather than duplicate it here. GRC is not intended to be a forum, > but does cover the candidates statements on health issues, and recently > added an Op Ed page to attempt to temporarily address election issues in a > safe and respectful fashion. The Op Ed attempts to address the issue of > offensive politics. It seems we were on the same wave length. > > Again, GRC is not a forum, nor is this post an attempt to start a political > forum. It is, however, designed to be an independent advocacy site, not an > organization, where those who are interested can express opinions about all > of the important issues that affect us in the upcoming elections. As an MGH > forum member, I understand the importance of having a comfort zone. On the > other hand, political action posting is hard from which to refrain for those > involved, yet offensive to those with different views. So if interested see > link below - or just delete! > > Click on Election 2004 Op Ed Page- http://www.grassrootsconnection.com > Scroll down to 'On Voting' > > Respectfully, > Paula Wittekind > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "FrankandTeri" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 9:09 AM > Subject: We have still lost our way and ignored the main mission of this > board > > > > I believe my point was missed or perhaps I did not communicate it as I > > desired. That happens in political discussions all the time. The message > > gets lost in the passion. I am not suggesting "Banishment" at all. I am > > suggesting a more powerful approach. Two lists that are linked each > > referring to the other. Each addressing specific needs, one support, > > comfort, advice sharing experiences... the other a political action list. > > > > Political groups by their nature become exclusionary regardless of lofty > > statements by leaders and the most vocal advocates of the group. This > list > > should not be exclusionary. Imagine the reception a small group of > > Republicans would have at the Democratic national convention or likewise > > Democrats at the Republican national convention. Imagine the reception > The > > Islamic Defamation League would have at a meeting of the Jewish Defamation > > League. > > > > Your suggestion of deleting messages that might contain political > > discussions falls into the same category as telling an African American to > > ignore discussions which might describe Martin Luther King as a womanizer > or > > Malcolm X as a terrorist or Jessie Jackson as a womanizer and embezzler. > > People could use those descriptions of these great leaders against a > worthy > > political position those leaders represented. The result would not be a > > discussion but an atmosphere of exclusion and polarization. African > > Americans of varied political beliefs and religions would feel polarized > or > > excluded from the main stream discussions and benefits this board has to > > offer all. How would you feel telling African Americans to "Just delete > > messages you find offensive"? > > > > This board should be a place where people can turn to in a time of need > and > > deep emotional distress. The tone of the political discussion here has > > turned it into a battle ground and sounding board for political and > > religious beliefs. People can't help but be offended. Those that shout > the > > loudest, flame the most, are the most aggressive... will dominate the > board. > > The result is those that have some widely and deeply held religious or > > political beliefs will be alienated and will be offended. It just can't > be > > helped. > > > > Of course I agree politics are intertwined with healthcare and we need to > be > > aware of the issues and politicians viewpoints. What is expressed here > for > > the most part are not accurate representations of the politicians > viewpoints > > but the personal political and religious beliefs of those posting. What > is > > expressed here are for the most part empty campaign promises from both > sides > > translated for our consumption by board members who have strong personal > > beliefs. Issues are misrepresented. Candidates are taken out of context. > > The perceived opposition is always bashed. Spin is always accentuated > facts > > are rarely represented in a balanced fashion. I guess that's just a > > reflection of US politics. What has been missed is this board is hosted > by > > our good neighbors in Canada. It was never intended to be a forum to > > discuss US politics regardless of the impact perceived by the member > > posting. This board is turning into a single issue campaign forum. Those > > who truly struggle with ethical issues are labeled as obstructionists and > > backward. Those who support a specific single issue are labeled as the > only > > politicians truly concerned with the issues of those burdened with this > > terrible disease. > > > > With all due respect there are those who want to impose their political > and > > religious beliefs on others. This should not be the forum for that. I > hope > > you can agree with that statement. Tell me where do you draw the line? > > > > I apologize to all. I have once again felt compelled to express my views > > that are political in nature and have not contributed in anyway in this > post > > to the betterment of the lives of those effected with this terrible > disease. > > In fact I have probably alienated someone who could truly help with a > > question or plea for support or help I may post here in the future. > > > > With sincere respect and regards to all... The only true enemy of this > group > > is this terrible disease. Unite to offer support of those who are cursed > > with it. > > > > Frank cg. Teri 52/47/40 15024 > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Linda J Herman" <[log in to unmask]> > > To: <[log in to unmask]> > > Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 11:28 PM > > Subject: Re: We have lost our way and ignored the main mission of this > board > > > > > > > Frank, > > > I respectfully suggest that if you do not wish to read about politics > you > > > should just delete those messages and not try to censor those of us who > > > do wish to discuss these issues or try to "banish" us to a separate > list. > > > Political discussion and action has a part of the Parkinsn list for the > > > 10 years the list has been in existence. Politics for better or for > worse > > > is intertwined with health care in this country and as people with > > > chronic illness and disabilities, we had better be aware of the issues > > > and the candidates' viewpoints. > > > > > > Linda Herman > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn