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A Boomer’s Journal

By Tom Anselm

Did you ever have one of those moments when you wish you would have spoken up about something, but didn’t, and later thought of all the great things you could have said? Well, I recently had one of those interesting encounters, and the good thing is, I didn’t regret what I didn’t say.

Here’s how it all came down.

I was sitting in a briefing session for one of the several jobs that I have been lucky to land since retiring.

This particular gig is for Washington University School of Medicine. No, I am not in an experimental drug study. That has been offered to me, but I said ‘no thanks,’ since I am so anti-meds that I am the guy who got a colonoscopy (my first!) this summer without anesthesia.

What I am doing is called being a Standardized Patient. It is a program where I get a script and a set of symptoms and have to act as a patient for a series of medical students. It is improvisational acting of a sort, and a real hoot, as well as a pretty dang nice payday.

So we SPs, as we are called, are at this table, on a break of sorts. It was the week when Pope Francis was in the US of A, and there was some table-talk of his positions. The Republican candidates for the 2016 nomination for President also were mentioned. One guy, a younger man in his 20s, allowed as to how sick he was of conservatives, the Pope included, saying they were ‘a joke’ because ‘they love the fetuses but hate people.’

Hmmm, I wondered. Where might he be going with this? Another guy, a bit older than me, sniffed and grinned, shaking his head. “Really, they talk about pro life, but don’t do anything for the children after they are born.”

Again, hmmm. But now, I could feel my adrenaline rising.

On one hand, I was amazed that these seemingly-educated guys could be so misinformed. Then again, I reminded myself that I was among a group of actors, and a lot of them probably don’t socialize with people who think differently than themselves. Kinda like neither do I, I thought. I remained silent.

There was a pause in the discourse. Then, a fellow across from me spoke up.

“You know,” he began, with a smirk, “all these conservatives… not one of them is concerned about what happens to people after they are born. All they want to do is cut social programs, not do anything to take care of people.”

Well, that was about all I needed to tip the moment. I took a deep breath.

“That couldn’t be further from the truth,” I said.

Crickets.   An even longer pause. Then, from the guy across from me… “Well, what do they do?” he said, looking at me.

I met his gaze. This was getting tense. I looked around the table. Several of the men were looking down, supposedly studying their scripts.

“There are many things that are done for children, and for all people. How about St. Louis U. Hospital? St. Johns Mercy? Missouri Baptist? All run by religious organizations. Catholic schools who educate kids of all faiths, or no faiths? Catholic Charities?”

He said nothing. “And have you ever heard of Mother Teresa?” I said sarcastically. My face was flushed, pulse rate rising.“Of course I’ve heard of Mother Teresa,” said he, with disdain. “But what do they do here? And no one wants charity.”

I saw this was going nowhere. But again, I kicked in.

“Charity is part of a name, a title for an organization that provides counseling, food, clothing, emergency shelter…” I stopped. It was time to resume our training. The discussion, if you want to call it that, was over.

Now, I don’t relate this story today looking for a pat on the back. Frankly, I surprised myself that I spoke up. I am normally Mr. Non-confrontational Guy when it comes to stuff like this. But later, as I told Jill about the experience, we realized there was so much more I could have and should have said.

We talked about adoption services, food banks run by churches and organizations all over the country, Cardinal Glennon Hospital, St. Patricks Center, The Salvation Army, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Birthright, Our Lady’s Inn for expectant mothers in crisis… oh, man, and so many more, faith-based and otherwise.

Ignorance, in the sense of meaning ‘not knowing,’ was very evident that afternoon. I just hope the next time something like this happens, I can do a better job in that defense.

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