Sunday, August 17, 2014

She just doesn't understand: A rebuttal of Ann Coulter's August 6 column

Conservative columnist Ann Coulter's August 6, 2014 column, entitled "Ebola Doc's Condition Downgraded to 'Idiotic,'" said many misguided and downright terrible things about not only Dr. Kent Brantly, but anyone, especially Christians, who chose to work in developing countries. There have been many rebuttals to her arguments, some of which were better than others. As I have been quite irritated with the column, I wanted to throw my arguments into the ring as well.

To begin, Ann wonders how Dr. Brantly feels since, according to her, he cost Samaritan's Purse more money than the value of his services with his transport home and medical treatment. Samaritan's Purse is not a federally funded agency. It is run by donations, and I very much doubt that the majority of donors mind that some of their money is going towards to care of Dr. Brantly. It is not something he should even have to think about. 

Ms. Coulter asks what the point is of going to Africa, and asks if anyone can serve God in America anymore. Gallup.com reports that in 2012, 77% of Americans identified as Christian. If this is true, the majority of Americans are serving God in America.If it had been a mass exodus of Christians to developing countries, as Ms. Coulter implies with her question, then the numbers would be much different.

She gives some statistics about the murder rates and other horrors in America. I don't think anyone would argue that America is far from a perfect country. Evil occurs right in our backyard daily. However, I don't think that serving in a developing country is denying the work that needs to be done in America.

Ann states that Dr. Brantly could have done the world vastly more good by serving in Hollywood and affecting the American culture-makers. While Dr. Brantly could have made a great difference working in America, no doubt, I have two significant problems with her statement.

First, in 2008 there were 262 physicians per 100,000 people in the state of California. If that sounds small, consider that in 2004, both Liberia and Sierra Leone had .03 physicians per 1,000 people. That translates to three physicians per 100,000 people. This is a clear and significant gap in services. In Liberia, 83.8% of the population live on $1.25 or less per day. In Sierra Leone, 51.7% of the population live below that line. This begs the question: if the people could find a physician, could they even afford services? There is a need for volunteers like Dr. Brantly to provide medical services to those who need them.

But the more disturbing element of Coulter's argument is that affecting culture change in the US is much more important than saving lives in Africa. Genesis 1:27 says "So God created mankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Everyone, from the power brokers in Hollywood to the poor child dying of Ebola in Sierra Leone, is made in the image of God. Everyone has immeasurable value in God's economy. And, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25.40). What is the point of working with people in developing countries? Everything. Every life is priceless. Who is Ann Coulter or any of us to suggest that one country or one life is more important than others?

Ms. Coulter asserts that American Christians go to work in developing countries because they are tired of fighting the American culture war. I assure you, the motivation is vastly different. Jesus asked us to go into all nations to make disciples (Matthew 28.19). Ann is right to say that this includes going out into America. She is wrong to assume that we should ignore everywhere else.

Ann says that our first loyalty is to our country, that we should "take care of our own first." But as a Christian, my first priority is to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness." (Matthew 6:33). This isn't to say that I am not a loyal American. This isn't to say that our country doesn't need help. I am, and it does. But God sends us as he chooses. My first loyalty is to Jesus, before anything else. And I will go where he leads, whether it be somewhere in the US, to a slum in India, or to the medical tents of West Africa.

Finally, Ann says that Christians choose to serve abroad because it's "heroic." I don't think Dr. Brantly, or the majority of Christians serving abroad, do so for attention. Would we know Dr. Brantly's name had he not contracted Ebola while serving the poor in Africa? Probably not. And I think that, if given the option, he would choose to serve quietly and unknown rather than be fighting for his life. In fact, the majority of the time, when a foreign missionary gains recognition, it is because of something unfortunate, such as being killed, being imprisoned, or now, contracting a deadly illness. Most missionaries will never achieve recognition in this world, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

Ann Coulter makes some valid points, as I expressed, but she fails to recognize the real heart behind the work of Dr. Brantly and all Christian missionaries: the wild, passionate, wonderful love of Christ. And that is the most sad thing of all. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

It's been a while . . .

A lot can happen in a year. And it's been over a year since I posted on here. At first I was busy. And then so much wonderful, difficult, exciting, and complicated stuff happened that I wanted to post it but then it just stressed me out and I hid away in my apartment and did not write. But I like writing, so I am going to try to get this whole shindig started again.

I could offer up a play by play of this past year, but I think instead that I will jump back into this blog game by offering some of the lessons that I've learned in my first year as a really real occupational therapist.

1) I really don't know much. I mean, like anything. You can see all the patients with total knees or hips or shoulders you want, but none of them are quite the same as the next one, and then there will be this person with a CVA who presents in a really complicated way and BAM! Back to the textbooks. And as much as you learn in school, when it comes time to treat a REAL LIVE HUMAN, things are much less clear.

2) Older adults don't seem to have many hobbies. As an OT, I want what I do to be meaningful to my patients, but when I try to elicit that information from them they usually give me a blank stare. I know there must be a better way to figure it out. I mean, people have to spend time doing something, right? But I've yet to find that golden ticket that evokes all sorts of useful hobbies that I can incorporate into therapy for the spectacular results that our textbooks laud.

3) It's easy to get jaded. I am a practicing therapist of barely over a year, but I have found myself saying "No, that will not work." or "She will NEVER participate." and things of that nature. But I don't want to be that girl. I really admire the therapists who set high goals for the patients. The patients might fail, but they will fail if we don't try. And that is important to remember, but so easy to forget. Every person, no matter how ornery or particular they are, is worth at least trying with. And maybe, maybe they will surprise us.

4) Toileting becomes VERY normal. And that's okay. It's just weird how quickly it becomes no big deal. And it's functional!

5) Tomorrow. Because today may have been hard, and my productivity may have been bad (I try really hard! But that average . . . oh that average stays just out of reach most months.), and people may have been crabby, but tomorrow will be a new day. And maybe it will be much better. I hope so.

I have learned a lot more, but I am tired and I don't want to go all in in my first time back on the blog in over a year. Baby steps.