The meeting started out with me getting there about 3:30. I was at the beginning of the line, but was not the first. Quickly people began lining up behind me. It didn't take long before I realized that in this small instance Glen Beck was right, "They" surrounded "me."
Yes, I was surrounded by folks who were against health care reform. Not only were they against health care reform but they were folks who were convinced the country was sliding into tyranny, fascism and that the federal government could not be trusted.
It didn't take long for the debate between them and me to start. (Hey, I even kept my "What was Jesus's Profit Margin? Public Option Now!" sign covered.) For the next hour and half I debated with a councilman from Seymour about why health care should not be a commodity. I argued that the bottom line should not determine who lives and who dies.
At one point, after hearing the canard "Why do you trust the government?" one too many times I had to explode, "Because I don't believe my government is my enemy! I didn't believe it was my enemy when George Bush was in office either. I thought it was wrong and sought to change its course but I didn't believe it was my enemy!"
I still fail to see how a man who is a councilman attending a townhall meeting debating health care reform feels like he is losing his rights and the examples he gives is because he can't take a gun to the airport or that the fairness doctrine might come back.
If I thought this was the worst. I was wrong.
Eventually they let us in to the auditorium. Quickly I separated myself from the group with whom I'd been in line. I just couldn't take it anymore.
I found my way to the forth row stage right. Good call on my part. Eventually I was surrounded by mostly the Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan (HCHP).
I called my brother several times to find out whether or not he was going to make it to the meeting. In one of the phone calls I asked, "If I get a chance to speak, should I tell our story or ask a question?" He advised the story.
At 5:30 I still had a seat next to me. I called my brother to ask if he could make it. I was still feeling emotionally drained and beat up. He said he'd turn around and be there. He got there just as the meeting started.
I have to say Rep. Hill did a pretty good job of keep order for the most part. Still there was a lot of heat coming from both sides of the issue.
Hill randomly selected people to ask their questions. Sometimes it was the question and sometimes it was the answer that provoked the crowds response. Sometimes, as in the case of Dr. Stone from HCHP, it was just the person (he got such an overwhelming round of applause Hill joked that he wasn't allowed to run for congress).
Then it happened. Hill pointed to me. I had my chance to speak. I stood up and was given the mic. I started with thanking Rep. Hill for the meeting then I said, "I want to share a story."
That's when I was soundly and LOUDLY booed! Booed so loud and so long Hill had to get control and admonish the audience to let me speak.
I come from a working class family. I watched my mother fight MS most of her life and my big brother was at my side. I was not going to be intimidated.
Though the waves of hostility were unexpected and hurtful I stood silently until they passed. Then I began (doing my best to restate it just as I told last night though may not be verbatim):
"Rep. Hill you said this fight for health care has been going on a long time. Twenty some years ago my family did everything right. My father had a job. My mother was self employed. We had insurance. My parents had bought their own home. Then my mother's MS had become too bad where she needed 24 hour care. My father went to three different lawyers who all told them the same thing, 'Sir you have a choice. Divorce your wife, abandon her, or lose everything you have now and everything you will have and your ability to help your kids.' My brother was already starting college and I was in high school. My parents' divorce was finalized on my 17th birthday. My family was shattered so that my Mom could get on medicaid which provided her care for the next 17 years of her life.
Contrast that to my sister-in-law who is from Spain. When her family member with three young kids was diagnosed terminal they died in peace knowing their family was together. They didn't lose their home and the family wasn't burdened with health care bills. How in this country can we let this happen where a man has to divorce his wife of 15 years..the mother of his two children just so she can get the care she needs? Go ahead and boo me if you want..that's Ok. I've already lived through the pain."
Where I was booed at the beginning by those against health care..those for it stood up and clapped. I sat down and my hands were shaking.
I asked my brother, "How did I do?" He smiled and said I did ok. Then paused before continuing in that way only big brothers can do and said, "But the question really should have been 'what are you going to do keep this from happening again?'"
I smiled. That's my brother and that's just what I needed.
Later after the meeting, many wonderful people stopped and offered to shake my hand. They thanked me for my story. I was even asked to speak at a Bloomington rally for health care on the 12th. My brother wants to be kept in the loop on that too.
Anyway...that was my adventure. There's a picture of me debating while in line in our local newspaper the Herald Times. Apparently the whole town hall can be seen on the newspaper's website, if you have a subscription.
I'm not sure I'm going to watch it. I'm definitely not going to read the comments. I need a break.
SR
UPDATE: THANK YOU!
Everyone - thank you! Your response has been wonderful! I'm still a little of kilter (my co-workers are being supportive and watching out for me today). Your support is also helping..a lot!
I'm humbled by the rec's and the comments. Thank you.
I am recharging by listening to my Hope 08 playlist while working which includes Dave Stewart's "American Prayer," Lennon's "Power to the People," M. Etheridge's "Imagine That" and Jackie Wilson's "Your Love."