dxo481-blog

[dxo481-blog]

Daily Comic Book Recommendation #22: Superman: Secret Identity #shorts #...

[dxo481-blog]

From Illegal Alien to Brian Surgeon

On this day seven years ago I was heading to Johns Hopkins to have neurosurgery. Going into that surgery I had complete faith I would be walking out of the hospital healthy in just a few short days. It was not a faith in God or a higher power, but rather a man Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa. I was fortunate to have one of the world’s best neuroscientists performing my surgery, and even more amazed when I learned his story. Dr. Q is the embodiment of the American dream. A dream that causes many to come here in hopes of a better life. At the age of 19, he had the courage or some may say the audacity to break the law and come into this country illegally. Despite knowing no English when he came he was able to work his way from the farms of Fresno, California to being accepted to Harvard Medical School. I do not know if it is a case of twisted irony but as I look at our government’s current shutdown I cannot feel anything but shame for where we find ourselves as a country. That instead of looking at the life of Dr. Q and countless others as an inspiration to what makes our country great, we give in to fear and hatred for the sake for a false sense of security. Now I do not live under the fallacy that Dr. Q’s story is the norm or even repeatable, and yes there is great importance in protecting our borders in ways that make sense–something a massive wall would not do. It would be nothing more than a physical representation of the idiocy of solving fictional problems with astronomically expensive solutions. If we truly want to solve a national crisis why not start with ensuring that no matter someone’s social economic status they are able to afford a renowned neurosurgeon or whatever care they need to simply stay alive. So individuals do not need to rely on the kindness of others to avoid bankruptcy to pay for medical expenses. Why not spend the time, ingenuity, and money to ensure something like Flint’s water crisis does not happen again. How about fixing our crumbling schools so kids do not need to wear winter jackets to learn because they do not have proper heat. Why not see what can be done to prevent the next Sandy Hook, Pulse Night Club, Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Stoneman Douglas, or Thousand Oaks shooting from occurring. A great man once said, “We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men”. As we find ourselves in another age of unreason, when truth is ignored for the sake of alternative facts this is the time to speak truth to power. To not allow a man to destroy the fabric of what lead a young kid from Mexicali, Mexico to come here for a better life. I can tell you the day my life was literally in his hands I was grateful he made the choice to jump that fence. All a wall would do is make that jump a little higher.

[dxo481-blog]

From Illegal Alien to Brian Surgeon

On this day seven years ago I was heading to Johns Hopkins to have neurosurgery. Going into that surgery I had complete faith I would be walking out of the hospital healthy in just a few short days. It was not a faith in God or a higher power, but rather a man Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa. I was fortunate to have one of the world’s best neuroscientists performing my surgery, and even more amazed when I learned his story. Dr. Q is the embodiment of the American dream. A dream that causes many to come here in hopes of a better life. At the age of 19, he had the courage or some may say the audacity to break the law and come into this country illegally. Despite knowing no English when he came he was able to work his way from the farms of Fresno, California to being accepted to Harvard Medical School. I do not know if it is a case of twisted irony but as I look at our government’s current shutdown I cannot feel anything but shame for where we find ourselves as a country. That instead of looking at the life of Dr. Q and countless others as an inspiration to what makes our country great, we give in to fear and hatred for the sake for a false sense of security. Now I do not live under the fallacy that Dr. Q’s story is the norm or even repeatable, and yes there is great importance in protecting our borders in ways that make sense--something a massive wall would not do. It would be nothing more than a physical representation of the idiocy of solving fictional problems with astronomically expensive solutions. If we truly want to solve a national crisis why not start with ensuring that no matter someone’s social economic status they are able to afford a renowned neurosurgeon or whatever care they need to simply stay alive. So individuals do not need to rely on the kindness of others to avoid bankruptcy to pay for medical expenses. Why not spend the time, ingenuity, and money to ensure something like Flint’s water crisis does not happen again. How about fixing our crumbling schools so kids do not need to wear winter jackets to learn because they do not have proper heat. Why not see what can be done to prevent the next Sandy Hook, Pulse Night Club, Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Stoneman Douglas, or Thousand Oaks shooting from occurring. A great man once said, “We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men”. As we find ourselves in another age of unreason, when truth is ignored for the sake of alternative facts this is the time to speak truth to power. To not allow a man to destroy the fabric of what lead a young kid from Mexicali, Mexico to come here for a better life. I can tell you the day my life was literally in his hands I was grateful he made the choice to jump that fence. All a wall would do is make that jump a little higher.