Friday, September 18, 2009

Mother of Exiles -- What has happened to that sentiment?

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame,
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

by Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883

L'shana tovah. We wish you a sweet and healthy new year.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Discouraged but not down

I have been so discouraged by the quality of the discussion of health care reform. Tonight's outstanding speech by President Obama buoyed my spirits and made me write again about the desperate need for people to develop critical thinking, as my neighbor said recently, to be able to analyze the arguments and determine the course of action that best meets their interests.

My husband and I were in a Friendly's restaurant recently (yes,when things get tough the tough eat ice cream). We engaged the waitress in a brief discussion and found out that she had no health care on the job and earned LESS than the minimum wage. We suggested that health care reform could help her. She told us she was very leery, didn't trust Obama. "Did you see the paper," she said, "now he's going to give a talk to kids and I just don't trust him." What does one say at that point to an otherwise nice person who is unable to advocate on behalf of her own best interests. Why was she so easily swayed by talk shows, TV news, etc.? Surely she knows that she needs health care coverage. Why doesn't she trust our president? I haven't figured it out yet. I know when I worked as a union organizer I was always astounded at the number of people who voted against the union. At least then I knew that the employer was threatening to close the shop, or move the job. Fear is a powerful force and that is what the interests have been using to scare ordinary people.

It's up to all of us to talk to people find the right responses and carry the day for health care reform. It will be a better country for it.