CHARLOTTE, NC: As my ALS condition progresses, I often find myself wondering if the disease is not also gradually making me become more cynical. I hope not because there are too many other concerns that are far more pressing and urgent. Chances are I will never know the reason that ALS chose me. That’s OK. My colleague Betty Feezor used to respond to the question “why me?” with “why not me?”
However, in this day and time, I have expanded that to “why do I still have it?” And that’s where I run into the conundrum of cynicism.
I can, for the moment at least, accept the lack of a cure. There are many reasons for that, some of which also walk at the edge of being cynical.
As one ALS patient put it:
“As a society we accept ALS. Just like we do cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and any other condition that defies arrest. Culturally, we could demand that cures be found. And if we were serious, they would be. Just like we did when we decided to intervene in the wars in Europe, win the arms race, and land men on the moon. When America is truly determined and focused, the daunting is achieved, and even the seemingly impossible is made possible.”
The ALS victim continues:
“The lack of a cure appears reasonably obvious.
• The complexity of the disease necessitates an immense research and development effort.
• Anticipated profits don’t attract the required large-scale investment. (Reality or Cynicism?) –{My words}
• No one is willing to forgo personally profiting from the discovery. The days of an altruistic Jonas Salk approach to disease eradication are long gone. (Reality, Cynicism or Naivete?) — {My words}
• We are left with a scattered “catch-as-catch-can” approach to thwarting ALS.”
There is one question that nags at me constantly these days which seems to me to be more valid. While an immediate cure might not be on the immediate horizon, it still seems that there should be some way to arrest the deterioration process of ALS that would halt its progression.
Indeed there are many times when I feel guilty for my desire for a breakthrough.
Other people suffer from equally debilitating afflictions, which frequently causes me to wonder why I feel that my situation is more unique or important than theirs and, therefore, should require greater priority. Certainly in the garbled world of disabled living, those suffering from other diseases would, and should, also pray for rapid solutions to their individual situations.
A History Of Cynicism by Dudley, Donald. Free PDF book 1937
The author of the above-mentioned questions does offer a solution that, on the surface, appears logical and reasonable.
“Maybe there is a way to heal the previously unhealable. What if we diverted a tiny portion of the U.S. discretionary spending request for 2020 of $1.4 trillion toward curing a heretofore mysterious neurological disease? What if we reallocated 1 percent of the 2019 military budget of $716 billion toward the effort? That would be $7 billion this year alone, and over $60 billion over 10 years, given our historical spending of $7 trillion from 2007 through 2017.
“Then, when we identified the mechanism to restore health, we could export it around the world. Might that gesture serve to reduce tensions with other countries and ideologies, bolster sentiment toward the U.S., and safeguard the world order we attempt to influence? Is it possible to simultaneously lessen human suffering and reduce the need for defense?
“If so, wouldn’t it be wonderful for us to recapture the mystique and prestige of the Greatest Generation?”
The idea has merit. Unfortunately, it is probably overly idealistic. If history has taught us anything, it is that government waste in spending is also an incurable disease with seemingly no limits.
The rule, rather than the exception, is that rarely do all the government funding that disappears into the black hole of worthless projects ever reach the true sources for which they are allocated.
That fact alone is justification for cynicism.
Read More Living with ALS by Bob Taylor
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About the Author: Bob Taylor is a veteran writer who has traveled throughout the world. Taylor is an award-winning television producer/reporter/anchor before focusing on writing about international events, people and cultures around the globe.
Taylor is the founder of The Magellan Travel Club (www.MagellanTravelClub.com)
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Lead Image: Calvin & Hobbs by Bill Waterson
