Archive for the ‘Redhead's Reality Rants’ Category

You Have Got to be Kidding Me!

Thursday, October 11th, 2007

Imagine the scene: A toddler falls into the backyard pool. His mother discovers him, rushes him into the house and calls 911. Police and rescue workers arrive. As one of the officers tries to assist, she slips on the wet floor and falls hard on her knee, breaking it. As a result, the officer is out of commission for two months while she receives physical therapy. That’s a pain. However, the boy who fell into the pool didn’t fare as well. He’s severely brain-damaged, breathing from a tube and spending his days and nights in a nursing home. His family is, as you might imagine, devastated. Things couldn’t be much worse for them.

Oh yes, they could. Nine months later this police officer, a 12 year veteran with her department, decides her pain and suffering has just been too much. So she does what any upstanding American does in such a situation—she sues the boy’s family. Why? Well, I mean, really—they should have cleaned up that puddle of water from the floor. Didn’t they know the officer might slip and fall?

Ladies and Gentlemen…you have got to be kidding me. What was the frantic mother supposed to do? Haul out the mop since “company” was arriving to try to save her child? Maybe she should have brewed coffee and baked cookies, just in case the rescue workers got hungry.

The motto is “Protect and Serve.” Let’s look at that word “serve,” shall we? In police work it means putting the citizen’s safety above your own, and excuse me, Officer, but sometimes that means accidents (or worse) happen. I’ve never even heard of an officer suing because he/she was shot at a crime scene. But to sue because you fell down and went boo-boo because of a wet floor?

Our lawsuit happy society needs to get a grip. There’s such a thing as taking the responsibility that comes with the risks of a job…with the risks of living one’s life. I caught the flu last year, probably from someone sneezing and hacking in my doctor’s office. Am I going to sue that person? The doctor? The maker of Kleenex for lack of protection? No. Like the adult I am, I know that sometimes shit happens. That’s life. Try as I might, sometimes things go wrong…sometimes when you’re just minding your own business like that poor kid.

The police department has since placed the litigious cop on leave. They did the right thing. Now the complainant needs to drop the matter and move on. If she wants something to cry about, she should visit that boy and his family at the nursing home. She might walk away with something she very much needs: Perspective.

Bookmark and Share this Post
[Ask] [del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [MySpace] [Slashdot] [Technorati] [Windows Live] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in General, Redhead's Reality Rants | 4 Comments »

My Cross to Bear

Monday, June 4th, 2007

Jesus - Medieval VersionTurkey and I have engaged in quite a bit of pontificating recently about health care, doctors, and their maddening practices (or lack thereof). Today I introduce a new topic into the discussion, one that isn’t necessarily about doctors or their practices but one which cannot be ignored. In this case, “the clinic,” as I shall call it, serves as the backdrop for some of the most inappropriate and arrogant work behavior I have ever encountered.

First I want to make clear—a private business owner can do whatever he/she wants with his business (within the law). I understand that. So please don’t bombard me with arguments reiterating this. The right of the employer is a priori. But the thrust of this blog will be about the appropriateness of exploiting certain philosophies and beliefs in the workplace. In this specific case, I am talking about religion.

The staff members I work with are all of the Christian persuasion. How do I know this? It’s not hard. I overhear them talking about their churches, pastors, and biblical names of their newborns, ad nauseam. Not long after I began work there the owner of the practice remarked that while it was tough for him to have faith that his employees would correctly perform their job, he had no doubt that “Moses parted the Red Sea.” (He later acknowledged he had a slight control issue, but that’s another matter.)

At first, I didn’t allow all this holy talk to bother me. I liked the job, and for the most part, the people. The patients are all pretty nice, but lately I noticed they all share a similar quality. One day a pleasant young woman asked me if I had met ___________ at church. Uh, no. It then struck me that most of the patients go to the same churches as the clinic’s owners. I began to realize I was surrounded.

(more…)

Bookmark and Share this Post
[Ask] [del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [MySpace] [Slashdot] [Technorati] [Windows Live] [Yahoo!] [Email] More »

Tags:
Posted in General, Redhead's Reality Rants | 1 Comment »

Box Office Rip-Off

Monday, June 26th, 2006

Ah, summer nights. A time for leisure and relaxation. For having fun. Hot summer nights are made for going to the movies. Happy people hanging out. The air smells like hot dogs on the grill. The Fourth of July is just around the corner. It’s time to take your place in line at the box office to see the new thriller, romantic comedy or action picture. So, let’s go to the show!

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Well, it used to be. But the fun of going to the movies, I’m afraid, has come to an end. Why is this? Let me tell you about a recent Saturday night when my partner and I set out to see a movie.

(more…)

Bookmark and Share this Post