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Thursday, I, along with millions of others, viewed the video celebration repealing the Affordable Health Care Act.
I watched wealthy, arrogant males, those who hold the power, decide the fate of millions of Americans, without a single thought for the poor, single mothers, women, or children.
None of which, the poor, single mothers, women and children, were seen at this celebration.
None of which, the poor, single mothers, women or children, any of these men have ever walked in their shoes, or been in the position of choosing between groceries or medication.
A sea of men representing no one other than themselves. Men whose cheers rang of the words “I have health care coverage, but now you won’t. You pay my salary and my families health care coverage, but, we will no longer provide yours.”
I watched with disgust as acknowledgment for recognition and praise was demanded by our, so-called, commander in chief.
I felt nothing but sorrow, when the men surrounding him complied.
I couldn’t help but notice how this ‘victory’ tragically had nothing to do with the American people, but everything to do with winning…winning at the expense of others.
I felt like I was back on a grade school playground.
I, along with millions of others, began researching this new healthcare plan.
It took all of three seconds to realize, if one was born with a vagina, they would now fall under the heading of pre-existing condition.
Every woman I know would no longer be able to afford health insurance coverage. Every single mother in America would now be choosing between feeding her children or taking care of her health. Every older American would be forced to choose between living and dying.
It took all of three seconds to realize mere humanity was a pre-existing condition.
I read the words of this proposed health care plan, letting them fully sink into my awareness and all I could think was — this isn’t healthcare, this is how you oppress, bankrupt and ultimately kill people.
Is the world we now live in? Where we are asked to witness the demise of how humans treat each other and applaud it…a cruelty that sinks below any baseline of human decency?
And somehow, we all saw it coming.
As I sat with my 15 year-old son, reading through this information, he looked questioningly at me and asked, “Mom, what are we going to do?”
This very young man trying to trek his way through a man’s world without an adequate father figure.
This son of mine who understands his mother, and sisters, were born with vaginas. Who understands his mother carries the pre-existing condition of sexual assault, domestic violence survivor, and postpartum depression.
Who understands his grandfather has cancer, his grandmother diabetes.
My son feels the discrimination at the very core of his being and is both scared and appalled. A 15 year-old with more compassion than the men caught celebrating on camera in front of the world.
Again, I ask, is this the world we now live in? Where privileged white males hold power over others and use that power against them under the guise of Christianity.
A world where healthcare is necessarily considered a fundamental right but, certainly could and should be considered a privilege with attainable access to it a probability.
With a deep breath, I look at my son and say “Again, we become braver, fight harder, resist more. Again, we strengthen our voices in order to protect the poor and oppressed, the sick and the weak. Again, we stand in solidarity beside all humans, calling them brother and sister. Again, we help the refugees we may someday call our friends. Again, we love harder.”
Again…We love harder.
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Photo Credit: Getty Images