I'm the "not-so-younger woman" you are talking about Steve, and that's fine.
Why didn't you contact me privately with your concerns?  If you had, I could
have assured you that although some of us are indeed clicking, to the best of
my knowledge, we are not attempting to form a clique.

When I mentioned that I had participated in the FBI march to prevent Leonard
Peltier from being pardoned, you insulted me but good.  That was hard for me
to do Steve, and I did some research before I participated.  I couldn't have
done it without the help of one of my friends in the FBI, whom you also
insulted.  You all but referred to those particular friends as jack booted
thugs.  I didn't tell you this but you made me cry.  One of those agents was
here nearly everyday when my Mom broke her hip in 1988.  I was working 72
hours per week and taking almost a full college load at the time.  Help came
from yet another bureau agent when my Mom was dying and I had no help from my
relatives.  He was here in the middle of the night, he was here often after
work, he followed me to Hospice in the middle of the night when I got a false
alarm call that she was going to die that night, and he delivered her eulogy.

When my Mom couldn't transfer to the potty chair next to her hospital bed the
morning of her last day in this house, I called him for help, and he was here
within less than five minutes in his pajamas, helping her to use the
bathroom.

When I was having so much trouble after the Christmas holidays and couldn't
get to the post office, you made me feel like a fool and slapped me in the
face with my own tag line, which I have earned -- by the physical and
psychological sweat of my brow -- the right to use.  When I went to the
Rayburn building in DC to participate in a hearing about disability rights,
you insulted me then as well.

Steve, I have a desire for you to have a good life, and I hope you can find a
way to get out and enjoy it, but I'm weary of your crummy, judgmental
attitude, and of being slam dunked like this.  I am stuck at home much of the
time as well, and I know how that can contribute significantly to depression.
 That doesn't mean I'm going to continue to tolerate your insults.

There is a difference between dark humor and a Wesson oil party, and mister,
don't you ever again imply that I am a slut who doesn't know how to discuss
serious issues.

Betty

In a message dated 04/20/2001 6:08:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> I've been on the Cerebral Palsy List a long time.  I've seen much fine
>  writing, learned much, come to respect, cherish, and love many people.
>  With few exceptions I hope the friendships made here will last a
>  lifetime and evolve beyond the confines of an email list into the
>  tangible delights of three dimensional life.  This is my 60th birthday
>  year and I want to claim some part of each day in celebration.
>
>  When Carla MacInnis last appeared she asked that the List develop
>  threads of importance and significance at a level worthy of our
>  abilities and useful to others.  I absolutely share and endorse Carla's
>  concern.  Some more significant postings have been born and died because
>  they were not developed or sunk in a smarmy swamp.
>
>  Like the next person I'm for fun, the quick line, ribaldry.  But a
>  clique is growing here and being encouraged by people who should know
>  better.  This List reads more and more like an AoL Sex Frenzied Chit
>  Room.  The older married men and some not always younger single women
>  are having an orgy while others watch the nonsense.  Some of the younger
>  single guys scramble to be included.  To their credit most of the
>  married women have tended to be discreet, understated, or post
>  infrequently.  Actually, several have attempted sensible and worthwhile
>  threads.  Notwithstanding my perhaps too frequent blatancy for which I
>  may deserve criticism but not condemnation and exile, I prefer the more
>  sophisticated subtle conversations to the side of the loud noise and hot
>  house crowd.  Frankly I am posting more off List than on.  Thank God for
>  my friends.
>
>  I don't think I'm alone in my opinion but I don't expect many will offer
>  open endorsement.  If I am correct then time will heal wounds recently
>  incurred and ultimately change tenor for the better.  But like many here
>  I have a life to live elsewhere and intend to go on with it.
>
>  Steve
>


Betty
aut viam inveniam aut faciam
"I will either find a way or make one."