The fight against health care reform is in full force. Two polar opposites are generating surges of electricity in the media and the masses, so it seems. On one end of the spectrum are powerful special interests and uninformed people fighting for profits and the status quo. The other side has President Obama, health care reformers and those needing and wanting affordable insurance coverage.
This past Saturday my wife and I toured The Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas Texas. This is the floor of The Book Depository from where Lee Harvey Oswald killed President Kennedy. Millions of people from around the world visit this historic place where destiny changed the course of history.
That eventful day the ambitious dreams of a charismatic young president, died so it seemed. JFK had been on a fast track to bring about massive changes to the status quo. He asked the country to ask, “What can you do for your country?” Many responded to the call while others began to polarize.
The only parallels I would like to put forth are the following.
Ideals and visions once conceived, articulated and acted upon are destiny in the making. Whether it’s putting a man on the moon or reforming a broken health care system, the genie is out of the bottle. It may not happen in the next year or in this presidential term but in time the tipping point will happen.
Blind hate can not be reasoned with all you can do is contain it with laws.
Truth is not absolute it has many shades relative to the whole. Just like the color spectrum has many shades so do facts and truths. Different organizations and individuals hated (full page ad in Dallas Morning Times on day of assassination) JFK for his politics and his policies. Their brand of truth was extremely radical.
JFK faced big problems with big responses and visionary leadership. Faced with a nuclear threat he faced it with courage rather than fear. It will take great courage to fight to find solutions to the problems we face.
Hate is an extreme form of blind self serving fear. Fears are often worse in our mind than in reality. Our minds focused on fear is a terrible waste of our mental abilities and the creator’s intended use.
At the end of the day we all want the same things written in our constitution and in our hearts. Both camps are two sides of the same coin by being different in ideals but the same in their bottom line desires.
Regardless of the outcome of this healthcare debate, every one of us and our future generations will be affected. We can pay now or we can pay later. In my opinion now is cheaper than later.
Thursday, August 13th 2009 at 7:36 pm |
Jim, the genuine hateful demonstrations (the ones not staged) are from people that feel pawns or powerless over their choice of health care. It’s one thing to have spirited debate and another to hijack and sabotage open meaningful dialogue.
The disagreement is not racial it’s choice and access to affordable health care. If we do nothing that is not a solution to a broken system. Not everyone will be happy with the final result. At present the blissful ignorance that has been put forth as satisfaction with the current system is only a facade. It’s time we focus on equitable and accessible health care for more not just the healthy.
Thursday, August 13th 2009 at 12:30 pm |
Victor, I’m sure they’re are some hateful people showing up at these health care town halls. But how, exactly, is it inherently “hateful” to disagree with the president’s plans and policies? There are plenty of rational, legitimate, unemotional reasons to find problems with nationalizing health care.
It’s not because the president is black, is it? I know people who are afraid to disagree with people of color because they don’t those people to see them as racist. Can’t think of anything more ironic than that.