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In a message dated 96-10-03 15:17:47 EDT, you write: > > I appreciate list members willingness to permit us to ventilate.I couldn't resist. Following is simply my personal expression (as always, I ramble on & on.. this is LONG) - nothing more, re the above captioned subject: We didn't make-it. I felt feel the wind punched right outa me.. I'm allot slower than I was a couple years ago when I first joined you my comrades. to pass the Udall bill. I've moaned "if we don't make it this year, I just can't take another year trying. But l'm all the wiser and all the better.And I'm mad! I got sucked in, "grateful" for the sudden kindness of last-second cosigners. One"first reluctant-then last minute cosigner" shared with me in differant words that the Udall bill could be stopped at the last minute, then next year - we could be given "the same money" as Udall cosigners switch to Smith's bill.and they could pass the Smith bill "for us". I may sound "ungrateful" but I felt indignant. I know that the main goal is research funding for PD. But this sickened me. The people with Parkinsons, many that are 'right-to-lifers', many that are "pro-choice", and many that "straddle that fence", spoke to our elected officials. We spoke, and many listened, and many helped. To me, the "Morris K. Udall Parkinsons Research and Education" bill represented our love and respect for each other and for those who struggle to help us. The bill was named "in honor" of Mo Udall. His family's fight for this bill contributed to the saving of many of us from despair, inspired us to fight for those that came before us and for those that are with us and for those yet to step into our shoes. It's not JUST the money. We aren't JUST meaningless political pawns for those assholes that pat themselves thinking themselves "humane" as they claim they "saved us" from being "soiled" by the research findings of a bill that did not specifically forbid fetal tissue use.My thoughts are " How dare them even imagine that they can speak for us". The Udall bill was supported by the sweat and tears of our nation's Parkinsons community, and by the prayers and encouragement of the world's Parkinsons Community. The Smith bill was not. We are in this together. And we won't be put off by those of poor character who played "dirty politics", those who jeopardized the lives of many by delaying research by stopping our bill for their self righteous promotion, those who represent an obnoxious minority and misrepresent many good people. We will instead, regroup. We shall admit our lesson leaned: The enemy is larger than "just PD". We are no longer invisible, yet we are not visible enough. But we will be. We are strong but we need to embrace the strength of ALL our friends. We won't grobble anymore - we will be stronger. We are many. We will reach out to our friends around the world. We will seek out our friends in the United states, including our neighbors just down the street - that are not yet even aware of the help we need. We will be many more. We will do this and we will have done our job. We will be part of the miracle. It's our task to do. Let's catch our "second wind", and be part of the miracle of life as it should be. Parkinsons Disease and fools of this world thought they could steal our lives from us. Wrong! We are participants in the good shaping of this world. We are in it together. Maryhelen