The Health of America
By Susan Ellis of Keylifejourneys
A photograph in the Toronto Star on 23nd March by Harry Hamburg/AP filled me with disgust. It was a picture of elitist self interest, corrosive entitlement and arrogant primitive social behavior. The title is "View from Washington" and it shows angry middle class Americans - all looking healthy and well nourished - expressing contempt for the passage of Obama's health care reform bill. This bill would provide some inalienable rights to 32 million of their country men women and children. I don't get it. What am I missing?
This is the attitude that plays out on the world stage when we make decisions about the worth of different people; Whom we should "save" from starvation or violence. The decision is based purely on self interest. If by our saving lives we get access to their oil, diamonds or what ever, we will invade countries, send relief and even help governments stand. But only when there is something material in it for us.
So what I am to read into the Tea Party manifesto of the Christian right? The picture in the newspaper is from their gathering on Capitol Hill to protest the health care reform bill. I read greed and self indulgence. That is the image that the US is presenting to the world. The world reacts with disgust and amazement that people so educated could be so selfish. Americans cannot understand why the rest of the world feels contempt for their values, ethnocentricity and self righteousness. Can they not see themselves or are they so indoctrinated with entitlement, compassion for their countrymen and women is not on their radar?
However, just as there are many Canadians who feel saddened by the image the world is getting from our leadership (or lack thereof), there are many Americans who feel shame at how they are being seen abroad. Some years ago there was genocide in Rwanda. Since there was nothing to be politically and financially gained by intervening, those who could, didn't. The way I see it at the moment in the U.S.A. is that the Republicans want to sacrifice 32 million Americans who are unable to afford any health care, in order to maintain the standard of living and access to medicine for those fortunate enough to be able to afford insurance.
Investing in the poor by making them healthy enough to work builds a strong community. Indeed some might then be able to do the menial jobs that the middle class refuses to do. Jobs now held by the "illegal immigrants" they so despise. You can't hold down a job if you are sick and can't pay for the treatment.
Many religious and philosophical masters have taught that we should not do unto others that which you would not want to have done to us. Maybe some of the religious right who are members of the Tea Party do believe that but know that their status protects them from having to live by it. Others have said that you judge the maturity of a country by the way it looks after its least strong members. The picture in the newspaper tells me all I need to know. I've got the message.
If you have 9 minutes and 51 seconds, watch this YouTube video where protesters were interviewed. It is a little scary. Most don't really know why they are protesting, many were there because people they trust thought it a good idea, and some believe that since everyone gets health care opportunities why should the government get involved? Some dispute the figures that state that 30-32 million Americans cannot afford health care insurance. Even if there was only one…
The interviewer was knowledgeable and probing. One Media outlet seemed to be providing the protesters with all the "facts." What is scary is that political polarization makes vulnerable people pawns in a game.
Maybe I don't understand. Maybe I am crazy to believe that all people are created equal and some basic human rights seem to not matter. But all I have to go on are photographs in a newspaper and the words of average Americans being interviewed before movie cameras. They seemed to hate.
I've just spent the day in one of Toronto's major cancer treatment centres. My friend was having chemotherapy following surgery for pancreatic cancer. All who presented a health card were treated. No one was turned away because they did not have enough money. Perhaps a few miles away in Buffalo New York someone is dying alone with pancreatic cancer never having had the chance of chemo. The photograph in the newspaper haunts me. What don't I see?
A photograph in the Toronto Star on 23nd March by Harry Hamburg/AP filled me with disgust. It was a picture of elitist self interest, corrosive entitlement and arrogant primitive social behavior. The title is "View from Washington" and it shows angry middle class Americans - all looking healthy and well nourished - expressing contempt for the passage of Obama's health care reform bill. This bill would provide some inalienable rights to 32 million of their country men women and children. I don't get it. What am I missing?
This is the attitude that plays out on the world stage when we make decisions about the worth of different people; Whom we should "save" from starvation or violence. The decision is based purely on self interest. If by our saving lives we get access to their oil, diamonds or what ever, we will invade countries, send relief and even help governments stand. But only when there is something material in it for us.
So what I am to read into the Tea Party manifesto of the Christian right? The picture in the newspaper is from their gathering on Capitol Hill to protest the health care reform bill. I read greed and self indulgence. That is the image that the US is presenting to the world. The world reacts with disgust and amazement that people so educated could be so selfish. Americans cannot understand why the rest of the world feels contempt for their values, ethnocentricity and self righteousness. Can they not see themselves or are they so indoctrinated with entitlement, compassion for their countrymen and women is not on their radar?
However, just as there are many Canadians who feel saddened by the image the world is getting from our leadership (or lack thereof), there are many Americans who feel shame at how they are being seen abroad. Some years ago there was genocide in Rwanda. Since there was nothing to be politically and financially gained by intervening, those who could, didn't. The way I see it at the moment in the U.S.A. is that the Republicans want to sacrifice 32 million Americans who are unable to afford any health care, in order to maintain the standard of living and access to medicine for those fortunate enough to be able to afford insurance.
Investing in the poor by making them healthy enough to work builds a strong community. Indeed some might then be able to do the menial jobs that the middle class refuses to do. Jobs now held by the "illegal immigrants" they so despise. You can't hold down a job if you are sick and can't pay for the treatment.
Many religious and philosophical masters have taught that we should not do unto others that which you would not want to have done to us. Maybe some of the religious right who are members of the Tea Party do believe that but know that their status protects them from having to live by it. Others have said that you judge the maturity of a country by the way it looks after its least strong members. The picture in the newspaper tells me all I need to know. I've got the message.
If you have 9 minutes and 51 seconds, watch this YouTube video where protesters were interviewed. It is a little scary. Most don't really know why they are protesting, many were there because people they trust thought it a good idea, and some believe that since everyone gets health care opportunities why should the government get involved? Some dispute the figures that state that 30-32 million Americans cannot afford health care insurance. Even if there was only one…
The interviewer was knowledgeable and probing. One Media outlet seemed to be providing the protesters with all the "facts." What is scary is that political polarization makes vulnerable people pawns in a game.
Maybe I don't understand. Maybe I am crazy to believe that all people are created equal and some basic human rights seem to not matter. But all I have to go on are photographs in a newspaper and the words of average Americans being interviewed before movie cameras. They seemed to hate.
I've just spent the day in one of Toronto's major cancer treatment centres. My friend was having chemotherapy following surgery for pancreatic cancer. All who presented a health card were treated. No one was turned away because they did not have enough money. Perhaps a few miles away in Buffalo New York someone is dying alone with pancreatic cancer never having had the chance of chemo. The photograph in the newspaper haunts me. What don't I see?
Posted by Key Life Journey's Blog at 3/25/2010 9:33 PM 
Categories: opinions and thoughts
Tags: Barack Obama health care reform
Categories: opinions and thoughts
Tags: Barack Obama health care reform
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