I'm a little more harsh Mike. My term is "Able Body Supremacy." ABS. I want people to see, know, and FEEL that war which has existed a hellova lot longer than since September 11, and that many more than 6,000 are abused, robbed, sexually and otherwise exploited every day, and have been since the dawn of history. For some, a quick plane up the butt would be a hellova lot kinder (she said in her usual ladylike way, that has come to make the Daughters of the American Revolution so proud -- NOT). Let all these famous people get together on this one, if they think they can find the guts it takes to talk about something that may risk their standing in this ablest culture. I want the existence of the ABS philosophy to be visible so people can see that it must, MUST, be conquered. That was the basis for my "No public display of spasticity" regulation. I was making a joke out of it, but there was a serious message there, and I wouldn't wish for that to be lost. Now, having said that...it's time to say that we each have our own way of handling our disability issues, just like ABs with allergies have their own way. I don't take allergy shots or pills, I just cope with this crap -- that's my decision. I have no justification, however, to judge someone else for managing his allergies in a more medically beneficial way. How am I able to know their needs? Sometimes I am not even sure of my own needs. Anyway, CP comes in so many different flavors (you guys make Baskin Robbins look boring), how can one single method of treatment be the right thing for everyone? It's like what I have in that way. I have to get on the Internet to find people who are as severely affected with PN as I am. Most of the people I know directly just have numb feet and stuff like that. I'm majorly gimped up. Final comment: Until I am very old (if I get there, which is my goal) I will always have elders. In fact, I have elders on this list. I might be flippant with them in jest, but I am still aware of their superiority, academically and/or in terms of general life experience. I am beholden to my elders and to myself to listen when they speak, and to give due consideration to them for my own benefit. They do not have to spend their time trying to help me. They could be doing something more lucrative or more edifying for themselves. My Dad was born in 1903. In this regard -- this "respect for elders" regard -- I was raised the way children were raised then. Now, it seems, that children are raised to think they are adults as soon as they are 18, instead of adults-in-training. In other words, they are little more than experienced children. I know this will hit a nerve with some, but it's not an insult. If we didn't put so much pressure on these kids to think of themselves as experienced adults, there might be a few less teen and early adult suicides. Pride goeth before a fall. Trust me. I have empirical experience. Betty Allergies, Black Market CP, idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, osteoarthritis, occasional heart burn, hearing impairment, gray hair, split ends, and wrinkles. Don't ask what sags. In a message dated 11/09/2001 1:27:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > Bobby, Joanne and Mag, > > I think Matt is trying to say that the reason doctors, and to a large > extent, people in general have a negative concept of spasticity is > because spasticity isn't "normal." Most spastic c.p.er's require a > wheelchair to get around, further aggravating the negativity. As I've > pointed out, walking is very overrated. I don't think with my feet... > > Human beings being what we are, we really don't like differences in > other people or ourselves. When we perceive something is other than the > norm, our tendency is to try to bring it to the norm (i.e. be > ablebodied), be it through surgery, drugs, or what have you. I like > Betty's term for this. She calls it "ABLEISM." That's not to say we > can't improve through therapy, assistive tech, and/or other ways, as > long as we realize we may never be at the norm. > > mike Betty aut viam inveniam aut faciam "I will either find a way or make one."