In August, 1990, I was a 215lb 15 year old who could run fast, and all day long. By January 3, 1991, I was a 150lb 15 year old who thought that water was the greatest thing man ever learned about, drank any liquid all day, and pissed it away every 10 minutes. Three weeks earlier, I had taken a history mid-term, 100 multiple choice questions, 4 short essays, in under 25 mins - all because I was thirsty, and needed to use the bathroom (one of those exams where you had to be in the room until you were done).
My mother decided that I needed to go to a clinic to get checked out after she noticed that you could see my ribs. By the time we got back home from the clinic, they had called three times - my sugar was 486, and said I should get to the hospital right away. In my last 30 mins (the drive to the hospital) of "normalcy," I went out in style: a bag of sour patch kids, and 2 liters of Coke.
January 3, 1991 was a Thursday. I remember this mostly because most of the doctors from the hospital were away, skiing for the weekend. The first doctor came in and asked me who else in my family was a diabetic? "No one." "Oh," he said with a concerned look on his face, "well, do you have any questions?" "Will I be able to play football?" "That's your question?" I nodded enthusiastically. "Hold on." He left, and I never saw him again, but he sent in 2 residents, one from Notre Dame, and the other from Michigan, naturally, because I had asked about football.
"So, who else in your family is a diabetic?" they asked. I gave them the same answer I gave the first guy. "Oh," they said with the same look, "Do you have any questions?" I asked the same question, and they laughed. They spent the rest of their shift with me, talking football, telling me everything would be fine, and asking if I was sure I didn't have a diabetic relative. See, back then there was little evidence that it was anything other than a hereditary disease, so they didn't know what to say.
The next morning, the nurse practitioner assigned to me came to discuss things with me. Same questions, same answers. Told me I could leave the hospital after I met with the doctor, and learned how to give myself a shot, so, Tuesday, at the earliest. Then, she said what has turned out to be the cruelest, most unprofessional thing I have ever heard: "You don't have to worry, there's no reason to believe diabetes will be around in 10 years, so that's about how long you'll have to deal with it, 10 years." And now, 18 years later? Thanks.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
The GOP and The War to Come
Ah, "The GOP." I wish it still was the Old Party. I follow Chuck Hagel when he says that the party he signed up for doesn't exist anymore. Now, it's a bunch of freaks, religious right morons, and conservatives - leading it to become the conservative Republican party.
Unfortunately, there's different definitions of "conservative." There's economic conservatism, which the party believes in, then, there's "Conservatism." What that is, well, that's whatever some hysterical freak believes it to be.
I have been talking for awhile about how I used to be a Republican. Now, I'm and Independent - because I have absolutely no desire to belong to the Democratic party - "big tents" are just wrong. Why was I a Republican? Well, there was the 1984 election. Being a child and seeing that dominant sea of red flood the electoral map, the power was just something I wanted to be a part of. I am also loosely related to the late Silvio Conte. That man knew what it was about - people, the voters, and that's it. You don't need pork, you need to take care of your people - it really is that simple.
What the party has become? I really can't decide whether I agree with Newt Gingrich or not, but, back in the early 90s, he was on the right track. Build the party from the lowest local level up - the only way to make sure it was strong, and formidable. You tell that to a Republican now, and the response will be, "uh?" You explain that to Democrats, and you'll get, "why?"
I find it head-shakeningly amusing that Meghan McCain seems to be filling the role of the saviour of the Republican Party - not because she's a 24 year old female, not because the Party has fallen so far that this is the case, but because she is right, and they continue to fight or ignore it. She is right, there is a war coming.
The Party is being ruled by an out-of-date belief system - because the form of "conservatism" that runs it does not believe in evolving (what's the need?). The problem, though, is not that it's out of touch, the problem is that it will not listen to anyone - outside or inside (RINOs) the Party. You have an old man out there continuously attacking the Obama Administration - no, not John McCain, Dick Cheney. I read once that Cheney never ran for President because he realized he wasn't much of a people person. No shit. It's one thing for a wannabe 2012 candidate like Mitt Romney - Mr. Economics, though trying to fool you into thinking he has foreign policy experience - to be out there criticizing the Administration, but the recent former VP? How about some political etiquette? Al Gore could have made the Bush Administration look like an illegitimate farce, but did his duty and shut up. Turn that sneer into a straight line, and stop being a dick.
The thing is, tearing the Party down in order to rebuild it - the only true way to recreate something - may not be possible. Far too many moderate Republicans left the Party in the winter of 2000 - because of the incident in South Carolina. Who is going to bring them back in? Meghan McCain can try, and she is offering them what they need to hear, but who would expect the Religious Right, the Conservatives, to give up power? These people do not understand compromise - as their leader famously said, "You're either with us, or against us."
Would I be willing to help in this war? If I can see a string of thoughts and candidates that stop talking about values, virtues, and morals, and start talking about people, maybe. At this time, however, that seems like it will not happen until too late in 2012, and probably not until 2016.
Some of you may say, "good, they deserve it." Well, ask the people of MA how they like their one party system (and, no "liberals deserve it" comments - reddest state in the Union until 1958).
Unfortunately, there's different definitions of "conservative." There's economic conservatism, which the party believes in, then, there's "Conservatism." What that is, well, that's whatever some hysterical freak believes it to be.
I have been talking for awhile about how I used to be a Republican. Now, I'm and Independent - because I have absolutely no desire to belong to the Democratic party - "big tents" are just wrong. Why was I a Republican? Well, there was the 1984 election. Being a child and seeing that dominant sea of red flood the electoral map, the power was just something I wanted to be a part of. I am also loosely related to the late Silvio Conte. That man knew what it was about - people, the voters, and that's it. You don't need pork, you need to take care of your people - it really is that simple.
What the party has become? I really can't decide whether I agree with Newt Gingrich or not, but, back in the early 90s, he was on the right track. Build the party from the lowest local level up - the only way to make sure it was strong, and formidable. You tell that to a Republican now, and the response will be, "uh?" You explain that to Democrats, and you'll get, "why?"
I find it head-shakeningly amusing that Meghan McCain seems to be filling the role of the saviour of the Republican Party - not because she's a 24 year old female, not because the Party has fallen so far that this is the case, but because she is right, and they continue to fight or ignore it. She is right, there is a war coming.
The Party is being ruled by an out-of-date belief system - because the form of "conservatism" that runs it does not believe in evolving (what's the need?). The problem, though, is not that it's out of touch, the problem is that it will not listen to anyone - outside or inside (RINOs) the Party. You have an old man out there continuously attacking the Obama Administration - no, not John McCain, Dick Cheney. I read once that Cheney never ran for President because he realized he wasn't much of a people person. No shit. It's one thing for a wannabe 2012 candidate like Mitt Romney - Mr. Economics, though trying to fool you into thinking he has foreign policy experience - to be out there criticizing the Administration, but the recent former VP? How about some political etiquette? Al Gore could have made the Bush Administration look like an illegitimate farce, but did his duty and shut up. Turn that sneer into a straight line, and stop being a dick.
The thing is, tearing the Party down in order to rebuild it - the only true way to recreate something - may not be possible. Far too many moderate Republicans left the Party in the winter of 2000 - because of the incident in South Carolina. Who is going to bring them back in? Meghan McCain can try, and she is offering them what they need to hear, but who would expect the Religious Right, the Conservatives, to give up power? These people do not understand compromise - as their leader famously said, "You're either with us, or against us."
Would I be willing to help in this war? If I can see a string of thoughts and candidates that stop talking about values, virtues, and morals, and start talking about people, maybe. At this time, however, that seems like it will not happen until too late in 2012, and probably not until 2016.
Some of you may say, "good, they deserve it." Well, ask the people of MA how they like their one party system (and, no "liberals deserve it" comments - reddest state in the Union until 1958).
Religion
Now, the Deacon goes to church about twice a year - Easter and Christmas Eve. May seem strange since the nickname is "Deacon," but he can guarantee that he thinks about God, gods, faith, and meditation more than for just an hour or so on Sunday mornings, and probably more than 90% of church goers.
He had a few problems with the Easter service he attended yesterday. First, and most glaring, was the use of a spoken word video during the service in which a person basically shouted a modern sermon at the congregation while the words flashed on screens. Now, the Deacon understands that religion as a whole is striving to maintain its existence, and tries new ways to generate new members, but, if you are a recognized older religion, you are recognized as such for a reason. Leave it to modern, new-age religions to use multi-media forms to blind their congregations - if new members are attending your church, they are there for a reason, they know what they're in for, and are seeking it.
The sermon itself spoke of the Greek way of romanticising death, and the Hebrew way of thinking of it as a terrible thing. We were told that the Hebrew's were 'RIGHT!" and then, listened as the minister went on to romanticize the crucifixion.
Now, this is nitpicking, and personal preference, but the Deacon was also displeased that the preacher was wearing a microphone. Churches are built with specific acoustics in mind, and attendees go to them to be overwhelmed by a power - if you can't mesmerize a congregation with the strength of your un-aided voice, find a new calling.
He had a few problems with the Easter service he attended yesterday. First, and most glaring, was the use of a spoken word video during the service in which a person basically shouted a modern sermon at the congregation while the words flashed on screens. Now, the Deacon understands that religion as a whole is striving to maintain its existence, and tries new ways to generate new members, but, if you are a recognized older religion, you are recognized as such for a reason. Leave it to modern, new-age religions to use multi-media forms to blind their congregations - if new members are attending your church, they are there for a reason, they know what they're in for, and are seeking it.
The sermon itself spoke of the Greek way of romanticising death, and the Hebrew way of thinking of it as a terrible thing. We were told that the Hebrew's were 'RIGHT!" and then, listened as the minister went on to romanticize the crucifixion.
Now, this is nitpicking, and personal preference, but the Deacon was also displeased that the preacher was wearing a microphone. Churches are built with specific acoustics in mind, and attendees go to them to be overwhelmed by a power - if you can't mesmerize a congregation with the strength of your un-aided voice, find a new calling.
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