When monkey shines came out friends in Hollywood warned it would paint a terrible picture of quadriplegia. A group of us out ADAPT, the disability civil rights organization, were absolutely appalled. We organized a demonstration that was carried by national media and triggered similar protests in other cities. we weren't protesting the horror premise – – the genre is outlandish by definition. We were protesting the entire back story regarding the disabilities, that we live in nightmare existence, isolated, despised, deformed by self-loathing and hate for everybody else. This judgment went completely un-critiqued by the narrative and, I'm sad to say, the audience. One able-bodied civil rights activist polled people as they left showings of the movie. 80 something percent said quadriplegic was a life not worth living. That is the fuel for discrimination, prejudice and all the way up to euthanasia. I don't think we're much better off 26 years later. kill me I'm a quad still proliferate.
On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 5:54 PM, RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> wrote: > after my last surgery I went back to my swimming and lifting as soon as > possible. Upon returning my coach told me "you are a fucked up quad Ron". I > said "no Steve the fucked up quads are at home and never go out" > > Ron > > > On Wednesday, November 5, 2014 7:45 PM, Larry Willis < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > Well said, Ron. I think you expressed the feelings of many of us. > > > On Wednesday, November 5, 2014, RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> > wrote: > > I have thought about suicide many times. Its not really to do with being a > quad in itself.............its the pain, hurt, being shunned, what could > have beens, people throwing the blame on you, watching other people live > full lives while you struggle to hold your own or make small gains. The > times where I have been happy I was doing things, going places with > girlfriends, doing my swimming..........then things were good and life was > worth it. Its a very slippery slope as a quad if you have little support. > > Im sure someone on here will tell how life is better now as a quad and > they make more money now and women just knock the door down to sleep with > them. Its really about your support system and some about self motivation. > I have seen people on both ends of the spectrum and everywhere in between. > enjoy the ride while you can. > > ron > > > On Wednesday, November 5, 2014 2:09 PM, Gmail <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > I already know exactly how I am going to carry it out when my pain gets > bad enough. Bobbie > > Smile Everyday > > > On Nov 5, 2014, at 2:55 PM, Larry Willis <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > I'm in the process of watching Monkey Shines right now (Wed 2:47 pm). > The doc just said 6 out of ten quads attempt suicide. He didn't say how > many were successful. What do you guys think about that number? I've > thought about it many times but never actually attempted. Thoughts of my > family always pull me out of it. If I were absolutely alone and in a > nursing home, might be a different story. Or maybe not. I dunno. > > > > >
