A few days ago I fell and banged my head (long story — I’m OK) and had to go to the emergency room at an urban hospital. Over the next 22 hours I had every test that could fit into that time period. I had to interact with 20-25 people — MD’s, PA’s, RN’s, transporters, administrators, orderlies and several other categories I don’t remember. The care was uniformly excellent.
But that’s not the main story.
I had to identify myself and give my birthday to each new person while they checked it against my hospital bracelet (to make sure I wasn’t body-switched with another gurney rider in the corridor or elevator as per an ‘80s movie). Ironic fact: It actually was my birthday.
But that’s not the main story either.
The main story is the people taking fantastic care of me were overwhelmingly immigrants: The transport guy from Peru, the x-ray technician from Trinidad, the CAT scan operator from the Dominican Republican, the tech from the Czech Republic (who was an MD back there), the ER nurse from Ecuador and others I was too sleepy to remember.
I walked out of there feeling gratitude for the excellent care, but a slowly growing anger as I connected the skilled, friendly life-savers I’d met over that night and day with the vile rhetoric and policy coming from the White House, the Republican Party and those whose minds have been poisoned by 40 years of racism and nativism. You know — those amiable folks in diners in Indiana, Kansas and Oklahoma the NY Times can’t stop interviewing. Maybe next time the Times, NPR or the WaPo can ask them:
How dare you demonize these people working 12 hour shifts yet providing compassionate help to me and everyone else there.
How dare you try to stop them from trying to unite with their families and rip apart their families here.
How dare you cheer the demagogues who use isolated cases to demonize entire groups doing essential work and saving lives.
How dare you elevate a useless pile of concrete to iconic status as a racist symbol — the Last Confederate Monument. (h/t Driftglass)
How dare you cheer the ruthless deportation of people who have been here for years and contributed so much to this country.
No one wants to go to a hospital. I don’t recommend it. Not on your birthday or any other day.
But if you have to go you’ll leave wanting more than ever to do what it takes to beat back the forces of reaction, nativism, bigotry and racism.