justice: October 2007 Archives
Have mercy, been waitin' for the bus all day.In the Chicago area, riders may be waiting a bit longer for the bus. In fact, depending on where they're waiting, it could be months... or years. Deep service cuts are about to take effect due to a lack of funding for public transportation.
Have mercy, been waitin' for the bus all day. - "Waitin' for the Bus", Gibbons, Hill
Continue reading Waitin' for the Bus.
When Tyra Hunter was 24 years old, she was riding in a car in Washington, D.C. Her car was broadsided by another car.
She was knocked unconscious due to the collision, but regained consciousness by the time emergency crews arrived. She was still dazed and had respiration problems because some of her teeth had been knocked into her airway.The paramedics went to work on Tyra, but in assessing the injuries they discovered she had male genitals.
At this point, one of the caregivers said "This ain't no bitch. It's a nigger. He's got a dick and balls." The paramedics ceased treating Tyra and instead laughed and joked about her while onlookers demanded they get back to work on her.
Later, after treating another injured passenger, other emergency workers found Tyra gagging and trying to move away from the insulting paramedics. Finally, a supervisor demanded that her airway be cleared.
In addition to these insults and lack of care, she was received at the hospital as "John Doe", given a contraindicated medication, and was not given blood that had been ordered for her. She died from lack of oxygen in her blood.
This is the kind of health care some transgender persons can expect. Value judgments can override common decency and mercy - and the basic job requirements. Amazingly, the District of Columbia defended the paramedics on the basis of their first amendment rights to free speech.
Time and again, I come back to what Jesus taught about how we treat others: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". "Love your neighbor as yourself" . The parable of the Good Samaritan, in which the person who acted as a neighbor to a victimized person was the one who didn't even get along with people of his kind. The parable of the sheep and the goats, where Jesus says that as you do to others, you do to him.
And yet, this is what we can expect from some of the people who choose a career in caring for others.
This is not how to do health care.
This is not how to do emergency care.
This is not how to be a Christian.
This is not how to be a human being.
Whatever one's opinion of transgender people, they are people. There is no excuse for allowing people to suffer while we laugh.
My prayer is that the paramedics learn to care for all others, and that they do not need to experience what Tyra did in order to learn it. I would not wish that on my enemies - because I love them.
Trial notes: http://www.gpac.org/im/tyra/tyindex.html
Remembering our dead: http://www.gender.org/remember/.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is November 20.
At this point, one of the caregivers said "This ain't no bitch. It's a nigger. He's got a dick and balls." The paramedics ceased treating Tyra and instead laughed and joked about her while onlookers demanded they get back to work on her.
Later, after treating another injured passenger, other emergency workers found Tyra gagging and trying to move away from the insulting paramedics. Finally, a supervisor demanded that her airway be cleared.
In addition to these insults and lack of care, she was received at the hospital as "John Doe", given a contraindicated medication, and was not given blood that had been ordered for her. She died from lack of oxygen in her blood.
This is the kind of health care some transgender persons can expect. Value judgments can override common decency and mercy - and the basic job requirements. Amazingly, the District of Columbia defended the paramedics on the basis of their first amendment rights to free speech.
Time and again, I come back to what Jesus taught about how we treat others: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". "Love your neighbor as yourself" . The parable of the Good Samaritan, in which the person who acted as a neighbor to a victimized person was the one who didn't even get along with people of his kind. The parable of the sheep and the goats, where Jesus says that as you do to others, you do to him.
And yet, this is what we can expect from some of the people who choose a career in caring for others.
This is not how to do health care.
This is not how to do emergency care.
This is not how to be a Christian.
This is not how to be a human being.
Whatever one's opinion of transgender people, they are people. There is no excuse for allowing people to suffer while we laugh.
My prayer is that the paramedics learn to care for all others, and that they do not need to experience what Tyra did in order to learn it. I would not wish that on my enemies - because I love them.
Trial notes: http://www.gpac.org/im/tyra/tyindex.html
Remembering our dead: http://www.gender.org/remember/.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is November 20.
The City of Chicago has awarded $14 million to a man who accused two Chicago Police Department officers of doing a "cavity search" using a screwdriver, causing internal injuries. While the officers claimed innocence, they could not explain the presence of screwdrivers in the glovebox of the police car, not the presence of fecal matter in the glovebox.
Meanwhile, a New Jersey woman was followed by a car registered to a company that doesn't exist. The Postmaster of the town in which the car is registered cannot comment because "it's a sensitive matter".
Are these our public servants?
It's certainly not the way I understand service.
While the disciples argued over who would be the greatest, or requested the favor of sitting at the left and right hands of Jesus, Jesus told his followers that the greatest would be the least, and the least: greatest. Jesus's own humility in serving the disciples - demonstrating hospitality to his own followers - shows his own ability to be a servant.
True servants do not spy on those they serve. Those who do right do not hide in shadows - or behind post office boxes for companies that don't exist. And true servants are not cruel, and do not seek to debase those they serve - even if such a person is a suspect.
The heart of service is in respect and in love. If we love one another, we will respect each other. Jesus taught his followers to even love their enemies - how much more should we love those of whom we only have suspicion?
References:
Meanwhile, a New Jersey woman was followed by a car registered to a company that doesn't exist. The Postmaster of the town in which the car is registered cannot comment because "it's a sensitive matter".
Are these our public servants?
It's certainly not the way I understand service.
While the disciples argued over who would be the greatest, or requested the favor of sitting at the left and right hands of Jesus, Jesus told his followers that the greatest would be the least, and the least: greatest. Jesus's own humility in serving the disciples - demonstrating hospitality to his own followers - shows his own ability to be a servant.
True servants do not spy on those they serve. Those who do right do not hide in shadows - or behind post office boxes for companies that don't exist. And true servants are not cruel, and do not seek to debase those they serve - even if such a person is a suspect.
The heart of service is in respect and in love. If we love one another, we will respect each other. Jesus taught his followers to even love their enemies - how much more should we love those of whom we only have suspicion?
References:
- http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Cityroom_Read.aspx?storyID=13705
- http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Cityroom_Read.aspx?storyID=13731
- http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Cityroom_Read.aspx?storyID=13741
- http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Cityroom_Read.aspx?storyID=13767
- http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Cityroom_Read.aspx?storyID=13917
- http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Cityroom_Read.aspx?storyID=13999
- http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Cityroom_Read.aspx?storyID=14060
- http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nyroc245387882sep24,0,1911059,full.story
- http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2007/09/is-that-wiretap.html
