last weekend mike and i watched michael moore's "sicko", a documentary on the US health system and how it is failing our community.
i know michael moore's work typically elicits boycotts and sentiments that he's evil...i don't dispute that his tactics can be "dramatic" and sometimes used for "shock", but it gets you thinking.
i actually felt this movie was not that dramatic (okay there were a few moments, but they were done in humor) it left me with a few thoughts:
* one, i'm thankful that mike & i have had the privilege to be qualified to receive health care. and that we haven't had to experience the many trials of our health care system. this movie made me more aware that this isn't a privilege that every american is granted. this grieves me. and then angers me.
* two, it makes me curious and motivates me to educate myself about the truths of our system. and to research the cons and pros of universal health system. he spends a lot of time highlighting other countries and their health care (in england women can get up to a year off when they have a baby...paid!!!!) i don't have a set opinion about what is the best solution but i want to be informed. especially being an election year.
* three, how does my faith impact this issue? over the past years we have watched from a distance how our country has struggled to address hurricane katrina, the millions of poor, homeless families, the impact of the war, and on and on. for a country that has such "wealth and power" why are things so broken?
interestingly when michael moore was on oprah he said "I'd like to call it Christianized medicine because this is what Jesus would do, right?" (in reference to making sure that everyone receives the medical care equally)
if you haven't seen this film i encourage you to consider it...you may not agree with it all, but it's an issue that won't go away. moore makes the point that regardless if you're republican, democrat, conservative, liberal, christian or not...sickness does not discriminate. if you choose not to view the movie then maybe find other sources to inform you about our health system
i truly hope this finds you well, healthy, and safe...
1 comment:
How funny, I also watched sicko that weekend. I think I scared the dogs because I was yelling at the tv. As lucky as I am to have insurance, it still angers me that I need to save for certain procedures. It angers me that prisoners get more comprehensive care that free, law abiding citizens. I really liked what the former parliamentarian said about the government being afraid if the masses protest- made me wonder why our government isn't afraid of us? why don't the masses here protest?
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