Lead, Follow, or Get out of the Way

This is exactly what I was talking about in my post "I need a Hero". (thanks towleroad) This is why the republicans win. Because even if you don't like what they are saying, they commit. Even if you don't like the plan (or worse, are the victims of the plan), at least there is a plan and people respect that, people need that. But recent events have shaken that confidence and now everyone is looking for a leader - someone to say "I have a new plan to get behind". Who is it going to be? I am reminded of the adage:

If you don't fight for something, you will fall for anything.


I need a Hero (ss)

Book 'em

In medical school, my roomate was a brilliant yet surprisingly normal guy. One day he came home from studying and found me in our living room reading a copy of the book Bram Stoker's Dracula. I had never read the classic and thought that I would before the Coppola disaster hit the big screen later that year. My roomate was dumbfounded that I would read a book that was "that thick" when I could spend a measly two hours at the theatre. I was shocked that he would suggest such a travesty. I came to find out that his last venture into nontextbook reading was the third grade thriller Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. He Cliff's noted his way through any subsequent piece of literature.

I have always been surprised to hear that some people don't read - books that is. Certainly, I'm not losing sleep over Posh Spice's recent revelation that she has never read a single book, citing her lack of time to pursue any literary endeavors (i don't envy her hectic schedule, let me tell you). And for most of us, the time crunch is the major reason that leisurely reading gets put on the bedside table. But my inner geek gets to remembering all of the page turners, the classics, the tear-jerkers, the wonderful writing that has given me new perspective on the world around me. And I wish that same feeling for everyone.

I've decided to keep a running tab of what I'm reading on the side bar of my blog in case anyone needs some ideas or wants to read along with me. I'll post my thoughts on the book when I'm finished. In the mean time, below is a list of some of my favorites in no particular order.

Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Night by Elie Wiesel
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Weekend by Peter Cameron
A Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Stiff: The Interesting Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
You are Not a Stranger Here (stories) by Adam Haslett
The Cemetery Where Al Jolson is Buried (short story) by Amy Hempel

Not Everyone Needs a Hurricane

I work in an Emergency Department of an urban city. A large percentage of my patients are uninsured or have little to no access to any kind of quality health care. For some people there is no medication, there is no job, their is no child care. To take and keep a job would mean losing state funded assistance, a move that would end up becoming more costly. Often there isn't much to think about except family, the house, a few guilty splurges, or mind numbing drugs. Though it can be frustrating, this disparity is one of the reasons that I work there and I am constantly reminded of how many people consistently live on the edge, paycheck to paycheck, hook or crook.

Hurricane Katrina has brought a devastation far beyond its reach. Over this past week, the conversation has turned to how this natural disaster became a man made disaster and the finger has been pointing to our current administration's lack of initiative. Anyone who knows me or has engaged me in conversation on this subject knows that I am not going to defend the office of the presidency on this but I want to ask a bigger question. In considering the aftermath of this disaster, haven't we all been a little late?

We Americans are great in a crisis. Barely a day went by before companies were matching personal donations to the Red Cross. We televised star studded telethons, Celine Dion is donating a million on Larry King. We have seen this time and again. But the fact remains that the hurricane only blew the fog away from a bigger picture - the ongoing and constant hurricane of poverty and the plight of minorities. How many of us were regular financial donors to the Red Cross before the storm? How many of us regularly donate food or clothes to shelters? We gather to raise money for our favorite political candidates at election time, but how many of us follow the decisions they make once in office? How many of us regularly send messages to our legislators regarding issues that affect the poor in our own communities or the decisions that lead to an administration's incompetence. How many of us are sure that there aren't people in our own neighborhoods who aren't financially or emotionally falling by the wayside. Do we routinely stand up against inappropriate racial or ethnic slurs in our circle of friends or work?

I think we enjoy a little crisis. It allows us to "come together" and since 9/11, our response to crises has redefined the word patriotic. But at the end of the day when the flood waters recede, are we back to business as usual, every man for himself? Will we be able to rebuild New Orleans and strengthen our own communities on a better foundation than before?

I Need a Hero

It seems to me that in the wake of the hurricane and the flooding, with the war in Iraq becoming less and less defined, with W's cronyism blatantly revealing itself and his poll scores dropping, the 2008 popularity contest, I mean, election should be a slam dunk for the democrats.

Why am I not convinced of that fact?

Can someone enlighten me on this democratic strategy to hide in the corner instead of moving up to the forefront. Because when they announce their plans to run for president and start bitching about these days during their speeches, I am going to ask "where were you?"