Normally I don't talk about issues such as the ones I'm about to talk about, either because I don't know enough about them and don't want to sound foolish, or because everyone else has already done so and I don't want to "beat a dead horse" so to speak.

In 2004, Christopher Reeve, known the world over as Superman succumbed to injuries he sustained in a 1994 horse riding accident. He fought a long and hard battle, much like the hero he portrayed. He became a symbol of hope and courage not only on the silver screen, but in real life. His determination to do something as simple as walk, something we all take for granted made us all believe that there are better things in this world. He proved to truly be a Superman.

In 1991, fellow actor Michael J. Fox, probably best known to us as Marty McFly from the "Back To The Future" movies, was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease. This disease is crippling. It causes Tremors, speech disturbances, fatigue, just to name a few symptoms. Fox didn't come public with his condition until the late 90's. At first, he appeared to be doing OK, at least from what we can tell. Tonight, however, a friend sent me this brief clip of him in a recent commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9WB_PXjTBo

Now you see just how bad this disease can be. You may be asking just how this ties into Christopher Reeve. You will notice that Mr. Fox spoke about Stem Cell Research. This research could have potentially saved Christopher Reeves life, and it can also potentially save Michael's.
Now I know a little something about this after doing a paper on it for a college writing class last semester. I also know about the "controversy" behind it.

First, a stem-cell line is created from a group of other cells, these cells can replicate for a long time. This line is then given nutrients to help it continue to divide. The process of which this is done may embryonic cells, which can be done through something called Therapeutic Cloning. Now, I know that word "Cloning" sounds scary, but we are not talking cloning of actual people, we are talking cloning of cells. Cells that can and will save countless lives.

A team of Korean doctors transplanted cells into a paralyzed woman who had not been able to walk for nearly 20 years. This woman can now walk on her own without difficulty. While her condition was not as bad as Mr. Reeve's, this shows how amazing this process can be.
A procedure with healthy stem cells could potentially cure Michael J. Fox.

Stem Cell Research can also potentially lead to cures for everything from Lou Gehrigs disease, to blindness, to even baldness.

Then why do so many in this country suffer and die due to diseases that could be cured through this amazing science?

president bush chose not to permit funding on the research, citing the fact that it was "unethical" and against the catholic church. Well Mr. President, isn't allowing someone to die when they have the right to live unethical? And don't give me that religion bull. I'm tired of all these religious freaks deeming what is good and what isn't. Just because some book tells you it isn't right doesn't make it so. Now i'm not saying everyone should just go and listen to me, your beliefs are all yours. I am merely presenting my opinion on the subject.

Frankly, I don't want to have to see another person die when a cure could have been created but wasn't because commander coo-coo bananas is too busy deciding what country to invade next. Unethical my ass, georgie. I've said it before, and i'll say it again, religion is being exploited by far to many people for the wrong reasons. That is why I have a hole in my city.
Which leads me to my next topic.

In the spring of 2002, the mayor brought cleanup and recovery efforts at Ground Zero officially to an end. Everything cleaned up, no places left to dig, no more Bodies to recovery he said.
However, Across from where the towers once stood, at 130 Liberty Street, things were different. The building was ravaged so badly by the collapsing towers that it was declared a total loss and the process of demolishing it began. But, in September of last year, they began finding body parts on the roof of the building. Then this past March, workers removing now toxic materials began finding human bone fragments.

Naturally, families and friends of the victims were notably upset. These were their loved ones, almost thrown out with the trash. A complete and through examination of the building was done again and over 300 more bone fragments were found.

This past Thursday, October 19th, more then 5 YEARS later, on the western edge of the World Trade Center Site, electrical crews doing work on the "Freedom Tower" found more remains, in a manhole on the site. 5 years and they are still finding remains. This is not a criticism of the rescue crew that toiled non stop at that site for months and months on end. They were not trained in this type of work. That is the work of a professional anthropological team.

This team offered their assistance in the recovery efforts in 2002, while the recovery was still in an active state. The mayor, however, turned them down. No one is quite sure why he did that. One would easily think that now, after more then 90 bone fragments have been discovered in the past 6 days, the mayor would call in the experts.

Wrong. The mayor continues to show his thoughtlessness to the victims families and friends, and to the city. The mayor also refuses to stop "work" at the site while some crews do look for more remains. I used quotations because, 5 years later, nothing is being done down there. Its a political photo-op and nothing more. No memorial, no rebuilding, just a lot of back and forth. The mayor argues that shutting down the site to search for remains would set back the "timetable" of rebuilding. Well lemme ask you this mikey...how many times did you set back the timetable? This nonsense has to stop.

2,749 people didn't make it out that day. 1,151 of them have never been found. Now that more can be identified, the mayor shuns the notion of helping those who have been dealt an unbelievable tragedy. These people can be given at least some comfort in knowing that finally, there loved ones are at peace.

President and Mayor. These guys are supposed to be our leaders??