What Really Counts?

I go to my polling place and take care of my civic duty every election day. But to be honest, I’ve never had much interest in politics. At least not since the early 60’s during the Kennedy era. This year’s election is exciting to many people thanks to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. While I’m being honest, I have say that this election is also a big deal.

A few weeks ago I was sitting on the bench in front of my locker at the YMCA when two men started talking about the presidential primaries. Both said they were happy that senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were in a position to become the Democratic Party’s nomination. Both said that it was a good opportunity to vote for a woman or an African-American for president. The older man said he didn’t think the country was ready for a woman president. The younger man looking over at me, said, “I don’t know which one I’m going to vote for.” “It’s important that we be politically correct.” The older man said that if we elected a black president that would send a message to the world that we are “politically correct”.

I couldn’t help but wonder how that conversation would have played out if I hadn’t been sitting there. The younger man obviously felt that Hillary was a better choice than Obama but wasn’t going to say that in front of me in the name of being “politically correct.” Walking to my car I asked myself how many other voters are looking at Race and Gender when they decide who to vote for in this year’s Democratic Primary.

The purpose of a presidential election should not be to send a message to the world about how politically correct we are, but rather to select the person who is best qualified to address the host of issues they will face in the Oval Office. And it’s like I said before, this election is a big deal. It’s bigger than Race or Gender. It’s a race for the president of the United States, not the Downtown Kiwanis Club.

It is just as wrong to vote for one of them because of their race or gender as it is to vote against one of them because of their race or gender. This election should not be just about gender or race. The election should be about war and peace, the economy, health care, education, Medicare and social security. Their ability to be president should not be enhanced or hindered by their race or gender. Their ability to be president should be based on how they intend to deal with whatever is on their plate in the Oval Office.

Now on the other hand, if Race and Gender is such an issue, then it needs to be talked about rather than being reduced to what is “politically correct.” That is to say, we need to be able to talk about race and gender without forcing whoever brings it up to shut up, resign or be called a racist. I’m not debating whether what Geraldine Ferraro or Rev. Wright said was right or wrong. The point is nobody asked either of them what they meant. Instead they were denounced and we really didn’t learn anything. Maybe they were right, maybe they were wrong. Calling them a racist most always terminates a conversation instead of beginning one. Letting people actually discuss what they mean, what it means to them will serve to help us move forward to where race and gender matter less. Our obsessive sensitivity to race and gender will only improve when we acknowledge that ability and character are what really counts, and that race and gender really don’t.

Blessed

When you get cold the bones it’s hard to stay warm. As you can imagine, cold to the bones is worst than being just plain cold. When your skin is cold you just add another layer of clothes and you are good to go. But when your bones are cold it seems like the only solution short of sitting in front of a roaring fireplace is a hot shower.

Yesterday’s temperature topped out at 26 degrees, a far cry from our coldest days of 35 below zero three weeks ago. But at University Hospital it seemed a lot colder when I got out of the car to hand my keys to the parking attendant who now knows me by name. He asked how I was doing. I said “oh, so-so.” “At least you’re being honest,” he said. I didn’t say “so-so” because I was feeling sick, but more because coming to the hospital is a reminder that this is a place for sick people. “Will you need a wheelchair today, Mr. Thomas?” he said. “No, I’m only here for a couple of test,” I said. I thought to myself, “Why did he ask me that?” “Do I look like I need a wheelchair?” Another reminder to myself: “This is not the Sheraton, it’s University Hospital.

I was at the hospital to have a bone and tissue scan. It will be three years in July when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and almost a year since I last had the scans done. The vaccination research study I participated in ended last September. During that time, I had one stable PSA reading. Other than that, it has been continually rising. The object of the scans is to determine where outside the prostate the cancer has gone. Since my PSA is rising, the medical conclusion is that it will show up someplace. That it will either show up in my lymph nodes or bones. When that happens, we will have to decide a treatment plan. The most common plan is chemotheraphy.

One of my clinical doctors called this morning with the results of my scans. He said both were negative; that he believes that it is still too small for the scans to detect. Going into yesterday I had convinced myself that the cancer was going to be detected and it was time to put on the gloves again. But fterwards I was thinking that maybe there is a reason for the negative scans. Waiting from scan to scan makes me anxious, and at the same time, I am blessed because the longer the cancer goes undetected the more time there will be for new treatment options to become available. Chemo is no Sunday walk in the park.

I have always been blessed to come from a family of prayers, a family who believe in prayers. When I allow myself I can feel how strong the prayers have been and are. I want to let you know that the prayers do not go unappreciated.

With many thanks and love, I remain,

Lee “Harry” Thomas