This item by James Vega was originally published on August 5, 2009.

Let the sick, the weak and the destitute be the first to arrive:

Let America see them enter the meeting hall

Walking on crutches
Rolling wheelchairs
Leaning on canes
Pushing walkers
Holding IV bottles
Carrying tanks of oxygen

Let the sick, the weak and the destitute be the first to arrive:

Let America see them

Holding high in the air medical bills they cannot afford to pay
Holding high insurance claims that were denied
Holding high pictures of family members who died…without insurance, and without decent care

Let the sick, the weak and the destitute be the first to arrive:

Let America see them.

Ask for the right to sit in the front …because the issue is ultimately about them.
Ask for the right to speak….without catcalls, booing or interruption.
Ask to be shown the respect and dignity they deserve ….but have been denied.
Ask if they need to shout to make their voices heard…. or if America is ready to listen.

Let the sick, the weak and the destitute be the first to arrive at the meetings on health care

Let America see them…..and then decide what kind of country America is and what kind of country it wants to be.