Comments on: Reflections on Social Reform While My Only Son Is In Surgery http://burnsidewriters.com/2009/12/07/reflections-on-social-reform-while-my-only-son-is-in-surgery/ Wed, 23 May 2012 16:22:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Bo White http://burnsidewriters.com/2009/12/07/reflections-on-social-reform-while-my-only-son-is-in-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-13674 Bo White Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:43:22 +0000 http://burnsidewriters.com/?p=7263#comment-13674 I appreciate the interaction. I indeed wrote the piece as a way to chronicle some thoughts while my son was in surgery (he has recovered well, by the way) and so some of the thoughts are rather incomplete, but accurate. For example, the health care debate does indeed involve many people who care deeply for their own children or even the children of others, but frankly, I don't hear much of that discussion. And as I sit in a waiting room feeling rather helpless, I can imagine the helplessness being amplified by those in this country and around the world whose children are subject to faulty systems, yet in the moment, as parents, we'd give anything for them to be healthy, happy, and whole. And Emily, you're insightful....my reflections were meant to try to summarize a myriad of emotions that seemed connected (Phoenix to Africa and back) and also, I was actually imagining what would happen if children were allowed to chime in on some of the public debates around the world, would we weigh their voice? On a global scale, it is no longer the norm to have two parents at home with their children and there is a particularly noticeable absence of fathers at home. As a dad, I simply am reflecting, whether politically or personally, if children could voice their opinion about many of the public debates, what would we learn? Are we making the world better or worse for the next generation and would the next generation agree with our answer? I appreciate the interaction. I indeed wrote the piece as a way to chronicle some thoughts while my son was in surgery (he has recovered well, by the way) and so some of the thoughts are rather incomplete, but accurate. For example, the health care debate does indeed involve many people who care deeply for their own children or even the children of others, but frankly, I don’t hear much of that discussion. And as I sit in a waiting room feeling rather helpless, I can imagine the helplessness being amplified by those in this country and around the world whose children are subject to faulty systems, yet in the moment, as parents, we’d give anything for them to be healthy, happy, and whole. And Emily, you’re insightful….my reflections were meant to try to summarize a myriad of emotions that seemed connected (Phoenix to Africa and back) and also, I was actually imagining what would happen if children were allowed to chime in on some of the public debates around the world, would we weigh their voice? On a global scale, it is no longer the norm to have two parents at home with their children and there is a particularly noticeable absence of fathers at home. As a dad, I simply am reflecting, whether politically or personally, if children could voice their opinion about many of the public debates, what would we learn? Are we making the world better or worse for the next generation and would the next generation agree with our answer?

]]> By: James http://burnsidewriters.com/2009/12/07/reflections-on-social-reform-while-my-only-son-is-in-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-13643 James Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:25:28 +0000 http://burnsidewriters.com/?p=7263#comment-13643 Emily, I think you are right in that the majority of this piece is about him and his son, and I agree it's deeply moving. Sadly, the fact that I have one question about what he meant in one short portion of the piece makes me look like that's all I am focused on, and it's not. For the record, my original comment was in response to this: "I think then of the current health care debate raging and wonder how many other parents have fewer papers to fill out because there is no insurance or if they choose not to come to the surgery center at all because they have no money. Would their little boys and girls be okay? Does everyone understand that these little boys and girls didn’t ask to be born into a faulty health care system?" Maybe I misunderstood what he meant by that. Hopefully he will clarify. Emily, I think you are right in that the majority of this piece is about him and his son, and I agree it’s deeply moving. Sadly, the fact that I have one question about what he meant in one short portion of the piece makes me look like that’s all I am focused on, and it’s not.

For the record, my original comment was in response to this:

“I think then of the current health care debate raging and wonder how many other parents have fewer papers to fill out because there is no insurance or if they choose not to come to the surgery center at all because they have no money. Would their little boys and girls be okay? Does everyone understand that these little boys and girls didn’t ask to be born into a faulty health care system?”

Maybe I misunderstood what he meant by that. Hopefully he will clarify.

]]> By: EmilyTimbol http://burnsidewriters.com/2009/12/07/reflections-on-social-reform-while-my-only-son-is-in-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-13636 EmilyTimbol Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:32:40 +0000 http://burnsidewriters.com/?p=7263#comment-13636 James, You don't always have to jump in on the defensive. He wasn't making any attacks on conservatives of big sweeping claims about healthcare, it was just an honest, moving piece about seeing healthcare from the inside and wondering about the children affected by it. It's not always about which side of the issue you are on. Just my two cents. James,
You don’t always have to jump in on the defensive. He wasn’t making any attacks on conservatives of big sweeping claims about healthcare, it was just an honest, moving piece about seeing healthcare from the inside and wondering about the children affected by it. It’s not always about which side of the issue you are on. Just my two cents.

]]> By: James http://burnsidewriters.com/2009/12/07/reflections-on-social-reform-while-my-only-son-is-in-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-13620 James Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:21:29 +0000 http://burnsidewriters.com/?p=7263#comment-13620 That was badly worded. Let's try it again: As a dad, I am moved by the story about your son. I am not sure what you are getting at with the health care reform comments, though. As one who is against increased government control of health care, I can assure you that people who take the same stance that I do on this issue are no less caring about your son, or any other person who needs care. That was badly worded. Let’s try it again:

As a dad, I am moved by the story about your son. I am not sure what you are getting at with the health care reform comments, though.

As one who is against increased government control of health care, I can assure you that people who take the same stance that I do on this issue are no less caring about your son, or any other person who needs care.

]]> By: James http://burnsidewriters.com/2009/12/07/reflections-on-social-reform-while-my-only-son-is-in-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-13619 James Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:20:10 +0000 http://burnsidewriters.com/?p=7263#comment-13619 As a dad, I am moved by the story about your son. I am not sure what you are getting at with the health care reform comments, though. as one who is against increased government control of health care, I can assure you that people whose stance on this issue are no less caring about your son, or any other person who needs care. As a dad, I am moved by the story about your son. I am not sure what you are getting at with the health care reform comments, though.
as one who is against increased government control of health care, I can assure you that people whose stance on this issue are no less caring about your son, or any other person who needs care.

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