The last thing most of us would want to do — especially in so public a forum — is ever admit that we were wrong about anything. Yet, Brent Brown did just that, when he introduced President Barack Obama at a speech in Milwaukee this week. You see, Brent is a Republican who actively fought against electing Barack Obama as President. Yet, Brent is, also, a young man who was diagnosed with a serious auto-immune illness when he was in college. Due to this diagnosis, Brent was rendered ineligible for health insurance coverage because he had one of those dreaded “pre-existing conditions” we’ve heard so much about in recent years. Yet, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Brent was finally able to get the insurance he needed to save his life.
Like many of us, my first response upon hearing this story was to show little sympathy for someone who seemed to be able to empathize with others only after he himself was personally affected with a problem. It’s a common occurrence with conservatives, but upon watching his very moving testimonial, I was reminded that it does no good to criticize others for coming to the light belatedly. As an active member of PFLAG for many years now, I realize that progress is only possible when we allow people to evolve in their thinking over time, often by being confronted with a reality they never thought possible in their own lives. Yes, it would be nice if all people started off from a place of total empathy for others, but that isn’t the way life works. And people like Brent give me hope for the future, as we reach one person at a time (that, after all, is how we got to marriage equality).
So, thank you, Brent, for sharing your story with the world. And may it be heralded far and wide so that others may be helped as you were.
And, oh yeah, thank you President Obama and all the Democratic lawmakers who played a part in saving Brent’s life — and the lives of so many others. You really don’t get the recognition you deserve.
The speech starts at 17:00.