Posted by Petra on August 09, 1998 at 11:39:35:
In Reply to: Sensitivity posted by Marcia on August 09, 1998 at 08:13:13:
: Dear Foo-Foos...No matter how many ways I've tried to say this, the message doesn't seem to be getting through. I must be using the wrong words somewhere. Here goes my last attempt.
: Of COURSE there are people in the world who are very sensitive, and easily damaged by Life's relentless battering. I am one of those people. I suffer for everyone and everything I see being abused, mistreated, misled, lied to, cheated on and otherwise treated unfairly. Cutting down trees and dumping filth in our water makes me cry. Listening to the 6:00 news makes me cry. And I have had enough hurtful things happen to me in my life over the years to bring a STRONG person down, believe me. I have, my very own self, been so overwhelmed as to think seriously about taking my own leap off some cliff. Luckily for me, I had enough sense and help, to struggle back from my personal abyss.
: Alice had no such option. She was in the abyss and apparently thought she was in it all by herself. She was in shock. She was in trauma. She was a fragile, sensitive person who could not deal with what she was seeing. She was gentle, kind, beautiful, naive, sweet, sensitive, and WEAK. She was at the same despairing point in her life that I once was, regardless of the reasons involved, and she had no one there to help her through. She was unable to help herself. She gave into her weakness & ended her life because to go on was not something she could handle. Trust me when I say I understand this completely, and my heart goes out to Alice every time she makes that plunge. But feeling complete sympathy for her does NOT take away her weakness. It merely makes it understandable and sad.
: Now, dear Foo-Foos, I think I shall have to retire from the fray. This discussion has occupied an entire day, and that's as much time as I can spare. I have a real life here somewhere, and I think I'll go enjoy some of it today. Fellow DOPERS, should the skirmish continue, fight the good fight, and continue to proclaim to the world that we can still love and understand Alice, weaknesses and all.
: MMMMarcia
Yes (and good morning, Marcia!) Good finishing statement. No disagreement here. I don't think you used the wrong words before.
Have a great Sunday!
Petra