CHRISTOPHER REEVE PLAYS “STUPIDMAN”: BLAMES CATH0L1CS AND BUSH FOR HIS CONDITION

CL ^ | 9-17-2002 | Wm Donahue

[Notwithstanding]

CHRISTOPHER REEVE PLAYS “STUPIDMAN”:

BLAMES CATHOLICS AND BUSH FOR HIS CONDITION

In an interview in Britain’s Guardian newspaper, actor Christopher Reeve accuses President Bush of bowing to Catholic interests on stem cell research. As a result of this alleged obstruction of research, the “Superman” actor says he is unnecessarily confined to a wheelchair; Reeve supports stem cell research and therapeutic cloning. “We’ve had a severe violation of the separation of church and state in the handling of what to do about this emerging technology,” he added.

Catholic League president William Donohue commented on Reeve’s remarks today:

“It is nothing if not slanderous for Reeve to suggest that Catholics are the only ones left who respect the sanctity of human life. While it is true that the Catholic Church leads the way in this just cause, there are many Protestants, Jews and Muslims (as well as non-believers) who feel the same way.

“Human life does not begin at birth. It does not begin at ‘quickening.’ It does not begin at implantation. It begins at fertilization. This is not Catholic opinion. It is Biology 101. Ergo, stem cell research and cloning of all types are immoral.

“Moreover, the line between church and state is not crossed when a president comes down on the same side of an issue that a world religion does. Even to imply as much is invidious: the thrust of this remark is to abet an abridgment of Catholic free-speech rights.

“Reeve sounds more like ‘Stupidman’ than ‘Superman’ when he suggests there is some kind of cabal at work between President Bush and Catholics. The fact that President Bush opposes utilitarian ethics makes him an honorable man and has nothing to do with any alleged conspiracy. Reeve has every right to make his case in favor of embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic cloning, but he has no right to engage in Catholic baiting while doing so.”

[Hila]

Thant's what Reeves is all about: me, me and me first. Kill babies who are just that and unknown, at that. I am important. He is not the model of people who have suffered injury; he is the epitomy of self-cult.

[sockmonkey]

if he does walk again,I would wanna be first in line to kick his ass I'm related to this jerk, and I'd be happy to help you. He's delusional.

[sockmonkey]

OOPS!
if he does walk again,I would wanna be first in line to kick his ass

I'm related to this jerk, and I'd be happy to help you. He's delusional.

[TexasRepublicans]

there is so much here to comment on.....

a single point, however: we must never forget that in order for someone to be a "hero" they must endure some sort of suffering for the common good, or for a higher purpose....heroism is the essence of self-sacrifice.

since Reeve sustained his injury engaging in an expensive hobby most of us can't afford and since his comments reveal the essence not of self-sacrifice, not self-absorbtion, we must never let anyone call him a hero. to do so pollutes the language and renders the concept meaningless.

a final point: pretty tart comments from the good folks at the Catholic League, huh? Glad to see someone with a little rhetorical punch out there.

[TexasRepublicans]

i meant, of course, to say, not of self sacrifice but of self-absorbtion

[Spook86]

As I recall, Reeve and Williams became friends as students at Julliard. After Reeve's injury, Williams agreed to donate his salary for one motion picture ($3-4 million at the time) to help pay for his friend's care. And that's on top of the millions already paid by Reeve's insurance company. Yet another example of the kind of resources Mr. Reeve has been able to access, in stark contrast to most people with spinal cord injuries.

[texasbluebell]

Yet another example of the kind of resources Mr. Reeve has been able to access, in stark contrast to most people with spinal cord injuries.

Isn't that the truth.

[Conservative til I die]

I disagree with Reeve's politics and his views, but thanks most of you for showing, with your classy barbs about being a 'gimp' (it's funnier because he's liberal), that just like the cream rises to the top, shit also floats.

[Conservative til I die]

Of course, being quadripilegic and having money to take care of yourself is certainly on a par with being able to walk and breathe on your own. I mean, hey, he can pay someone to change his colostomy bag and feed him. Surely it's a good substitute!

[cincinnati65]

Honestly, 1) I'm sorry for his accident. No one deserves to be cut down as he was with a spinal cord injury. 2) He has the right to be bitter and freely speak his mind, blaming whoever he wants for his inability to walk. 3) I admire the drive he is showing in fighting to be able to walk again.

With that preface, Mr. Reeve, I'm am sick of hearing about your struggle, your successes, your failures, and your ideology. I'm am tired of seeing your ability to move your pinky 2 milimeters result in a two hour Larry King interview, a PrimeTime special, and an invitation to speak at the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, and Obies.

If you want to fight the good fight, more power to you, and I wish you good luck. When you regain the ability to walk, call a news conference, step out of your wheelchair, and walk to the podium, declaring you've beat this thing. Until then, I can do without the regular updates on your condition and your delusional finger-pointing.

[PhilDragoo]

In researching a story, I interviewed three quadraplegics twenty years ago, waging heroic battles without one percent of Reeves' resources.

The comparison is stunning.

It has been pointed out that Reeves' injury was suffered during a hobby he pursued by choice from a position of liesure and wealth.

No one wishes injury on others--but Reeves perceives a right to kill that he might walk.

Twisted, to be sure, yet he goes further, lashing out from a position of celebrity to a compliant media.

He targets, wrongly, the Catholic church and President Bush.

He misconstrues the a) origin of life; b) position of the Catholic church; c) implication of the president's policy; and d) the fraudulent concept of separation of church and state.

As Tim Robbins has made an ass of himself in criticizing the policy toward Iraq, so, too, has Reeves in his own way.

As has been indicated, private research will always be in the forefront of medical breakthroughs, while government is always a brake on innovation.

Reeves does himself and his cause no good by being an ass.

Notwithstanding his infantile outburst, we are always in an age of miracles--only the shallowest would ever doubt it.

[aruanan]

BLAMES CATHOLICS AND BUSH FOR HIS CONDITION

His getting on that horse was just a physical way of saying, "I could get killed or seriously injured in this activity and I fully accept responsibility."

[Trailerpark Badass]

Of course, being quadripilegic and having money to take care of yourself is certainly on a par with being able to walk and breathe on your own. I mean, hey, he can pay someone to change his colostomy bag and feed him. Surely it's a good substitute!

But should we judge him and his words any differently, simply because he is disabled? Should we excuse his intemperate and and hurtful remarks (and views, which presumably he still holds) out of pity? Would Reeve himself want that, if he is honest? You are right that decency demands high standards, and some here have probably fallen short, but you have to wonder if those remarks would have been made had Reeve exercised the same kind of self-control you demand now.

[Conservative til I die]

Of course, being quadripilegic and having money to take care of yourself is certainly on a par with being able to walk and breathe on your own. I mean, hey, he can pay someone to change his colostomy bag and feed him. Surely it's a good substitute!

But should we judge him and his words any differently, simply because he is disabled? Should we excuse his intemperate and and hurtful remarks (and views, which presumably he still holds) out of pity? Would

Certainly if we disagree with him, and I do disagree, we shouldn't agree out of pity. But I think too many here go past disagreeing, and mock and condemn Reeve without thinking about Reeve's motivation.

RIght is right, and wrong is wrong. But I think even if Reeve is wrong, his motivations are understandable.

I prefer not to pity, but at least disagree in a compassionate manner. And too many here are compassionless. And too many rip the guy apart because he's a liberal and taking a liberal position on this, and using the stereotypical macho conservative "suck it up, gimp" response.