Song of the Day: "Wish You Were Here" - Pink Floyd

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 23:09.

In two days, November 14, it will be a year since Ed Hauser died unnecessarily, for lack of adequate public healthcare in America.

A year ago today, Ed's death could have been prevented, if he had access to better preventative healthcare, along the way... doctors visits, testing, and warning about a broken heart.

A year ago today, knowing he had access to good, free emergency care, Ed could have probably prevented his own death, even when under attack, by knowing he had a medical condition, being educated about warning signs, and by going to the hospital a few hours earlier than he did, at that 911 moment when all was lost.

For this loss, friends and family have been devastated, and a community lost a great living leader, all due to poverty and a lack of good public healthcare in the community Ed served so well.

I wonder, is there anything about the current healthcare reform movement - about legislation passed so far - that would have prevented Ed's death, a year ago today...

Could we have prevented Ed's painful final days, and death, and an eternity of loss for so many friends, and the region.

Don't wait to think about it until it is too late.

Ed, I'm so sorry you suffered and died unnecessarily - I wish you were here.

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have you found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here. 

Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

 

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broken heart

Submitted by Susan Miller on Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:03.

Thanks Norm for this tune. Thanks for kicking down the barrier I have been mending for the last few weeks as the weather turned cold and I remembered receiving the call from Martha telling me that Ed had died. I needed that good cry.

As corruption schemes are unraveling, indictments are moving through the courts, port bosses are moving through and on, medmart is playing roulette with our tax dollars and county government is changing to a new structure, Ed would have been busy making it from one meeting to the next with his portfolio, his papers and his camera. But Ed died, as you put it so well, of a broken heart.

His idealism and altruism and his determination were strong, but not strong enough to weather 10 years of disregard, humiliation and greed driven stupidity dished out to him by numerous elected and appointed officials.

We miss you Ed. No one comes close.