Last week, Jimmy Kimmel shared with the world a tearful and emotional story about his newborn son and the health issues his son has had so far in his short life. In his 13-minute monologue, he acknowledges that his son would not have survived if Kimmel didn’t have the level of privilege, means, or healthcare he does, and urges his audience to think about whether the idea of shooting down universal healthcare is worth the lives of children, siblings, parents, spouses, and friends. His heartfelt speech was immediately met with this:
Former Congressmen Joe Walsh tweeted his response to Kimmel’s monologue with a level of anger and animosity that was reflected by conservative politicians across media platforms. My question is, how can your first reaction to a father’s testimony about the life of his newborn son be so malicious?
While I understand the want to stretch tax dollars as far as they can, I can’t rationalize allowing my fellow American citizens to become extremely ill or even die to save a little money. Developed countries all across the world, considered to be America’s peers, have Universal Healthcare for their citizens, yet the United States still doesn’t due to the efforts of the Republican party. How is it, that money can be more important than human life? How can many Republicans rebuke a woman’s right to chose abortion because the loss of life but consider a child already born out of luck if their parent(s) can’t afford adequate healthcare once they’re no longer a fetus?
Healthcare isn’t the only time apathy snakes its way onto the Republican party platform. A lot of republicans are in favor of significantly stricter immigration laws. I’ve heard Republicans I know and Republicans I don’t celebrate in the sentiment of building a wall and deporting all illegal immigrants currently in the United States. Not only would this move likely demolish our agriculture industry and severely cripple our economy, it would rip apart families from coast to coast. How can splitting households be a political selling point? I understand the desire to keep our country safe and requiring people to enter this country legally, but the answer is not destroying families.
Similarly, a common principle of the GOP is what is known as “traditional marriage,” referring to preventing same-sex or non-binary couples from being legally married. The Republican party claims to be the party of small government, but what about interjecting legislation into a marriage between two of-age, consenting individuals constitutes small government? How can so many Republicans support legislation that doesn’t affect them or their own marriages and lives in the slightest, yet de-humanizes and damages the lives of American citizens?
Now, keep in mind, I’m not saying all Republicans are bad, mean, hateful people, nor am I saying that they all share these viewpoints. Many Republicans I know are kind and caring individuals. But these ideals are present on Republican platforms at all governmental scales, even in the highest political office achievable in the United States of America. How can so much apathy be allowed? It’s also important to note that the Democrats are also not completely innocent either — no one is. Both sides, and everyone in between have lots of potential for improvement, but this is one issue I think is important to talk about.
I wish I could say the answer to all of these issues was easy, but it’s not. It’s going to take systematic change of the party, the American citizens and the opinions of the general public — and all of that change hinders on whether or not people even want to do it. For the sake of our country and everyone in it, I hope we do.
