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walter O. Huegel wrote: > > It seems to me that my concern over the silence of some who have PD maay > be an over-reaction. This subject was my first ccontact with this page. > Allow me to couch my question in a neutral context. > > My question is: Should public figures bring attention to their illness > to generate more support for help and a possible cure? > > Please give me some dialogue...I'm willing to listen and learn... Thank > you. Walter, You raise a complicated topic. Certainly public figures have a right to privacy. I question the effect of the message the is given out when people of great moral authority such as Billy Grahem or the Pope where the diagnosis is well known to the public and inspite of obvious symptoms especially in the case of the Pope the illness is denied. The unsaid message that I fear is sent out is that PD is something to be ashamed of. I have more respect for Janet Reno's declaration that she has PD and going on working inspite of it. If she reached a point where she was unable to work and debilitated by the disease I would hope- but not expect that she would become an advocate. Ali waited a long time but he is now perhaps PD's most effective spokesman. I would hope that people like the Pope and Billy Graham would at least talk about their PD in public. If they choose not to because they fear errosion of their influence, their silence in effect helps the public to invalidate us all. Charlie -- ********************************************************** CHARLES T. MEYER, M.D. MADISON, WISCONSIN [log in to unmask] **********************************************************