Yes, this might seem like a joke, but I'm being super serious, of course.
I used to suffer from debilitating panic attacks. For a week in 2000 I didn't sleep. I would stay up all night watching Elmo's Adventures in Grouchland, and in particular this scene. I know it sounds totally crazytown (and it probably was), but nothing helped like hearing, "Take the first step and then you will see just how brave your heart can be."
It's pretty embarrassing, this story, but I'm a blogger, right? I'm supposed to have no shame.
I spent the weekend with two relatives who are pretty far right on the political spectrum. I always hear you're not supposed to talk politics with family, but what can I say? I'm a fool. I don't purport to know everything about Obama's health care plan (believe me, I'm trying to understand it, but the President isn't helping in this endeavor). That said, I'm pretty sure he's not going to euthanize our loved ones once they turn 65. At times these discussions turned ugly and I felt like I was having a town hall meeting in my kitchen. All of this has left me feeling sad and not very optimistic about the fate of health care reform, something we desperately need.
The big picture, for me, is that we need to take care of each other. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, deserves good health, happiness, and love. These things seem to be in short supply these days, and I feel those panic attacks creeping back into my life. I hear a lot of fear and anger from one side, and I don't hear clear answers coming from the other.
I want us to remember that we're reasonable people at heart. That we're good people. That we have minds of our own. I hope something happens to turn the tide of vitriol to measured discussion and real solutions. Without that I really am worried about what's going to happen next. These are hard times, but working together is the answer, right? Otherwise we'll just split farther and farther apart until we're fractured beyond repair which will be very grim indeed.
amen, sister! at the end of the day, we should be focusing on people rather than politics - prevention rather than someone's profit margin. it's a sad day in the land of the free and home of the brave when rhetoric takes over basic human decency...
I too have watched cartoons and Elmo to help with panic attacks. Staying with my dad last night and watching FOX news did nothing for my anxiety at being in a far-right, conservative home. I had that "I hate Fox news" discussion with him and really wish I hadn't. Glad I had xanax. I couldn't find Elmo.
I wish the problem with the screamers at the town halls people was like the villian in Elmo. I wish it were a matter of them just not knowing how to share. But it's not.
If this recent experience does not teach to you simply talk about the weather when you are with your relatives, I don't know what will.
As always, articulate and thoughtful. What saddens me most about all this is despite my increasing anxiety, I have yet to take any real action. Sure, I've called my representatives, but I feel I need to do more, and yet ... what's the point? That, my friend, is tragic.
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Linda Park likes to watch TV, read some books, follow the politicking and look at pictures of bunnies on the internet. You can email her here or follow on Twitter @mspark.
6 Comments:
amen, sister! at the end of the day, we should be focusing on people rather than politics - prevention rather than someone's profit margin. it's a sad day in the land of the free and home of the brave when rhetoric takes over basic human decency...
I think we all know by now that the anger at the town hall meetings for the most part isn't really about health care.
Double Amen... and you know who to call if you need talking down. I am the queen of the panic attacks... although I prefer Valium to Elmo!
I too have watched cartoons and Elmo to help with panic attacks. Staying with my dad last night and watching FOX news did nothing for my anxiety at being in a far-right, conservative home. I had that "I hate Fox news" discussion with him and really wish I hadn't. Glad I had xanax. I couldn't find Elmo.
I wish the problem with the screamers at the town halls people was like the villian in Elmo. I wish it were a matter of them just not knowing how to share. But it's not.
If this recent experience does not teach to you simply talk about the weather when you are with your relatives, I don't know what will.
As always, articulate and thoughtful. What saddens me most about all this is despite my increasing anxiety, I have yet to take any real action. Sure, I've called my representatives, but I feel I need to do more, and yet ... what's the point? That, my friend, is tragic.
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* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the courier-journal.com Web site and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by courier-journal.com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that courier-journal.com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site.
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