Doctor's Without Borders

Doctor's without Borders

This charity, of which most people are aware, has always interested me. The interest, in part, is related to the kind of environments in which these dedicated and humane volunteers work. Most of these 'hospitals', if I can use the word loosely, are total dives with little equipment and squalor unimaginable to someone like myself.  I can't say I have never entertained participating in some form or fashion, but just viewing pictures of victims or reading books by some of those doctor's who have served, is depressing enough. 

I suppose, in some realistic sense, much of this aid is hardly of the durable kind. I mean, these tragic medical cases---often children, do not exactly survive and return to a society whose environment gives them much hope for even the minimal of what many of us would call a tolerable existence.  When I recently received an invitation to attend a special presentation by several of those doctors who volunteer their services in some of these sad and dangerous places, I thought it would be some sort of emotionally moving and insightful vicarious experience. Plus, I was intrigued to see what kind of people actually volunteer for such dangerous assignments. In most cases the most dangerous thugs, of the worst imaginable sort, are not far away. We all know many such aid workers have been slaughtered for their efforts to help the 'wrong' side in vicious genocidal wars. 

I asked to bring a guest along, and brought a friend who has actually been part of those who sometimes go to give help after environmental catastrophes. It was a strange evening. I expected a relatively large crowd, but instead found myself in the board room of some prosperous organization located on the 43rd floor of Sears Tower (Willis Tower). It just seemed odd sitting in such a facility to hear this kind of presentation.  Maybe 30 people were there including the speakers.

For starters, I kind of expected to see Doctors who were young, brash, intense---you know, the kind of people who might climb dangerous cliffs, surf mammoth waves, rugged looking, dynamic personalities----the whole nine yards. That was hardly the case. As a group they were quite laid back, very ordinary looking, quiet, mellow, and in some cases, not much younger than I. I asked one of the older gentlemen, "When was the last time you were in such a situation?"  His response floored me: "This year". 

I guess somewhat disappointing to me was the inability of their talks to recreate, even remotely, the reality of the environments in which they found themselves. It just can't be done. It wasn't their fault, it is just that clearly one has to be there to really appreciate the depth of despair, futility, dangerousness, and frustration of such endeavors. The books I have read were actually a better medium for an appreciation of it all. For me, the eyes of the victims in these conflicts tell more than any words can convey. The eyes always haunt me. That could, after all, except for chance, genes, environment, etc. be me. Every time I see some ass hole like Trump brag about how he earned all his blessings I get the urge to see him be converted into one of these victims these doctors try so hard to help. On a smaller scale every time I hear some person wail against universal health care because their own health care is just fine---I just want them to be one of those without health care. Often times it seems those who use health care the most are the ones most against health care for all. Let's face it, we live in a world of contradictions, and all of us at times can be insensitive to the less fortunate. 

It was hard, at least for me, to ask any substantive questions, although the opportunity was there. What are you going to say? "Describe in detail the most sordid cases and circumstances you encountered over there. I want to personally feel what you felt at the time."  Or, "What percent of the people you helped will ever have a life many of us now live?. Or better yet, "Given the wealth and modern medicine available to those of us in affluence, how is it that there are more humans dying from starvation, curable diseases, violence, and pollution today than at any other time in the history of humans on our planet?". I guess priorities are everything. Dwight Eisenhower put it this way: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."

Enough, there is no doubt something sumptuous and just right for the palate resides in my refrigerator for me to munch on in my recliner while watching a movie. From the 11th floor in Woodridge IL all is well. Maybe a tad tired from a long walk, but you know, I just tough it out.