 |
 |
>Religious and political squabbles only interfere with, and delay the >search for >better treatment and possible cures, so why perpetuate >them on this network? Terry, If your views are strongly held, as mine are, even tho differing, those views are valid, and certainly have a direct effect on the course of our common fight. For example, it's the people who come down on one side of the fence that have held up in the courts the $3 billion earmarked for controversial research. If we are truly to cooperate on defeating our little friend, we must be up front with each other. All thru life you and I have experienced people with more or less of a penchant for self expression, some very agreeable, some stuff you just don't need to hear, or wouldn't want to anyway. That's up to you. But, for example, if someone objects to ESCR and cloning on religious grounds, and will not support it in any way, and if such research appears to be an area of major promise for treating disease, naturally you're going to have people coming down strongly on both sides of the issue. I think it's definitely counterproductive to just shut up about it. It's undemocratic. It leaves too much for the powers that be to decide. The little people, the people actually afflicted, should speak with the loudest voices. If the voice is shrill, or carries a statement that evokes strong responses, or if the speaker is immovable or just wrong, that's part of living with 6 billion other people. Rare is the place where one can go to acheive true silence. And here, in web-land, where the words sit silently waiting for you to read them, may be the best place to thoughtfully express those views. And what I can say about this listserv is that just about everything I've ever read here has been thoughtfully contributed, no matter the position. Terry, I'm just a free-speech kind of guy, and I've learned here something about focusing on the bottom line, and about not letting what someone says trigger a barrage of rhetorical foam from me. But I'm willing to live next door to any one of y'all. I'll put up with your country music if you'll put up with my heavy metal, so to speak. Both can be really noisy, but both have common roots. Respectfully, Rick McGirr Email: [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Robertson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 4:35 AM Subject: Re: Introduce myself > My name is Terry: > This is my first posting on this list and is in fact my first > attempt at any network posting so I will be curious to see if I am > doing things right. I am 58 and was first diagnosed with PD a few > months ago. I went to a local support group and while it was > informative and I learned a little more about this disease, like you > Debbie, I had a similar reaction. I found it a bit scary and > definitely depressing. I don't think I will be going back any time > soon, especially now that I have found this network. It has been my > support group for the past couple of months, even just as an > observer. > I am also going to say something more general about this list > network. > I really appreciate some of the personal stories and some of the > latest updates on scientific developments in the field of PD > research, as well as the reports on the various drugs people are > using and their results and reactions. > While I think it is appropriate on this network to keep the > user/readers informed of PD political matters and lobbying efforts > on the issue of promoting more PD research funding (like the Michael > J Fox Foundation does), I think it is inappropriate that so many > posting have recently centred around whether excess fetal stem cells > should be cloned... creative design vs. evolution... the ethics of > buying blood or selling eggs and what a scientific theory is. I have > strong views on those topics, but this is not the place to discuss > them. I wish those who do, would go somewhere else to discuss > American political issues. In most of the rest of the world such > matters have been decided long ago and they are not relevant on this > international PD network. Such discussions do nothing to give aid, > comfort or hope to PWP. So I wish everyone would keep their eye on > the ball and limit comments to subjects that bear direct relevance > to PD, especially to promising research and developments of any > kind, whether in South Korea, USA, Canada, Europe, or wherever. > Religious and political squabbles only interfere with, and delay the > search for better treatment and possible cures, so why perpetuate > them on this network? > > *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** > > On 11/29/05 at 8:26 PM MyFirstname Mylastname Debbie Shontz wrote: > >>About the support group. I went to my first meeting last week and >>it was >>really scarey. Lots of walkers, wheel chairs and care givers. I >>was the >>best of >>shape there. I don't know if I will go back or not. DEBBIE >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>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