Taking a Stand Without Standing on a Soapbox

Speaking of attitude, I've been getting quite a bit of e-mail these last few days over a People magazine profile of me in its latest edition. Not all of it good.

Terry R. e-mails:

"Why is it I have to read in People that you have multiple sclerosis, and are a cancer survivor? I suffer from MS and am a nobody. You have this great platform and never use it to help the rest of us who suffer so much. You seem like a nice guy, Neil, but after reading this, I'm disappointed."

I'm sorry you feel that way, Terry. I don't think I hide from my MS. I mention it, when appropriate, as when I'm talking to the CEO of the company, whose drugs I take to fight it. But that's it.

As I told People magazine, I'm not a platform or a cause. The best way I can help people with this disease, is prove you can move on, despite this disease.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: We all bear our crosses in life. Some are heavier than others -- many are a lot heavier than mine.

But I'd rather be defined by what I do, not what I have. So why bloviate on what I have?

And seeing as I seem to collect diseases, why should I be partial to one over another?

I'm an optimist at heart, Terry. And my optimistic way of helping those with disabilities is to prove to the world that we are greater than the sum of our disabilities.

You can't preach that. You have to live that.

I choose the latter.

You see, Terry, I firmly believe you can take a stand without standing on a soapbox.

What do you think?  Send your comments to: cavuto@foxnews.com. And watch Neil Cavuto's Common Sense weekdays at 4 p.m. ET on Your World w/Cavuto.