superman vs. bush

it's ironic (and tragic and sad) that superman died sometime in the last four days. i don't really know when it happened. i just heard about it today. i've been in another universe, specifically, rural kansas: the land of analog roam and dial-up internet connections. i spent the last four days with my mother-in-law who is suffering from alzheimers. and i've got to tell you, it is one of the most horrid and vile diseases i've witnessed.

horrid and vile because it takes away the basics: the ability to communicate, care for yourself and be cognitively engaged in the world. she knows who we are. but she doesn't understand how to brush her teeth. and i ask you, if millions more will be affected by this disease, why aren't we doing everything we can to find a cure?

and i come back to superman and stem cells. my husband's step-dad is a conservative fellow who takes to watching bill o'reilly and listening to rush limbaugh. but the pain of watching this disease has caused even him to wonder why george bush thinks that stem cell research is killing life. when stem cell research could possibly save lives. we're more willing to conduct painful experiments on monkeys (when the results may not even be parallel for humans) and the president will legislate against using discarded stem cells? stem cells that will either remain frozen or be destroyed? is he out of his mind?

and i say, no he is not out of his mind. but he is so focused on steering the country in an anti-choice direction that he will forfeit the lives of those suffering from alzheimers, parkinsons, diabetes, and paralysis. and so the spokespersons will continue to try: michael j. fox, nancy reagan and the late christopher reeve. and i just ask how many more will have to suffer before we actually put resources to it? how many mr. president?