message for researchers and excuse lovers

[DA]

for the many times i hear fellow sci victim say stop waiting for a cure a go out and live your life to the fullest. go out and be free. for the researchers finding peace and safety and security and refuge and shelter in keeping sci victims paralyzed through fear of human trials and love of new building and ever loving animal trials and believing that there is independence and freedom in sci life. THERE IS NO FREEDOM IF YOU CAN'T DO WHAT YOU LOVE.

[Wise Young]

DA, Happy New Year. I agree with much of what you say. Wise.

[Jeff]

The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals(parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians.
Many of these traditions began with the Mesopotamian celebration of New Years. The Mesopotamians believed in many gods, and as their chief god - Marduk. Each year as winter arrived it was believed that Marduk would do battle with the monsters of chaos. To assist Marduk in his struggle the Mesopotamians held a festival for the New Year. This was Zagmuk, the New Year's festival that lasted for 12 days.

The Mesopotamian king would return to the temple of Marduk and swear his faithfulness to the god. The traditions called for the king to die at the end of the year and to return with Marduk to battle at his side.

To spare their king, the Mesopotamians used the idea of a "mock" king. A criminal was chosen and dressed in royal clothes. He was given all the respect and privileges of a real king. At the end of the celebration the "mock" king was stripped of the royal clothes and slain, sparing the life of the real king.

The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival called the Sacaea. Part of that celebration included the exchanging of places, the slaves would become the masters and the masters were to obey.

Early Europeans believed in evil spirits, witches, ghosts and trolls. As the Winter Solstice approached, with its long cold nights and short days, many people feared the sun would not return. Special rituals and celebrations were held to welcome back the sun.

In Scandinavia during the winter months the sun would disappear for many days. After thirty-five days scouts would be sent to the mountain tops to look for the return of the sun. When the first light was seen the scouts would return with the good news. A great festival would be held, called the Yuletide, and a special feast would be served around a fire burning with the Yule log. Great bonfires would also be lit to celebrate the return of the sun. In some areas people would tie apples to branches of trees to remind themselves that spring and summer would return.

The ancient Greeks held a festival similar to that of the Zagmuk/Sacaea festivals to assist their god Kronos who would battle the god Zeus and his Titans.

The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December and ended January 1st. With cries of "Jo Saturnalia!" the celebration would include masquerades in the streets, big festive meals, visiting friends, and the exchange of good-luck gifts called Strenae (lucky fruits).

The Romans decked their halls with garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles. Again the masters and slaves would exchange places.

"Jo Saturnalia!" was a fun and festive time for the Romans, but the Christians though it an abomination to honor the pagan god. The early Christians wanted to keep the birthday of their Christ child a solemn and religious holiday, not one of cheer and merriment as was the pagan Saturnalia.

But as Christianity spread they were alarmed by the continuing celebration of pagan customs and Saturnalia among their converts. At first the Church forbid this kind of celebration. But it was to no avail. Eventually it was decided that the celebration would be tamed and made into a celebration fit for the Christian Son of God.

Some legends claim that the Christian "Christmas" celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.

The exact day of the Christ child's birth has never been pinpointed. Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 AD. In 137 AD the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ Child celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350 AD another Bishop of Rome, Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance of Christmas.

~See you at the SCIWire-used-to-be-paralyzed Reunion http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/wavey.gif ~

[Sue Pendleton]

LOL Good research, Jeff. But most of the people who believed in the "king for a year" thing had females as queens or dieties on Earth. At the end of the year the king was killed and his blood spread on the fields for a good harvest. Ever since the Myceanen Greeks (mainland) customs were adopted by the Minoan Greeks (those from most of the islands, mountains and Crete) and let the King live for his natural life time we haven't been able to do a thing with you men... http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Jeff]

I was King for six months. Then that sweet woman began developing a lot more than wifely and motherly instinct. he he he http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

I cooked a pork loin tonight and seriously considered saving the baking pan for her to clean. Whoever left Pam off my shopping list has no idea how I hate to do dishes. Oh well, the pan is almost clean and I'm soaking it some more. I also have a cleaning person coming the day before my wife is due to arrive. After that, it's up to her! Yooohoooo! Man, am I in for a surprise!

Although, I did volunteer to do the laundry in our family. I like folding clothes while I watch TV so I don't feel like I'm completely wasting time.

~See you at the SCIWire-used-to-be-paralyzed Reunion http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/wavey.gif ~

[Sue Pendleton]

No more excuses DA. I've been kind of in a drug fog the last couple weeks and have been lousy at managing this forum. Never drive one of your legs into a wall with a powerchair. Cheap but good advice. But the last of the narcotics are gone so I am back and will be brandishing my whip! (Got ya going, eh?)

So, let's TRY and keep the cure forum on cure topics and non-cure topics someplace else. Also, for those new to this site or who are having troubles with English as a second language, click on New Topic if you have a new question to ask or click on Post a Reply if you wish to continue in the same group of messages. If you click on Post a Poll you are asking a question to everyone that needs more than a yes or no answer. If anyone has questions you can ask in the Feedback Forum or email me directly at DTXNEWS@aol.com for the cure forum.

[DA]

happy new years dr young and fellow crips.

sue, let the forum evolve. don't be a 5 star general.

[kl]

Happy New Year Dr. Young and Happy BD.

[bill j.]

OK, DA, there are a few things that you love to do that you can't do because you are paralyzed. But you have to learn to look at the positives that come with being paralyzed and stop dwelling on the negatives.

For example, I am still wearing the same shoes that I had when I was paralyzed five years ago. The soles on those shoes are just as good now as they were back then. Before, I used to buy new shoes at least once a year. Now my shoes last forever! I figure I've saved about $400 on shoes during the last five years! Furthermore, since I no longer step in mud puddles or snow banks, they don't need polishing and I figure I've saved another $1.59 on shoe polish over five years!

And another thing - yes, I can't do the things I loved to do before my accident, but the flip side is I no longer have to do the things that I hated to do. For example, not once in the last five years has my wife asked me to take out the garbage! Not once!

And some of the things I loved to do are even more comfortable to do now. For example, I can go ice fishing and sit for hours with my feet flat on the ice and I never feel them getting cold! And cold feet were always a problem before. I guess I had poor circulation.

So you see, you can find the bright side of things if you just look. I would heartily recommend paralysis for those people who hate taking out the garbage!

Happy new year everyone. Bill

[bill j.]

Oh, yes, DA, I forgot to mention that you are right about the buildings. There is no excuse for new buildings. These sci researchers could be doing their work in their garages or even in tents if their garages are packed full of new cars. And I hear there are now plenty of unoccupied caves in Afghanistan, why couldn't our researchers go their and make use of all that empty space? I agree completely, they don't need those new buildings! Bill

[DA]

it goes back to what i have been saying about how it is not as hard for some ppl to deal with sci versus others. i enjoyed riding out to the mall and shopping for new shoes. i am a do'er. i rather being out doing something rather than enjoying a quiet evening at home day after day after day.

[DA]

hewlett and packard started in the garage. bell didnt invent phone in a new high rise. bill, a new building don't invent the inventions, the person does. miami has nothing to show for its 16 years of existing except 3 new buildings. if miami had a treatment for some regeneration, it does not have to be a full cure, but at least they have something to show and justify a new building. but they have NOTHING. not 1 tiny little smallest therapy for regeneration, while smaller budgets in smaller labs in far less time like diacrin has its therapy. diacrin deserve the new buildings.

[cheesecake]

You are too funny! Thanks for making m day http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif