They say seeing is believing.
Since the election, I've noticed a significant change that smacks you in the face as soon as you enter the National Naval Medical Center, also known as Bethesda Naval Hospital. For those who don't know, NNMC is the flagship of Naval Medicine. This is the "President's hospital." FDR chose the site and laid the cornerstone. When JFK was assassinated, this is where they did the autopsy. When Johnson suffered a heart attack, this is where he was cared for by a young Jeremiah Wright. When Reagan had surgery for his colon cancer, this is where he went. When Bush Sr. had heart trouble, this is where they took him.
For the last several years, waiting areas have all had large flat-screen TVs looming over them. All of them blaring FOX News.
All.The.Time.On.Every.Screen.Without.Exception.In.Every.Department.
Picking up meds at the pharmacy? Let FOX raise your blood pressure.
Waiting for X-rays? Let Hannity's screeching pierce your skull.
Sitting down for a cup of coffee? Let O'Reilly jangle your nerves.
Waiting at behavioral medicine? Let FOX push you over the edge.
Imagine my surprise to wander through NNMC today ...
...and not find a single screen tuned to FOX!!!
In the pharmacy area? CNN.
Outside of the blood lab? CBS.
Down by the concession stand? ESPN.
Internal medicine? USA.
The ER? NBC.
And all of them were quiet. Not blaring Hannity's insanity. Quiet, background images with some modest volume if you were truly interested.
In the parking lots, I didn't see the usual assortment of "W" or "Bush/Cheney" or "I support the troops" bumper stickers either. Even on cars from Virginia. There weren't a ton of Obama stickers, but I did see one of the "veterans for Obama" stickers. I only saw one single McCain/Palin sticker.
And another thing... people seemed less tense. No one was lounging, but there were a lot more smiles than I've seen there in a long time.
I believe there's something in the air... something different... ahhhhhh