Muscatine

Good morning "KENN" and I am so sorry to have read of your affliction.

 I too am dealing with what they tell me is arrested right now but not cured. It started as a lump and quickly became four surgeries, half a woman, then not at all(so to speak), then EVERYTHING had to come out. It has been nearly nine years now and I usually get examined monthly. I had to wear that garish-looking wig for far too long. Though it feels we are limited by vision, compassion, and funding, it would seem that taking the "Moral High-Ground" was an easier path than simply finding a way to cut funding. Though one would have to admit that killing two birdies with one stone worked out well for the 'Great Decider." My time left on this earth has been ticking quickly for some time now,  I won't presume to guess your age, but as girl, I got to see first hand how WWII hurt the world.... this nation. Spent a stint in college and taught Jr. and high school Economics for over twenty years. I wholly agree that cutting federal funding for this kind of research was a religiously motivated move by the president and as Big B pointed out, states could continue with little intervention from the Gov. that is until another religious group likely would have filed suit in federal court to put a stop to that as well. In spite of leway, states tend to stay behind the federal boys, especially minus funding and regarding moral issues. Besides, the AMA cares more about dollars than cures. Build a perfect body and say farewell to your medical bills. The medical community doesn't support Benz and BMW on cures.

As you put it KENN, all anyone has to do is become afflicted with such terrible odds at life to get a different perspective of the whole picture. I know fully well how conflicting an issue it can be. Our daughter totally agreed with Bush' decision to defund stem cell research, on the moral principal alone. She closed the door on discussion at gatherings too. So,, we leave it off the table. She has been a bit softer now realizing that I am a part-time human temp now. Further research has proven that other cells do offer some light, but no where near the divisional characteristics (thus promise) of embryonic cells, making them the best possible tool for progress. I set things off with her, by stating that- had I the option, I'd be happy to let them harvest EVERY SINGLE EGG I had to give, if it gave ANY promise at ALL to curing rather than just treating these horrible diseases. "Mother......you cannot be serious!" Oh but I was and am. Sadly, though her and I have always been open and direct her entire life, this topic is off the table though she fully understands that even in my condition, my faith in Christ is every bit as strong as hers. But like her mother at times, she is relentlessly fixed within that moral spectre.

 But Kenn, to me the worst case for our nation today isn't stem cell research, or oil, but jobs. The relentless attacks on our employment arena by the Bush admin for CORPORATE PROFIT these past eight years is the single worst possible battle Obama and the nation will face this next four years. Those dominoes have been ticking over at an ever increasing to record pace since the redesigning of NAFTA in 2001. A bill that Clinton should NEVER have signed in the first place, right up to the defeat of BRAFTA in 2008. Free trade isn't all bad, that is unless you write it so there is absolutely NO JOB PROTECTION. Monday alone, roughly 40,000 more U.S. workers got the grim news, including 5,000 workers at Caterpillar Inc. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which is buying Wyeth, a $68 billion dollar deal, and Sprint Nextel Corp., the country's third-largest wireless provider, each said they will cut 8,000 jobs. My husband's cousin has worked at Alcoa since 1974 and is looking to be suedo forced into retirement along with perhaps hundreds of fellow workers. ALCOA! for God sake. By this past weeks end, this nation lost more than another 100,000 jobs.!!!! Over 2.5 million since last December. It's almost comical how all this time, in spite of the obvious, the bush crowd kept telling us how good the economy was and how strong it's core was in order to achieve their constant goals of corporate gift giving, while THIS (Obama)administration is doing the exact opposite. Telling us the truth in order to help get us on board the bailout ship. Good or bad tactics, nothing is as serious today and should Congress and Obama find some dough to aid in stem cell research, GREAT! There has got to be a starting point for fixing all this trouble we are in, and no time like the present to get IT started. The government will provide another picture of the labor market Thursday when it reports how many people filed first-time claims for jobless benefits last week. To better illustrate that point----Economists forecast that about 575,000 initial claims were filed, down from 589,000 the previous week. Last week's figure matched a 26-year high reached in November, though the labor force has grown by about half since then. And, folks, it's only FEBRUARY FIRST. Somewhere in those lengthy employment search-lines are scientific researchers  and support minds too, broke and looking for jobs.

So, all in all, sure I hope that they do get back to researching for these cures, not the usual perpetual treatment mentality that we pay tens of billions of hard earned dollars to get. CURES are only found through research and research in the best possible fashion. That I must admit, seems only to be embryonic cells. Our scientific community has been beaten upon for decades for it's practices in research and today they are even more challenged, financially, morally, and politically. Sad. We need their hands freed more now than ever. The CDC says that the resurgence of those old childhood diseases are staggering. Those super flu scenarios are real and cancer has been over-taking heart disease as the number one killer. If folks are agianst that kind of research, then by all means don't accept any cure should they find one, and that objecter be afflicted with that disease. Wouldn't it then be morally wrong to be saved by a cure found in such an "immoral" fashion? We answer to the Lord---- for our own sins.

God Bless.

You brought back memories concerning cancer that I have tried to forget but I still have visions that I have to deal with.  I do not have cancer but I know and have worked with many who do.  My work has largely been in the field of vision loss and a cure with a corneal transplant.  I have seen the ravages of diabetes and all the complications involved there with an individual's total health.  I wrote the state law in New Mexico for Organ and Tissue Donation which has been rewritten several times.  I formed a foundation to educate the public about diabetes and tried to raise an awareness of the need for more funding in the area of research.

I am retired now and no longer involved in public service for the community I live in.  Those years took a lot out of me but there was one time in my life that still haunts me.  I took part in a summer camp for children who had cancer.  I was the wrestling coach and physical education teacher and was in charge of developing a recreational program for the participants.  I know I turned a lot of heads and was criticized for parts of my program but the children themselves enjoyed every minute of the activities I planned for them.  I simply treated them like normal children.  There were some bumps and bruises along the way but the children were happy and I felt good until I was told that "none of these children would live much more than one year."  When I think back over the years and recall this, tears immediately fill my eyes as they are doing this minute.

I have asked God why these children, innocent as they are, have to suffer this way and I still ask that.  I am all for any kind of research that will find a cure for cancer and it has to be available to everyone.   Affordable health care needs to be available for everyone and that is an issue unto itself.

Istreat,

I am glad to hear from someone that has been down the road that I have understands and agrees with me. I also agree with you on the job issue as that is a tough one. As far as I am concerned until this country forgets politics and starts working together for the good of all people, not just the wealthy we are on a very slow path to recovery.

I can remember parts of WW 2 listening to the radio with my parents. I can remember the stamps that were needed to purchase a lot of things and my parents explaining why we could not get certain things. Parts of it I do not remember because of my age being born in 1939.

Lunch is over so I had better get back to my project because i would like to finish it up today.

Good morning KENN, Lion J. others! Looks to be a great start with so much sun and radiant warmth bursting through these windows. Hope the rest of the week hugs us as warmly.

I fully understand and am sorry Lion J. to have dredged up those sad memories. Never was I so saddened as-- well while rolling along those hallways in those oncology wings. Honors to you for such diligent and dedicated service for such a good cause. God has never really answered me either regarding the why? for these innocent little ones. I can only have faith that they are going to a much better place as we all hope to do. My younger sister was taken at 52 with a bronchial mass that spread everywhere even with treatment and all our hopes, it took 9 months. She was so brave and only took treatment so she, her children, and the rest of the family could spend one last holiday season with here and so we could get use to the idea; otherwise they were giving her three months. Out of respect for your feelings Lion J. I will drop this topic in the future, it is too sad. It also bothers me that we cannot consume all the sugars we desire(at least not any longer) without fear of bone infections, sores and loss of our sight and legs. Diabetes took my father in the end actually, his heart and eyes suffered the worst and well at "Our ages" it's bound to be a problem with the life styles many Americans enjoy. I'm guilty of over doing the sugar, and pasta loading. Just love those potatoes and breads, so what do we do, Starve?  I always thought what else is left in life if we cannot enjoy what we like to eat.

Thank you Kenn! I got ya by just five years then. I still have a couple ration stamps in a box somewhere. Lots of war-time letters and stamps we clipped off the envelopes sent home by a couple uncles and a few close family friends who went to France in 45'. It's hard to be an independent and centrist -at times, but objectivity has always been my way. You really have to be one, an independent, in this world. There isn't a party representative I have trusted to be able to say without reservation that, we finally found a good one. I have taken hits for getting close to that feeling regarding Carter. I realize he had his banes as they all do, but with the utmost in military integrity and honesty, he has stood close to that distinction, especially after leaving office. But I understand folks confusion with these thoughts.  Today we just don't get the same chance it seems. I have nothing against Obama (YET) and hope he is an honorable president who truly understands the oath he took. I just detest the fact that the house and senate are filled with lifers who have no business occupying those seats any longer. I say ONE TERM AND OUT! It's obvious by now thought, that if they don't do it, it will never be. If that sounds harsh to some well I'm sorry, but by and by, they just get more and more greedy, complacent and worthless, forgetting the oaths they took as well. I simply detest any legislator or our leader taking that oath to preserve protect and defend our constitution, then immediately attack. I was told recently that it's anyone's right to interpret the constitution, but I must adamantly disagree. It is the supreme courts authority, not the president nor congress. I refer recently to the second amendment. It means what it says, as do all the rest of it's texts and anyone who swears to protect it per his/her oath, takes issue with it later, must resign or be removed. As you put it so well KENN, we are one nation indivisible, and MUSTreunite to get back on the right rails. That is so true on so many different levels, it's almost impossible to define them all at this point in our existence. You have a great day and thank you, it's a pleasure to chat with you.

God Bless.