for over 50 years!
I have just sat through one of he most moving public events of my life. I am in Washington, DC for the annual Staff Nurse Assembly of the National Nurses United. This is the new RN "super union" of more than 150,000 RNs that was formed last December in Phoenix Arizona.
Tonight at our gala dinner we gave a special "Speaking Truth to Power" award to one of the greatest journalists of the 20th - and 21st - centuries:
Helen Thomas.
As the award was announced, 1,000 registered nurses from across America stood and cheered as this tiny, nearly 90 year old woman was assisted to the stage.
We got to watch a great video montage of Helen sparring with Presidents and White House press secretaries from the Eisenhower era onward.
In thanking us for the award, Helen spoke briefly, but firmly and with great good humor, honoring in return the work that registered nurses do every day and our role in the fight for real health care reform.
Even if you think you know a bit about her, as I did, I encourage you to take a moment to visit the
Wikipedia entry describing her life and career. Better yet, read any of her several books.
I was reminded, so soon after the retirement of Bill Moyers, that we are at the passing of an era of real journalism in this country. Let us hope that there are those among us who will arise to fill their shoes.
For more about the National Nurses United and our event, see here.
And tomorrow, we'll rally outside the Capitol, where, among others, we'll get to hear Al Franken! Yes.
Must run - the fun is still going on down in the conference hall!