A Weekend of Anniversaries
This weekend marks several anniversaries. One of these marks the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This is certainly a sad occasion, but it gives us another chance — besides his birthday celebration in January — to remember his sacrifice in the struggle for racial justice in America.
Many Americans were saddened by the King tragedy, but there were many others who were glad to see Dr. King die. Pathetic, but true. Just so no one feels left out, we could start a new national day of observance for narrow-minded zealots. It would be a cathartic and largely symbolic celebration in response to all of those people who do not mourn Dr. King’s loss. In the spirit of national and racial unity, I am suggesting we celebrate something I like to call, “Smash Walter Brennan in the Mouth Day.”
Why Walter Brennan? See my previous blog entry (Love Their Work, But...) Or look up Brennan’s biography on imdb.com. You’ll find some very interesting reading there regarding his political views.
Let’s put it this way: if Walter Brennan ruled the world, then Dr. King would still be riding in the back of the bus. This is the nicest way I could think to phrase it. Know what I mean...I think you do!
Okay, so my suggestion is a work in progress. Ironically, I doubt that Dr. King would approve of my idea. Peaceful civil disobedience was more his bag than violent confrontation. Also, it is a bit difficult to literally carry out the spirit of the holiday since Brennan died in 1974. Perhaps a virtual punching bag on a website somewhere could be rigged up for this purpose. My idea definitely needs more thought.
More importantly for me, though, this weekend marks my 20th anniversary working in the health insurance industry. Yes, 20 years on my Don Quixotic quest to bring logic and common sense to America’s health insurance. Twenty years of tilting at the windmills of pre-existing conditions. Twenty years of vanquishing nonsensical inequities (birth control – not covered; Viagra - covered; WTF?). Twenty years of battling any policy clause that defies logic (well office visit for women – covered in full; well office visit for men – sorry, guys, we’re on our own).
For those of you keeping score at home, I should reveal this: the health insurance industry has been winning these battles.
No matter, because I will fight on, confident that I will eventually persevere. In all honesty, the industry as a whole has been very, very good to me. I look forward to many more years of serving the clients, while striving to make the industry more responsive to their needs without jeopardizing profit.
Hey, how about “Smash David Duke in the Mouth Day”? This might be more practical...
Many Americans were saddened by the King tragedy, but there were many others who were glad to see Dr. King die. Pathetic, but true. Just so no one feels left out, we could start a new national day of observance for narrow-minded zealots. It would be a cathartic and largely symbolic celebration in response to all of those people who do not mourn Dr. King’s loss. In the spirit of national and racial unity, I am suggesting we celebrate something I like to call, “Smash Walter Brennan in the Mouth Day.”
Why Walter Brennan? See my previous blog entry (Love Their Work, But...) Or look up Brennan’s biography on imdb.com. You’ll find some very interesting reading there regarding his political views.
Let’s put it this way: if Walter Brennan ruled the world, then Dr. King would still be riding in the back of the bus. This is the nicest way I could think to phrase it. Know what I mean...I think you do!
Okay, so my suggestion is a work in progress. Ironically, I doubt that Dr. King would approve of my idea. Peaceful civil disobedience was more his bag than violent confrontation. Also, it is a bit difficult to literally carry out the spirit of the holiday since Brennan died in 1974. Perhaps a virtual punching bag on a website somewhere could be rigged up for this purpose. My idea definitely needs more thought.
More importantly for me, though, this weekend marks my 20th anniversary working in the health insurance industry. Yes, 20 years on my Don Quixotic quest to bring logic and common sense to America’s health insurance. Twenty years of tilting at the windmills of pre-existing conditions. Twenty years of vanquishing nonsensical inequities (birth control – not covered; Viagra - covered; WTF?). Twenty years of battling any policy clause that defies logic (well office visit for women – covered in full; well office visit for men – sorry, guys, we’re on our own).
For those of you keeping score at home, I should reveal this: the health insurance industry has been winning these battles.
No matter, because I will fight on, confident that I will eventually persevere. In all honesty, the industry as a whole has been very, very good to me. I look forward to many more years of serving the clients, while striving to make the industry more responsive to their needs without jeopardizing profit.
Hey, how about “Smash David Duke in the Mouth Day”? This might be more practical...
posted by todd gunther | 6:24 AM
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