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>References: <[log in to unmask]> >Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 08:14:29 -0400 >Reply-To: [log in to unmask] >Sender: "PARKINSN: Parkinson's Disease - Information Exchange Network" <[log in to unmask]> >From: Gaylon Johnson <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Udall; Another view & an alternative. >To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> After reading the postings below,it occurred to me that a solution would be for the Udall Bill to exclude funding research on the use of human fetal transplants.What are the objections to this approach considering sensitivities to human abortions? Considering that public funds are to be used, it seems fair to exclude use of these funds for research that is not socially acceptable to a significant portion of the population. Aliza Lieberman <[log in to unmask]> ,(73,PD 2-) Hello Marjorie and all, > >Marjorie Moorefield wrote: > >> We have had Tropical Storm Josephine for the last 3 days & on Sunday, >> it was raining, HARD. But for approximately 2 miles there were people, >> mostly very young people with 12-13 year old children & some with >> babies, standing out in this horrible storm holding signs: >> >> ABORTION KILLS BABIES > >Abortion does kill babies. Regardless of the the attempts of our >"enlightened" >society to identify a baby as just fetal tissue, or anything other than >a baby, >for centuries a pregnant woman was expecting "a baby". She was "with >child". >It's only been in recent years, as people have tried to find some way to >avoid >accepting responsibility for their actions, that the reeducation effort >to >identify babies as something other than babies has taken place. > >> ADOPTION IS THE ANSWER TO ABORTION > >It is one answer, but not the only one. > >> They were still standing there 2 hours later when >> we went home. I've NEVER in my life seen anything >> like it!!!!! > >I seem to recall some pretty extreme actions by people with strong >convictions during the civil rights movement, and during the Vietnam >War. Some did, and do, a lot more than stand in the rain for their >cause. >Sometimes harming their cause by their actions, rather than helping. > >If you've "NEVER in your life seen anything like it", it should tell you >that there are people with strong convictions on abortion, as well as >other issues, who are willing to take a stand and let others know about >it. I don't think you would deny them that right because you may not >agree with them? > >I hope you, and the list members, can tolerate another point of view. >I've been thinking about this since so many recent posts to the list >have >been accusing and laying blame for the failure of the Udall Bill. Most >of >it seems to be directed at the "Religious Right" and "conservative" >politicians. Anyone who didn't back Udall or who has a diferent opinion >has been called "angry white males", "mean spirited", "evil", >"obstructionist", "forces of darkness" etc. etc. > >When someone of "that kind" dared to object to the name calling, others >can't understand why. And "that kind" are accused of lacking civility. > >To me, one of the really nice things about this list, besides the >sharing >of information and support, has been the civility and tolerance. It was >a safe, relatively stress free haven. Unlike many lists on the internet >where "flaming" others is common. > >I would like to share some thoughts that have come to mind. > >No doubt, especially in an election year, there's enough real, as well >as manufactured or imagined blame, to go around on all sides, on just >about >any issue. The frustration of trying to deal with the political system >has >been obvious from the venting that's been done on the list. When we're >frustrated and angry we feel like we have to scream, hit, cry or do >something to get it out. > >The reality is that the dollars in the Udall Bill, and every other >appropriations bill, are ours and our families, friends and neighbors >dollars, minus the "handling charges" of the bureacracy. We have little >or no control over how, how much and where they are spent. > >What if, instead of begging Washington, we took charge of the issue at >hand. >Which is to fund the necessary research to find a cure for our common >nemesis, Parkinson's Disease. > >What if, instead of conceding that the Federal government "is the only >game >in town" and our only hope (God forbid!), we took some of our dollars >and >invested them directly in appropriate places to achieve our goal. > >What if, the time, energy and money invested in the Udall fight had been >used >to start a "Global Alliance of PWP's" to raise and invest money to find >a cure. > >What if, we turned in that direction now. > >What if, each of the 1.5 million PWP's in the US gave an average of $10 >a >month each for research. That's $180,000,000 a year (I think...it's >3:30am). > >What if, there were another 1.5 million Parkies in the rest of the world >that >did the same thing. That's $360,000,000 a year! PWP's of the world >UNITE!! > >What if, even half of us PWP's got one other person to give the same >amount. >That's another $180,000,000, or a total of $540,000,000 a year. PWP's >unite, >and ask people who understand and care for support, instead of a >politician >running for reelection and really cares only about that. > >What if, these numbers are wrong or overly optimistic, and we raised >"ONLY" >half that amount. It's still $270,000,000 a YEAR, and nearly triple what >we're trying to wring out of the government, which is the taxpayer, >which >is US! > >Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I get excited and a very good feeling >just >thinking about getting the job done ourselves. Rather than putting >ourselves >at the mercy of, and obligated to, politicians. > >There is more that could be said, maybe should be said, but it's now >4:00am >and my brain is mush (some will probably think it already was after >reading >this). I had thought that I would complete my research and then compose >a >very reasoned, logical, compelling and convincing treatise on an >opposing >point of view. Instead, I just went over the edge and started to ramble >when >I read Marjorie's message. > >So, with this I close. Before you start to think of all the reasons we >CAN'T >do this, think first how we COULD! I believe there is enough talent and >knowledge among the 1300+ on this list to get the job done. > >And please, keep in mind, while we may have Parkinson's Disease as a >common >foe, we don't all necessarily share the same political, religious, >social or >any other point of view. To quote Rodney King, who may never have said >or did >anything else worth immortalizing, "Can't we all just get along?" > >I anxiously await the civil, supportive and positive thoughts of all who >have >taken the time to read this. Flamers will be squirted with my garden >hose. (:0 > >Most sincerely, >Gaylon ><[log in to unmask]> >-- > _ _________________________________________ _ > / )| |( \ > / / | PWP's of the World Unite! | \ \ > _( (_ | Be a Parkie With a Purpose! | _) )_ > (((\ \>|_/->_________________________________<-\_|</ /))) > (\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////) > \ / "On the Suncoast of Florida, USA" \ / > \ _/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ \_ / > / / <[log in to unmask]> \ \ > >