(Cross posted on my personal blog, My PD Diary)
I've gotten many comments on this blog since I started it. None of which makes me more proud than the one I received this morning from Dr. Robert Letcher.
Remember him?
This man, this HERO, drew attention to the true nature of the Tea Party movement by a simple, courageous act of sitting silently while the teabaggers taunted and threw money at him.
In an earlier post, I wrote about how the teabagger in the dress shirt and tie who threw the money apologized. Dr. Letcher commented on that post, and I share his comment here again.
When I read how Mr. Reichart understands his behavior at the rally, he still seems unreflective to me.
I snapped" is an assertion, not an explanation. As such, it resembles the unreflective and sarcastic statements he made at the rally. What’s more, by simply telling me that he "snapped" he fails to address what I was doing, (sitting there with a sign) which caused him to snap, and how his behaviors was part of the larger context of Tea Party people surrounding him.
Mr. Reichart continues his non-reflective, one-sided assertions, when he says that he (alone?) can set the terms for "start[ing] the healing process". At most, he might be able to "hope to start" such a process, particularly since he also asserted that this was his very first political rally. Shouldn’t the aggrieved have a say in what might start a ‘healing process?" Or even what might start negotiations toward reflecting what such a healing process might look like to both parties?
While the two guys who accosted me are drawing all the attention, from my vantage it seemed that the whole crew of Tea-baggers around me had "just snapped." The language around me was rough and sarcastic and both shrill and loud. Does Mr. Reichart feel any responsibility for for choosing his friends? You know what they used to say: "When in Berlin, do as the Berliners do." It seems to me that what he did was merely emblematic of what everyone else on his side of the street was doing.
I could wish that abdication responsible and courteous citizenship is not part of Mr. Reichert’s politics. But the whole episode left me with an impression that Tea Bagger politics is a politics of simplistic and hostile assertion.
I’ll conclude with three observations and an offer. First, I remain skeptical of Mr. Reichert’s sincerity regarding his change of heart toward—well... generally. One reason for my continuing skepticism is his apparent disinclination toward questions—not a single question appeared in the report of his sudden regret and change of heart. Yet, and second, I am totally sympathetic to his fears for his family—and I appeal to all sides to stop the violence and intimidation—both are inappropriate in a country bound by Laws, beginning with the Constitution, copies of which several people on Mr. Reichert adopted sides had appropriated for their own asserted purposes and shaken so menacingly across the divide that day. Third, I have no reason to back away from my original characterization of Mr. Reichert as being "cultivatedly angry".
Finally, my offer: under conditions acceptable to both Mr. Reichert and myself, I would agree to join Mr. Reichert in a plea for his family’s safety, in a Public Service Announcement.
It's the anger of the mob, Dr. Letcher. They don't really know WHAT they're angry about. But they're by God good and damned angry! Is it because of taxes? I wrote a post recently showing a poll that proves most of them have little idea how much -- or little -- they actually ARE being taxed. Is it because they "Want America Back?" Back from WHOM? The people who WON the ELECTION? Or are they angry that this uppity "you know what" in the White House who isn't even a REAL AMERICAN thinks he can tell THEM what to do? They want Government to get its hands off health care and out of their lives -- except for their Medicare and Social Security and Disability Checks. What the hell ARE they mad at? They don't know! They just know that the voices they trust, the voices they listen to, the Limbaugh's and Hannity's and Beck's and Malkin's and the pretty blondes on Fox News TELL them to be angry -- so they are!
Again, Dr. Letcher. I can't tell you how much I admire you. And if we ever meet face to face, first cup of coffee is on me.
Thank you for drawing attention, not only to the plight of Parkinson's disease patients, but to the blind, ignorant hatred of the Teabagger masses.
UPDATED TO CORRECT SPELLING IN SECOND TO LAST PARAGRAPH AND CHANGE "Mr." to "Dr." throughout. I knew he was a college educator, but didn't know he had a doctorate. Sorry about the typos. Having had PD myself for 10 years, I get a bit of the "fat finger syndrome" on the ol' keyboard.
And yes, the pun in the title was intended.
And, of course, the obligatory thanks for the rec list. But I divert all applause to Dr. Letcher. His bravery inspires me, and I'm honored that he chose my blog as a place to share his comments about the situation.