San Diego Choir for Parkinson's Patients; M. Streep Speaks Up for Disabilities

I couldn't help my excitement to receive a link from close friends about a Choir in the San Diego area for Parkinon's Patients.  You might want to go and read the whole article here:  Parkinson's Patient Choir.  It has been shown that the disabling effects of Parkinson's Disease, and other Parkinsonism-Plus conditions such as my diagnosis, include vocal difficulties known as dysarthria.  Singing is a very beneficial therapy for vocal issues caused by a degenerative brain disease.  A speech and language therapist started the inaugural choir for Parkinson's sufferers known as the Tremble Clefs in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1994.  My Uncle Ned Brooks, who was a Parkinson's patient who passed due away early in the last decade due to its complications, was in a choir for PD patients in Scottsdale at that same time, so I am confident that he was likely in that very group!  Thank you to my friends Lori Copeland and Marlene Fisher for sharing this information with us!

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II Corinthians 12:10 

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I couldn't help notice the story about Meryl Streep gracefully speaking about President Trump's ungracious physical and verbal mockery of a journalist he came across on the campaign trail.  The New York Times reporter, Serge Kovaleski, has arthrogryposis, a congenital condition affecting the joints. Arguably one the greatest screen actors in the last several decades, Ms. Streep spoke gracefully and articulately about the truth, stating that this was insulting to her and many others.

Trump didn't wait long to tweet that this had never occured, which is hard to stomach given the number of times disabled people such as this man, myself and many friends of ours, had to watch the newsreel showing Donald Trump defensively depicting this fellow in a mockingly insulting manner.  He claims it didn't happen.  You decide:

I do not have sympathy for Trump or those who voted for him if they claim that "Hollywood-types" are always attacking the lack of politcal correct-ness in society. PLEASE!  Don't insult the intelligence of those with the neuromuscular/skeletal disease that this reporter suffers from, or those of us with Parkinson's or Parkinsonsonian disorders that have very similar involuntary movements.  Donald Trump is the man with all the power and an opportunity to shed light on the struggles of American citizens.  When will he begin to be the President for all the people?  If he is insulted that some are offended and this results in his complete denial of reality, we have more of an issue than a serious breech of proper standards of courtesy and respect.

I look to my Presidents-- e.g., George W. Bush, Barack Obama and now President Elect Donald Trump-- to be a champion for awareness of Parkinson's, MSA, PSP, FTD and CBD, among many other conditions.  He is our leader and should represent all Americans, even those of us who have movements and postures of our limbs and bodies that may not be easy to look upon.  We deserve that much respect.  Lying about it is just beyond disappointing and hurtful-- it is despicable.

Please put down the Twitter and start reading about national security and demonstrating faith in the good people of our US government that are going to be aiding you in your efforts and maintaining your safety and well-being.

I believe in the office of the President and want to give you the respect and honor that is due your victory and your position.  Would you in turn please honor those of us with physical disabilities?

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Romans 5:3 

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.

Thanks for reading and supporting! -- Dan Brooks, Ed.D.