 |
 |
WHOA! Bill, you really hit on something I've never realized before in your comment about Christopher Reeves (and others in similar catastrophic life-situations) being classified as "courageous" when they've gone before the public asking for governmental and public financial support/research/whatever. Invariably it seems the REASON they're before that audience is entirely overlooked, at least verbally at that moment. I know when I see Christopher Reeves on TV or in the newspaper, my initial reaction is ALWAYS (no matter what the reason I'm seeing him), "I don't know where he finds the strength and courage to continue on." I always think that because I know my own limitations and strengths, and they aren't anywhere NEAR the same level of Christopher Reeves. I suspect that the "average Joe" cannot HELP but see the "courage" first when confronted by Christopher Reeves (or an M. Ali), because their instant gut-level reaction is much like mine - "I couldn't do THAT," meaning, of course, they feel they wouldn't be able to face life and living if they'd been afflicted in such a manner. SOME things are just too overwhelming at first glance for may people to absorb and that initial shock most likely results in that "courageous" reaction, rather then the actual MESSAGE of the individual reaching the audience immediately. In Reeves' case, tho, his message DOES eventually get thru, ditto with M.Ali's message, because their respective public standing has never been higher. Where DO they get that phenomenal courage, anyway? Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] ---------- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of HEIT BILL Sent: Saturday, May 09, 1998 9:34 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Re: Done lurking ----------------------- Headers -------In a message dated 5/8/98 2:06:51 PM Central Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << I get tired of well-intentioned people telling me they read or heard of the latest treatment for PD and I should not worry any more about having it. The news media makes it sound as if having a progressive incurable disorder is ok because there is always something new to "fix" us and the complete cure is coming on the market "tomorrow". >> Marling, There is one other (related?) thing that well intentioned, normal folks do to us and against which we must guard. Nobody likes a whiner, right? However, if one shows too much courage, not paying attention to the difficulties, they start to put us in the "brave boys don't bleed" category. This has happened to Mohammed Ali, and Annette Funachello(sp?) before. I am certain that non famous PWPs and others with major problems see this all the time too. However, Chris Reeve's speech at the Democratic National Convention is a prime example. His speech was about priorities and research funding. What the news people talked about was his courage. Healthy political people and others tend to feel that to complement one is to do something for him/her. One lionizes heroes rather than helping them. We all need to temper our best impulses with the axiom: "Don't be that kind of hero." Regards, WHH 54/18 PS: The correct answer to the question "How are you?" is "Fine!"