So, I've been the angry woman this week. Actually, for many weeks. I've been angry at President Obama for losing the messaging war on healthcare reform, I've been angry that congress is so obviously not working for the people but to maintain their status in an elite club where the people's business seem to never get accomplished or seem to make a difference in the average person's life (although the CPC gave me a little hope), and I've been angry that the cable news, broadcasts news, opinion pages, and print media seem to act more like an episode of "Dynasty" or "Dallas" than doing a public service and providing honest news or opinion.
So, what did I do? Instead of focusing on all that is wrong with the system and there is plenty...I tried to channel that negative energy into the positive by going to a meeting today for Organizing for America. The meeting was about healthcare reform. What I saw today made me re-affirm my commitment to do all I can to make healthcare reform a reality.
Today, I saw a grown man cry, I held a woman in my arms as she agonized over where she is going to live at the end of this month when her unemployment runs out (she has a chronic illness and can't even fathom how she is going to take care of herself), and I hugged another woman who just had breast cancer surgery but can't get the rest of her treatment because the insurance company won't pay for it. I sat, I listened, I had my own stories but what hit me most was that life is not a television drama or a game as our politicians like to play, or the cable and broadcast news shows would like to portray. People's lives have value. Today, 47 million people who are uninsured became even more of a reality and today I saw the faces of those millions of people who are underinsured. Today was the day that I realized being angry is not enough. People are not a number, a face in the crowd, or someone else's problem. When Renee told me today (that's the woman who is losing her home) told me she couldn't door -knock or do much walking and was somewhat afraid to talk to individuals in public I told her that I would do all I could do to represent all the people who want to help physically but could not. That I would try to be her voice. That I would be my sister's and brother's keeper. Today I decided when I want to rant, to make some calls, when I want to give up, to go door knocking and educate a neighbor, to always do something. There is so much to do that I can no longer waste time ranting about what is wrong without working to make it right.