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Archive through September 26, 2004Susan_220 9-26-04  5:12 am
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Denisegilmore
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Username: Denisegilmore

Post Number: 84
Registered: 10-2000
Posted on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 4:27 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello again Susan,

You said many things that really stick out in your post.

One was about our service men or women and the birth defects that are "currently" taking place in the United States of America. That is so very true and it's not just from the first Gulf War but this war that your son is in that those same dangers exist (I pray for him).

And by the way, Rumsfeld did blow the lid on that last year. Quite accidently, on national television he said something to the affect of 'we don't want another Gulf War Syndrome 2 happening.'

Needless to say, Gulf War Syndrome is only the tip of the iceberg. However, many of our service men and women are dead or dying due to the first Gulf War and I'm hating to think what is going to be wrong with our troops once they are home, safe (supposedly) and down the line strange symptoms begin to kill them off--one by one.

And while all that is happening, our government will allow thousands upon thousands die before they "once again" INVESTIGATE THEMSELVES. Yet the suffering people, whether they be vets or not but they are disabled, will go without more and more healthcare. I do know what I'm talking about on this one as I live it while dying.

As to your friend on dialysis who had his water shut off and is fighting to get his meds each month...I'll pray for him too. I know about the meds part and I'm in California.

You are absolutely right about patience not being the answer for us who have been fighting for many years just to get our needs met (translation: lives saved a little longer). This is one reason I took to action instead of just waiting around hoping it would just happen.

That's why I've posted some links in hopes that some people will actually get involved and start being pro-active.

Just this week, on September 23rd, 2004, "Terri's Law" was thrown down by our Supreme Court. This isn't a 'mercy killing' and Terri is NOT Comatose nor in a Persistant Vegetative State....instead this is a "MEDICAL IMMUNITY"

Immunity from committing the act of murder. Plain and simple. And this! by Doctors.

If you go to the raggededgemagazine.com site, download and read the PDF, you'll see that her Cerebral Cortex is very damaged and that's what the Judges ruled on in part. The final analysis was that it was "un-constitutional" for Jeb Bush to step in and keep her from dying last year via starvation/dehydration. Yet a Governor can "stay" a murderers execution. Just not an innocent victim who left no "advance directive." Crazy huh. Evil is a better word in my mind. And I see no difference between Jack Kavorkian than I do the Doctors who pull feeding tubes or stop meds. Same outcome--Death.

Here's a good website that helped put Jack K behind bars:

http://www.notdeadyet.org/

This is causing some anxiety within me because that is exactly where I have my brain dying also.

I know the 'system' is slow but as I've been posting and you stated in your post, our only course of action really is to be pro-active and fight for some justice to see us all while we are alive now. This will help the children and teens also if we become involved in these issues. And in the link I just posted above on the notdeadyet website, it took only 500 people with disabilities to begin an ending to eugenics (hopefully). We didn't care for Hitler's actions yet he learned from the United States Medical Journals. Read the notdeadyet site and you'll see.

Here's another good one to help put things into perspective and it even has Kellogg in as part of it (part of the SDA History as well):

http://www.eugenicsarchive.org/eugenics/

Personally, when I can I'm on my way to City Hall or the City Council meetings, plus ever reminding (ever nagging in a polite way..<grin>) the men fixing the roads around here---finally. It only took almost 3 years of writing articles, letters, making phone calls, riding my wheelchair to the meetings and lots of other activities! to get a start on accessibility...we've a lonnng way to go yet.) Now I'm not so able to get out so I'm trying to give people places to turn to when their turn comes up that they find themselves disabled and needing help in many forms.

If enough people would get involved in these issues, especially before November 2, 2004, then I believe we can get more laws put into action via the Supreme Court or an Executive Order that will help protect people like your friend and others in the very near future. Well I pray it's the "near" future anyhow.

In between now and then, my heart looks to Jesus Christ of Nazareth for my Hope of Glory and His eternal Peace.

Peace to you Susan and thank you for discussing some of these issues. I know there are some things I've left out due to my forgetfulness but tomorrow is another day and God willing, I'll be back to address the other things you so correctly stated in your post.

In Christ.

Denise

P.S. If this is scattered, please excuse as I'm a bit scattered at present.

Denisegilmore
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Username: Denisegilmore

Post Number: 85
Registered: 10-2000
Posted on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 8:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Susan,

Speaking of our military men and women and the vote (I know that i have yet to address the rest of your post--but will), I thought to bring this to light because it could well affect many of those men and women coming back from this current war.

Here's an article to think over from raggededgemagazine.com:

http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/mediacircus/soldiervote0904.html

Please tell me how you feel about this issue. As the "Church" in general is silent regarding issues such as these. Sad but True.

I've noticed this on many "Christian BBs" and to be honest, it's sickening. Even on the Action Alert thread, all I heard was complaining or questioning why I would post these issues.

Are we part of the Church or not? Of course we are but apathy doesn't cut it with our God, Jesus Christ.

Judgement begins in the House of God.
Susan_2
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Username: Susan_2

Post Number: 945
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 9:49 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dear Denise, Just for the sake of discussion let me run this one past you. And, I want your honest opinion about this. Believe me, I sure have an opinion about this issue! There is a man named Jered Molski. He is quadrapledgic, I think as the result from an accident. He started off in San Diego and is working his way north up California. He has hit the county I live in. This man takes his wheelchair and has already sued over 300 small busiesses in California, and he's only half-way up the state. He goes into these businesses with his tape measure and measures the toilet, the tissue dispensor, the paper towel holder, everything that has a regulation by the ADA. Even if it comes to only a half-inch off he files a lawsuit against the company. Here's the kicker though. He'll tell the business owner that if they pay him off to the tune of $20,000.00 he won't follow throuh with the lawsuit, he'll drop it. Several small family owned local restruants around here have had to close down because of this man. There is one man though who says he will fight this guy all the way, his restruant goes back to the early part of the centurary, many parts of the building are still adobe. In fact, this particular restruant is listed as a California Historical Site and that may be what saves the owner his business. Several small family owned restruants have closed down because they can't afford pay this man off and they can't afford to make the upgrades to meet the ADA regulations. I can tell you very plainly that he is a much hated man in this area. Even the Letters to the Editor has had a lot of letters recently from wheelchair dependent people denouncing that mans tactics. Now, on to another topic. My 19 year old son has told me he is going to the recuiter tomorrow and he's going to join the Army. He wants to go to Iraq and come home a War Hero. I'm not to crazy about this recent carreer choice of his. I told him there is a help wanted sign on the window over at the hardware store. He wasn't impressed. Please, pray that he will open his heart to God's leading in his.
Melissa
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Username: Melissa

Post Number: 499
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 7:50 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Denise, as the house of God, we are a body. Not all of us have the same function. Because of your heart, God has a great voice for those in wheelchairs, but because of my daughter my heart is more towards those with mental deficiencies. Others champion anti-abortion causes and others education, etc. Do you get my point? We can't all focus on one area or there will be many areas left neglected. Neither can one individual adequately have passion about 25 things or the details will get missed for sheer volume. Toes should be toes, fingers should be fingers, etc. We may not all carry the passion for the cause that you do, but each of us has our own passion that I believe is God given. One of my spiritual gifts is prophecy (that's not foretelling). I have strong passions about purity in scriptural teachings. I am highly sensitive to single parent issues, mentally handicapped children issues, abortion is a strong foe to me, but I can't devote time to it like I have done at other times in my life.

I only say this because I sensed irritation at the rest of the body for not carrying the same degree of passion for the same cause you do. There is nothing wrong with that. You have raised issues I've not personally had a reason to think about, but my passion is still in those areas mentioned above. And if I talked about the mentally handicapped getting kicked out of schools or not being educated, I doubt it would change where your passion lies. Yes, it seems many times the church deals with the "majority" and sometimes ignores those who reside on the fringes of the normal bell curve, but there are many good things happening too. I know of several churches that have introduced some sort of "buddy" program so that mentally challenged children are properly supervised so parents can attend services in peace. But those things are not really appreciated (or even recognized) unless it's a service you use. Certainly, some ignorance exists (it's hard to call it apathy if you can't prove the "church" is aware of the problem), but most people just don't think about those things outside their normal radar scope. It's nothing personal towards you or the cause you're interested in.
Susan_2
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Username: Susan_2

Post Number: 949
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 10:12 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The local nursing home is a half block from a Baptist church. Each Sunday folks from the church walk over and push the nursing home residents to church. They often have around 25 people in wheelchairs at their church. Both groups really like this a lot. It is a blessing to the people who are the Baptists whse church this is and it is a blessing to the folks from the nursing home in that on Sunday mornings they get to go to church. In business I guess this would be referred to as a "win-win situtation". My aunt is a resident at this nursing home. Sadly she will not even consider going to the Baptist church next door. She's SDA. So she can be alone in her room knowing she has the truth. I'm happy for the others. I feel bad for my aunt.
Chris
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Username: Chris

Post Number: 397
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 4:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Great insights Melissa!
Denisegilmore
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Username: Denisegilmore

Post Number: 88
Registered: 10-2000
Posted on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 6:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello Melissa,

Thank you for that information regarding Jered Molski. On several fronts he is in the right. It is a Federal Mandated Law put into action by George Walker Bush back in 1991. It is, in essences, equivelant to "sitting at the back of the bus," attitude that we must encounter on a daily basis and have had our fill of this.

At present, businesses are asking that we give a 90 day notice prior to taking them to court. And at this we cannot do (well that is most of us) as this law has been in place for about 14 years now. And ignorance of the Law does not excuse anyone.

However, I do dis-agree with Mr Moliski in that he should first appeal to the courts and do this in a proper way as the law requires. But first he should always notify the owners of the businesses for perhaps they had no idea that they were in violation of anything. This does not excuse them, however, Mr. Moliski should first speak politely to the owners and recite what laws they are violating. If then, they don't comply, I'd take them to court myself as I too have encountered many businesses that I cannot enter due to steps rather than a ramp.

And a ramp cannot possibly bankrupt these businesses. As to doorways that are too small to get into should there be step, there again, notify the owners (politely) and if they do not comply to the Federal Law, who should? Should John Doe down the street go ahead and murder or run red lights? These are Laws to be enforced and like Rosa Parks who finally was forced to "civil disobedience," we too are fighting for "civil rights" to be part of life just as much as your child or yourself would not like to be left out because you had red, brown or blond hair.

Discrimination is discrimation. Speaking for myself, I'm tired of being left out and am now fighting for my rights like anyone else would. Christian or otherwise.

Again, I cannot condone the man "personally" settling out of court like that. Something does not settle right within me in his manuvuers. He should do this the proper way and I too may well be castout from some disability organizations due to my stance on the way he is handling his situation but I'll stand by it nonetheless.

Thank you for your input on this situation.

And Melissa, I most heartedly will pray for your son. May God Bless you not only for your input but that you are a mother of a loved one going off to a war torn zone. May God be with him. Amen.

Your sister in Christ Jesus.

Denise
Denisegilmore
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Username: Denisegilmore

Post Number: 89
Registered: 10-2000
Posted on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 6:50 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Please Excuse but the post above was to Susan. Give me a bit of a leeway tonight as my mind and body do not want to do what I intend they do.

See what ya get with a "gimp?" :-)

With Love always through our Lord Jesus.

Denise
Denisegilmore
Registered user
Username: Denisegilmore

Post Number: 90
Registered: 10-2000
Posted on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 7:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dear Melissa,

(yes, this one is really to you..sorry about the post to Susan with your name on it).

You speak of the mentally handicapped, Anti-abortion and a few others and I happen to stand up for them as well. And this prior to my own brain dying (which makes me more handicapped that will ultimately end in death).

If you would like I could post some sites on here just for the mentally handicapped, some anti-abortion sites and the others you mentioned. You could have a look-see and there are BBs to post to others for feedback as well, along with good articles. Many of them are Christian sites but not all of them. Still, they are doing their best as you and I are as to these issues. And those who are doing their best to take care of the mentally disabled or handicapped (like you are trying to do this solo yourself for an example) there are the BBs that really serve as a great resource so you know you are not alone and also you may pick up quite a few tips or have the opportunity to help someone else who is now walking the trail you have already walked. It's a tough job for you and others and there is help out there for you to acquire.

It is edifying for me to hear that the Church helps some in this area as well. I was happy to read this information from Susan. Yet, as we are all cognizant, not all Churches take a vested interest. Fact is: They do not want to know.

And as your analogy goes that some of us are toes, other the feet (I know I've got the wrong body parts that you said but you know what I mean), we are all called to preach and teach the Gospel. That is the Great Commission given to us by Jesus Christ Himself. In other aspsects of life however, even if you read the O.T., you will see that the poor were taken care of all the way through the N.T. and to the Kingdom to come.

Now this poor class are not just residents of money-less pockets. We are the outcasts, the downtrodden, the hidden, the spit at, the lame, the blind, the lepers (they still exist also by the way) and many others that God said we are all responsible for. Matthew 25 is proof of this along with the Good Samaritan and other like stories Jesus told us about.

Yes, Jesus said there will be poor among us always but in the context He used that word poor, it dealt with specifically money. Yet, even the O.T. and the N.T. deal with helping these.

And Please don't get me wrong in portraying that we must take up all issues because we would be worn out but I'm a willing vessel to anybody who posts that needs a lead onto a site or two that may be of assistance for them and their particular situation.

It is my firm belief and it is taught in Scripture that we are to be involved in issues like these. When I see a Church who is apathetic to these issues then I do not see a Church. That is my stance on that and yes I do get frustrated that out of all the issues I've posted on the Action Alert thread that rather have anybody interested, they questioned or complained. That to me is not "Christian."

We are here to help one another and anything less is deplorable or narcissitic. Whether that be in helping Adventists just coming out of their Churches get a grip of the Gospel to how to bandade a broken heart from a loved one. We are family and that, a family of God Almighty.

So my motto or thing I like to think about is: Whenever in a crunch we have our family on the Former Adventist Fellowship Forum to turn to, they will help uphold us--nomatter what.

Peace be to you always and again, my apologies for the mixing up of posts and I do thank you for your input. If ever--and I mean ever need to talk to me personally my email address is:

mygodismystrength@hotmail.com

That goes for anyone, by the way. I'll do what I can while I'm here.

In Christ Name, Peace.

Denise
Susan_2
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Username: Susan_2

Post Number: 1097
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Thursday, November 11, 2004 - 9:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Today is Vetern's Day and I will take the time now to thank all our veteran's who read this for their service to my country. I appriciate your effort and dedication. Now is also a time to remember our currently in the military troops during these trying times.

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