help for the world's rarest . . .

[Anne Kilmer]

focus on the butterflies. 
May I prescribe the serenity prayer, both for the auto-immune disorder
and the reaction to the list's "lack of courtesy"?
You'll recall the prayer; one requests the serenity to accept things we
cannot change; the courage to change the things we can change, and the
wisdom to know the difference. 
My own auto-immune disorder is made much worse by efforts to lead others
to the "right path". Probably wiser to cultivate your own garden, and
allow others to enjoy their weeds (which, after all, butterflies prefer)
or their peonies as they choose.  
Neil and Paul add balance to the list. They aren't going to change. We
might as well enjoy their brisk flavor, as you would an olive or pickled
onion. 
Or, of course, flush them unread. That delete key is easy to master. 
Good luck with the physical therapy, and do those silly exercises. They
really work. I can actually kneel down, get up again, and (therefore)
garden a little.
Anne Kilmer
Mayo
Ireland
"Martha V. Lutz & Charles T. Lutz" wrote:
> 
> human characteristic:  'common' courtesy.
> 
> I was saddened to see the following included in a 'thank-you' message:
> 
> "My very special thanks are also due to Paul Cherubini whose constant shameful
> ,irrational and ill-informed attacks on conservation and conservationists
> have brought me the many friends"
> 
> That was entirely unnecessary.  It served no purpose except possibly to
> cause pain; it lowers my evaluation of the writer, and renders that
> person's other communications less valid since it is possible that they may
> be similarly tainted with a desire to cause pain without doing any good.
> 
> I am sorry to see that mature, adult (mostly?) scientific-minded
> individuals cannot agree to disagree, and cannot construct 'parting shots'
> out of documented evidence rather than emotion-laden opinion.
> 
> Our family has an unwritten rule that if you are doing something that
> causes pain but can do no good (either because it is futile or because it
> is mean-spirited) you should NOT do it.  Comments such as the above fit the
> description.
> 
> I don't always agree with Paul.  There are many people with whom I
> disagree.  But I try to stand in the sunshine in a place where I cast the
> least shadow on others, and try very hard to NOT CAUSE PAIN where it can do
> no good and is therefore not necessary.
> 
> An example of necessary pain?  The physical therapy I am undergoing to
> break down scar tissue caused by an autoimmune disease that has begun to
> eat me alive this year--necessary pain.  It hurts, but is the best way to
> avoid physical disability (the disease has about a 20% rate of permanent
> disability).  Some comments are analogous:  they can trim away scar tissue
> from a situation, even if they are painful to hear.
> 
> The above . . . was not.
> 
> Please, please, can we make courtesy just a bit more common, and not an
> endangered species on the Leps List?
> 
> Thanks so much for your kind attention and consideration!
> 
> In Stride,
> Martha Rosett Lutz
> 
> (still stumbling along, even though much slower this year . . . )