From: dblakele@hercules.acpub.duke.edu
Newsgroups: soc.motss
Subject: Inequities and Intolerance
Keywords: advice
Date: 26 Aug 92 12:53:26 GMT
Organization: Duke University; Durham, N.C.
Originator: dblakele@raphael.acpub.duke.edu

I think in the recent brouhaha over redefining masculine roles
and self-imposed barriers because of perceived internal and 
external bias one particular thought comes to mind.  The world
we live in is, or has become, a dangerous and fragile place.

Things are changing at a frenetic pace and old political orders
are desparately trying to cling in place to their archaic ideals.
One doesn't have to be blind to that fact by simply looking past
this current electronic turmoil to the situations in Iraq, 
Yugoslavia and the current US presidential race.  We've had
wonderful opportunities around the world for change with the 
fall of communism, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the release of
Nelson Mandela, and the whole spectrum of civil rights that have
been enacted in the US.  

Yet, with change has come fear.  And with that fear there is a
growing movement to become rigid, to backpedal and to become stagnant.

One of the things that one is taught while becoming a physician
is to cherish life in all of its diversity while also making the
difficult realization that death is also part of the natural circle
of life.  However, during that training process one becomes short-
sighted of the world around us.  It becomes easy to focus too much
on the comforting surroundings of the inpatient ward because it is
a place that can be ultimately mastered.  With that mastery and
myopia can come a particular kind of conceit that all of the world
is well because it has come under control.   Once residency is 
completed, though the harsher realities of life have to be confronted.
The hospital is left behind and the community is joined and change
is at hand.

Too often in my private practice with the indigent of south Columbus,
Ohio I was dealing on a minute to minute basis with the inequities of
our system.  These were good and wonderful people who had been cast
out because of discrimination due to race, age and sexual preference.
One can't help but be touched by this.  One also couldn't but help to
notice, though, the other mass of people in our neighborhood around
the clinic who had given up.  For generations they had given up the
struggle for self-determination and drifted along from one day to the
next and teaching their young to do the same with a perpetuation of
a closed mindset.

Now, I'm at the ivory tower again studying biostatistics and pursuing
health policy developement and I can't forget what I learned last year.
I'm still working with people who have been discriminated by the system,
but this time it's primarily due to age.  I enjoy VA medicine because I
can take care of the people I want to.

One might ask why this is being brought up on soc.motss.  There is a 
point in this.  I'm tired of standing back and watching what's 
happening to those around me and the inequities that are heaped upon
them.  This is a group representing the idea that they are different
from the cultural norms.  This is a group who are defying those around
them.  This is a group who feels that they are normal human beings and
entitled to be concerned about everyday things--healthcare, housing and
job security.  This is a group who is trying to educate those around
them that they have dignity and purpose.  This is a group who are
trying the enact a paradigm shift, but threaten the present power 
structure and their rigid ideals thus bringing a backlash against 
them.

All I am seeking is some simple advice.  How does one advocate tolerance
to those around them?  How does one say that a racist, sexist, or gay-
bashing "joke" is a cruel and viscious weapon?  How does one work for
change?  You have lived through what I'm only recently developing an
awareness of.  There is a wonderful diversity in our existence in many
different ways.  This is a forum where that diversity is vigorously
debated on a daily basis.  Share some of that wisdom you have gained
in your own existence.

Peace
-- 
| Dean D Blakeley, MD            |  This ain't no party.  This ain't no disco |
| Ambulatory Care Service (11C)  |  This ain't no fooling around.             |
| Durham VA Medical Center       |  - David Byrne                             |
| Durham NC 27705                |  NeXTMail accepted                         |