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Don't Pan Christopher Reeve--Instead...
...pan the people who would use "A cure is coming someday!" as a very lame excuse not to help people when the cure is either unavailable or else not personally-acceptable for them.
What you've described is the biggest cop-out and lamest excuse I've ever heard for not helping special needs people in the here-and-now.
That would be like people with cancer not getting treated because research is going on in the direction of a cancer vaccine.
I find no fault in Christopher Reeve for wanting to walk again. If his ever walking again would inspire some elected officials to drag their feet when it came to helping people who, for whatever reason, weren't able to do so, it would be time to make a list of those people and encourage others not to vote for them when they were up for election again.
Blessings!
AJ 
posted by
Ainsley_Jo_Phillips
on November 6, 2004 at 12:48 AM
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I have suffered a spinal cord injury and think that
the way you are talking makes more sense than what Christopher did. Twenty eight years ago, there was talk of spinal cord cures and I have been the same since then. I am lucky that I am at least not confined to a wheelchair and perhaps I accepted my fate without fighting enough, but one does what one can. So did he, but you are shrewd to realize that if medical science is going to cure gimps, politicians don't have to deal with us. Hmm.
posted by
SlyCy
on October 22, 2004 at 6:15 AM
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Fan or not fan,
here are condolences to
"In Memoriam".
Ann.
posted by
A-and-B
on October 20, 2004 at 3:49 PM
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and for that I admire in everyway. But don't you think that it is more
important that there be 2 groups working on two different ways to benefit 1 cause? I don't think that there is anything wrong with 2 courses of action which may lead to wonderful things. And just so you do not think I am someone just spouting off things I have no place too, there are issues I am facing everyday. Again, I do admire your cause too,
posted by
Kiddo75
on October 18, 2004 at 9:50 PM
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My response
I haven't admitted defeat in any way. I'm a grad student, writer, activist, mentor, and so on. I just think that it's a huge waste of energy and resources to spend funds on research, which might help in future, instead of services and construction which help now. I spend a lot of time working on those issues, which I think is more practical.
posted by
cripfemme
on October 18, 2004 at 9:42 PM
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You have a right to your beliefs, and so did he. Just because he
set out for ways to help himself and others does not mean he sold out or denied what he had become. What a horrible depiction of him. He accepted his fate, and he was happy. Now, he has to be criticized because he didn't lay down and admit defeat? What is wrong with fighting? I agree with you completley that there should be more out there for people with disabilities. But I also think at the same time, they need to strive and work harder for the next generation who may have a chance they didn't . It is almost like if someone tries to help themselves out of a wheelchair, that they are not accepting it and it is an insult to those who has. Stem cell is a huge source of debate, and that is not what I dare tackle. But what I do tackle, is the Christopher Reeve I know being labled as a hollywood sellout or someone who didnt do people with disabilities justice.
posted by
Kiddo75
on October 18, 2004 at 8:47 PM
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