I am a practicing Buddhist, but I was brought up in the church and have studied the world's religions with interest for years. There are some central tenets in all of them, among which are caring about our brothers and sisters in a commonality of community. I have noticed in my own community and in my own family the distress this poorly understood Health Care Reform law is causing so many people. They are afraid, and ill informed and fed a diet of misinformation and hyperbole which is in turn only feeding that more. So I have taken to sending this to those friends, neighbors and family when the "Big S" inevitably gets bandied about. So far, only 2 people have told me to fuck off. Unfortunately one was my friend, but well he's my brother too so I'm not too worried. We are old friends and it will be just fine in time.
It will either infuriate them or maybe, just maybe give them pause:
I am sorry you feel like you have woken up in Socialist Country. See the thing is I'm not sure what you mean by that. Many of things that we all have around us are paid for with our taxes and provided by the government for the common good of all of us. For you, for me, for your neighbor and mine. Like fire, police, the military, highway construction, air traffic controllers, the Coast Guard and such. And our taxes pay for all the medical care for our men and women serving bravely in active duty in the military. Is that Socialist? I'm not so sure. They are citizens just like you and me and our taxes help to ensure they get the care they need when they need it. Is that really so different than the government providing a way for other people to get access to health insurance when they need it? Is someone in the military of more value as a citizen then say a guy who mows lawns, the woman who pours your coffee at Starbucks, the checker at the grocery store? I feel we are all citizens and part of the blessing of living in this country is that we are our brothers keeper and care about what happens to each other.
The thing is, I may never be stranded in a boat on the ocean and need the Coast Guard to rescue me, but I still pay for it because somebody will and I would not want them to drown. I feel that is what you do in a country where you care about your neighbors, even if you never even meet them. Same with police and fire, and the rest. You know I feel that it is a Christian Value to have compassion and care about other people who are sick, or injured, or born with a disease. Some people through no fault of theirs lose a job, or get kicked off their insurance, or are born with some disease and then lose or can't get insurance. And there are thousands who die every year because of that. I just don't think its right to turn away from that.
Compassion is the core of who we are, it is our most human nature.
Also if they have to just count on going to the hospital when something terrible happens we still end up paying for them anyway. So it makes sense as a Christian because that means having compassion and even as a taxpayer to have more people insured.
See, I feel that providing health care access in some way for all of our brother and sister citizens in our country IS a Christian value. Your Bible teaches us this, not least is in Matthew 25:40 "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." And to me its also an American and patriotic thing to do, we have always helped each other as a country in good times and in bad. Remember how we came together after Katrina. I didn't know anyone in New Orleans but I did what I could to help. So many of our fellow Americans did.
Lack of access to health care insurance is a financial Katrina for many, many people. Times are very tough right now for so many children and seniors, old and young and everyone in between in our country. In our country. Yours and mine, President Obama's and yes even Glenn Beck's. It is our country, and we need to find common purpose to cure what ails it today.
I pray that you can find the compassion in your heart to think about those people who are sick, or injured, or get kicked off their insurance and are terrified of what comes next. Imagine having 2 kids, losing your job and having one of them with a terrible illness and not being able to get insurance. Try to put your heart there, close your eyes and take some deep slow breaths with that in your heart and mind for just 5 minutes.
Feel what that must feel like.
This is trying to help them, not hurt us. I hope you find some peace around this, I care about you and I feel sad that this has you so angry and upset. If you want to talk more about it, I am here.