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Having PD has propelled me to seriuously think about a whole host of issues that I had not fully appreciated before: my own mortality, my dependence on others, the meaning of life, medical and prescription coverage for the disabled, and the search for a cure. In short, it has required me to be more involved in the complex issues of life. Ray's brave confrontation of these issues has been an inspiration to me, and reassures me in the fundamental intelligence of the human mind. If "I think, therefore I am", (Descartes starting point in Philosophy,) then Ray's bold forthrightfullness, reminds us that, despite PD, we still are. David >From: rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Fw: Why? Mary Ann >Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 12:57:40 -0700 > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "rayilynlee" <[log in to unmask]> >To: "Parkinson's Information Exchange Network" ><[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 11:08 AM >Subject: Re: Why? Mary Ann > > >>Because when my grandfather died in 1968 of PD complications there was >>really no treatment at all. No internet to share experiences. Once when >>he fell, he and my grandmother spent the night on the floor til a >>son-in-law came and helped out. Papa had turned to stone. >> >>He and my grandmother didn't have to deal with the politics of stem cell >>research, just PD. I don't know where he would have been on this issue. >>He was the quintessential rugged individualist patriotic Republican who >>had a flag draped casket. >> >>He loved to argue and he used to make me so angry because it often turned >>out he was right. However, I suspected that he often took the opposite >>side of what he believed just for the sake of argument. My Dad, who had a >>great sense of humor, won his arguments with laughter. I have come to >>realize I am my grandfather's granddaughter. This was apparent when I >>taught argument in my Advanced Placement History classes. Knowing all >>sides of an issue enabled my students to pass the difficult college level >>AP exams. >> >>We not only face the daily challenges of PD, but difficult decisions about >>the politics of stem cell research. Although what we do may not affect >>us, it will impact future generations. >> >>When someone whose son is a paraplegic tells me "you've made my day" or a >>list member says, "if you don't rattle our cage who will" I feel I still >>have some purpose in life. And if I can ever get inspiration for a >>writing plan, I'll need all sides and don't want to guess at what you or >>others think. >>Ray >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Mary Ann Ryan" <[log in to unmask]> >>To: <[log in to unmask]> >>Sent: Monday, February 20, 2006 7:01 AM >>Subject: Re: Carole/Issues that impact our lives >> >> >>>Ray, I thought a web site was being developed specifically for these >>>discussions. What happened? And why do you persist in pushing this >>>argument when it is clearly disturbing to a certain population on this >>>list? >>>--------------- >>>God bless >>>Mary Ann (CG Jamie 66/26 with PD) >>>>Hi Carole, this is why I'm pushing for a discussion. My high school >>>>students used to do it, why can't we? >>> >>> >>> >>>-- >>>No virus found in this outgoing message. >>>Checked by AVG Free Edition. >>>Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.11/264 - Release Date: >>>2/17/2006 >>> >>>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>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