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Rick I'm interested in why people think the way they do. I don't know about others, but in my case it was probably my mother, whose word was law. Being a Republican was kind of like a religion, hard to discard. She was an atheist (yes you could be one and a Republican in those days), but she never tried to influence me one way or another about religion. Maybe because force was lacking in this area, our religion was being Republican. Upon reflection I have concluded that politics and religion are similar in that they don't make much sense but people believe in them anyway. As a teacher of controversy in AP classes I made a point to be neutral as I wanted students to think for themselves. I was so involved I forgot to think myself. I still so wish these were not taboo topics. PS - when Bush 43 banned stem cell research in 2001 my mother and my brother like me were no longer GOPers Ray -----Original Message----- From: Rick McGirr Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 12:17 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Virginia personhood law Thanks for your comments, Ray. I respect you for embracing change, not only in medical research but also in your personal views on party politics. I also respect you for continuing to live independently, despite your difficulties. And I respect your enduring hope demonstrated by your being a fountain of information for this group. Thanks for all you do. Rick -----Original Message----- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rayilyn Brown Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 6:57 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Virginia personhood law Rick You have my complete support. What could be more important to us than getting some relief from this cruel disease. I fell yesterday in my kitchen and luckily suffered no serious injuries, but for how long? It is 2012, not 1312 and we are debating contraception as a campaign issue. When I applied for SS disability in 1998 after doing menial jobs to earn my credits, due to Reagan's "Double Dipper" law, I had it cut 60% from the $400-$500 I earned to $143 a month because I got a poverty level teachers pension. I know now that Republican war on the have-nots was in effect before Bush 43, but it took his stem cell restrictions to FINALLY get me to think about what I really believed. With Tea Party politics we can see what conservatives really believe and it does not resemble the GOP I grew up with. I have noticed the gradual takeover of state governments by conservatives like Scott Walker and his union-bashing and all this crazy legislation which will, if successful, further stymie stem cell research. I am old, but still like it loud and will continue to report their activities which do not bode well for us. But what will it take to stop this stampede to the Dark Ages? -----Original Message----- From: Rick McGirr Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:59 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Virginia personhood law Personhood! Peace be with y'all. I know that many members of this listserv would like to avoid the issues which are politicizing many conversations today. I wish each and every one of you nothing but happiness and good health. But I find it very difficult not to respond when dogma threatens progress. I shall do so elsewhere, and I'll try not to mention anything upsetting here. Except for this one, last time. Don't you ever feel that our rights are being steamrolled by hysterical hypocrites who would take our laws and our understandings back to pre-enlightenment times? Aren't you concerned by the fundamentalist threat to liberty represented not by the Taliban, but by conservative groups in our own country? Do you know how many directions this threat takes in American society? Do you plan to hold your tongue as the last of our rights are dismantled, piece by piece? To speak, to support, to advocate for ourselves sometimes causes heated debate. That's what our system is all about. Are we to keep the conversation nice and soothing because we don't like to hear or say words like "embryo", "fetus", "God", "democracy", etc? I for one would welcome an increase in volume. But I'm just an old rocker. I like it loud. I will continue as a member of this worldwide group. I feel that this is a special community with a lot to offer. I also feel that we have more at stake today than most groups, and it confuses me when people shy away from the debate. Yes, these can be subjects upsetting to discuss. I think even more upsetting will be our realization that we no longer have a say in matters of life, death, science, taxes, and religion, if we disallow our voices to be heard. But enough from me. I will inform the list if I happen to write anything of tolerable quality. This is not goodbye. I will be around. Thank you all for your kind attention. Rick McGirr Buffalo, NY 58 yrs old, diagnosed with PD in 2001 -----Original Message----- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rayilyn Brown Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 6:50 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Virginia personhood law all 4 Republican candidates support this: http://floridaindependent.com/69499/virginia-personhood Ray Rayilyn Brown Past Director AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn