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Heartlessness(Patti Davis, who won't take her father's name, chimes in)
Newsweek, MSNBC ^
| October 25, 2006
| Patt Davis
Posted on 10/25/2006 4:29:49 PM PDT by Dane
Oct. 25, 2006 - When I was a kid, I was once being teased relentlessly by a bully at school, and I faked being sick to stay home and avoid him. My parents knew I was faking (the thermometer under hot water trick didnt work) but they also knew something was wrong. My father came into my room to talk to me, and I willingly confessed. He patiently explained to me that the best way to deal with a bully was to totally ignore himtreat him as if he is invisible. Because all bullies really want is attention.
I got it right back then. I returned to school, ignored the persistent bully, and he backed off. I seem less able to do that now when a bully by the name of Rush Limbaugh has accused Michael J. Fox of faking the symptoms of Parkinsons (OK, he actually said acting) for political purposes. Fox, who could easily be held blameless if he reacted with rage and vitriol, has exhibited grace and dignity, ignoring the blathering accusations of the radio host and expressing appreciation that, just two weeks before the midterm elections, we are discussing stem-cell research. We could all learn from the way the actor has responded to cruelty; certainly I can.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections; michaeljfox; pattidavis; ronaldreagan; rushlimbaugh
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To: dogbyte12
41
posted on
10/25/2006 6:12:44 PM PDT
by
mom4kittys
(If velvet could sing, it would sound like Josh Groban)
To: CindyDawg
How true.
When I was very young, I once went running to my mother to complain about being bullied by a neighbor kid.
She told me to fight my own fights - and she was right.
To: Madame Dufarge
I think one of the problems with a lot of kids now is that they haven't learned to handle problems because parents fix everything.
To: mom4kittys
I believe people like Michael J. Fox aew being brainwashed into thinking this is their only hope. Of course I realize that this is just a Democratic grandstand as well JMO, but MJF knew what he was doing and what he was doing was telling deliberate lies such as Republicans don't support stem cell research, which is untrue. All Republicans support adult and umbilical cord stem cell research and the controversy is embryoinci stem cell research, but still MJF conciously went public with a lie.
44
posted on
10/25/2006 6:17:17 PM PDT
by
Dane
("Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" Ronald Reagan, 1987)
To: CindyDawg
Yes, I agree.
The entire country is becoming infantilized.
To: Dane
That is entirely possible. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. The dem's talking points surely could make it sound that way to someone who is desperate,
46
posted on
10/25/2006 6:23:43 PM PDT
by
mom4kittys
(If velvet could sing, it would sound like Josh Groban)
To: mom4kittys
That is entirely possible. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. The dem's talking points surely could make it sound that way to someone who is desperate, So you also are going to give MJF a pass for consciously telling lies, becuase he is desperate.
47
posted on
10/25/2006 6:26:54 PM PDT
by
Dane
("Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" Ronald Reagan, 1987)
To: Conservative til I die
Sorry, not good enough for me. As a cancer survivor, I guess my opinion means as much as Michael J. Fox's, so I say that I would not seek out treatment that was developed by harvesting other humans, born or unborn.Yes, and I admire that. My point is that MJF is not thinking rationally, so I'm willing to overlook his ethics in this situation.
Personally, fetal stem cell research has more than a whiff of "Dr. Mengele" to it.
48
posted on
10/25/2006 6:39:24 PM PDT
by
Tallguy
To: saganite
Stem cell research has not been curtailed in any way. The Federal Government, as I understand it will only pay for those that have already been agreed to.
Any one can start a research group and FUND it and can do all the experiments thay can afford.
If as much support for parkinsons had been raised as the celebs have raised for aides, perhapse they would know by now whether or not embryonic stem cells could or would be a path to a cure for this disease.
49
posted on
10/25/2006 7:38:58 PM PDT
by
frannie
(Be not afraid of tomorrow - God is already there!)
To: Doe Eyes
Were my parents abusive... yes. The stories I have shared with those I trust often brings tears to their eyes when I have shown them my scars... but that is not my point.
In this situation, my father's point was that fighting is going to get you punish, often regardless of being right or not. So if you are going to get into a fight... if it is important enough to fight for it, it is important enough to fight with everything you have and to NOT lose.
When you make the conscious choice to step over that line, it had better not be half hearted. Yeah I got punished for fighting... that is what the 10 licks were for... but I did not get the additional 10 licks for loosing.
And the school bully ended up with a black eye and a fat lip. He had to show his face around school wearing those marks of his loss. Everyone knew that is was me, the fat, crew cut, thick glasses nerd kid that gave it to him .... and I never was messed with again, by anyone.
To: taxcontrol
I only got bullied once. Got 3 licks from the Principal and 10 from my dad. Never got bullied again by anyone. I had one of our sons who was bullied at school.
I went to the school counselor and told him "I have told my kids that they can't fight at school. In this case I want you to know that I have changed it. If you don't stop what is going on, he has permission to fight. If he gets injured, I am going to sue the school and you personally." The bullying stopped.
To: Dane
Nancy was the better wife, but Jane did a great job as a mom. Michael and Maureen - pure class. Ron Jr. and Nancy - no comment.
52
posted on
10/26/2006 12:04:04 AM PDT
by
WWTD
To: Dane
Whoops - said Nancy instead of Patti.
53
posted on
10/26/2006 12:05:19 AM PDT
by
WWTD
To: CindyDawg
And these kids grow up to be Democrats. That is, they never grow up so they are naturally drawn to being Democrats.
54
posted on
10/26/2006 11:33:55 AM PDT
by
attiladhun2
(Islam is a despotism so vile that it would warm the heart of Orwell's Big Brother)
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