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Walter H.... I believe you're confusing your OWN feelings and expectations about celebrities and notables who have Parkinson's (which isn't the only terrible disease out there that persons of note happen to get) with what has been a very OBVIOUS response from the general list membership to your repeated near-orders for us to mobilize and .... uhhhhh.... kick-ass... <blush> to force the aforementioned celebrities to "go public" about their disease. I suggest you review the publicly posted replies to the first 2 or 3 of your posts on this topic, which presented a "live and let live" attitude from the authors. I also suggest you consider that the very LACK of a public response on the grand scale you seem to expect is ALSO a profound statement by the members of this otherwise very "vocal" (in a typed-way) group of individuals. IF folks agreed with you, believe me, you would have seen dozens of posted messages on the topic. Had there been a huge disagreement with either you or other members who posted on the topic there'd ALSO be dozens of posts. Personally, I believe that when a celebrity is known to have a chronic degenerative disease such as PD, it is up to THEM to step into the limelight and become a spokes person for that disease. And if they chose NOT to, well then, THAT'S ok too. After all... THEY are living in their shoes... NOT US!! We have no right to expect ANYTHING of them vis a vis Parkinson's publicity. IT'S T_H_E_I_R LIFE!! Not ours.... ONLY when an individual decides ON THEIR OWN to move into the arena as a spokesperson for a disease can they become an effective tool to publicize that disease. If they're reluctantly driven to speak up due to the expectations of others, they'll be resentful and drag their feet the whole way. Even M. Ali and his wife - who are doing SUCH a wonderful job in squeaking out for PD _NOW_ took many, many years of living with PD before they reached the point of personal comfort in accepting the disease, where they then could be publicly open about it. Each individual must... MUST be permitted to deal with their disease in the manner which THEY are comfortable with, whether YOU, or I, or the rest of the world likes it or not. ENOUGH of beating a dead horse, already, Walter. Please? Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange On Behalf Of Walter O. Huegel Sent: Sunday, May 04, 1997 9:43 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Celebrity and PD The lack of responses to my messages about celebrity status and such a person's public response to his PD, has left me disappointed, even depressed. I check the mailbox and do not see a raised red flag. It makes me think that my thoughts are not "reaching" anyone. Maybe I can crank up the messages another notch. Andrew Greeley, the Jesuit novelist, said on TV, "There is a traditional saying that the Pope is never sick until he's dead. If you have the time, look up the word "misericordia."Fr. L for "mercy from the heart." Defined as, "a small projection on the bottom of a Church seat that gives support to a standing worshipper when the seat is turned up."(Webster's New Colegiate Dictionary.) It was designed as a concession to feeble and elderly monks who could no longer stand during the required Church Services. In this way they could still participate, in a semi-standing position. What has this to do with PD and Billy Graham you may or may not ask? Did you notice that last Friday's 20/20 had a clip of Mr. Graham preaching? He was sitting on a chair behind the pulpit. Does your place of worship have an * next to items in the bulletan denoting that, " Those who are able, may stand." My, how I get anxious when a hymn or prayer is overly long. To stand or not to stand. On the issue of Celebrity and PD disclosure I stand fast. PS: Misericordia has some other fascinating meanings. I've labored over this message, and it's "from the heart." Responses? "Cast yoour bread upon the waters, and it shall return unto you, all wet and soggy." I'll take any kind of reply. Just funning! Thank you.