I too was uncomfortable with the jokes and laughing reactions. Something that also struck me was how ironic it was that many of the people cheering on the murder also have shown zero empathy for some of us who have been battling insurance companies who deny treatment for our chronic diseases. I have have been denied coverage for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of treatments for my lipedema disease that progressed into lipo-lymphedema due to drs misdiagnosing me for 30 years... There is such a lack of empathy today. Many of the people who have bullied me the hardest about my disease, mocked me, called me a worthless or lazy waste of life who doesn't deserve treatment for my disease (because they think it's a joke or lifestyle problem) were suddenly mocking this murder and defending their comments by claiming to support those who are denied medical care 🤦♀️ Many people enjoy the excuse to be cold, apparently. I've talked to my daughter about the situation—How I can't stand insurance companies, but also don't condone murder. It's all very sad, all around.
I love this - and agree with every word. I have felt ill reading all of the celebrations of murder. Our healthcare system is certainly broken, and it seems like people have lost the ability to think critically and hold several truths at one time. No one person...even the CEO of an insurance company holds the burden of the US healthcare problem. And no one deserves to be shot dead on the street.
I share your alarm, Shannon. I found myself marveling—and not in a good way—that so many of our brothers and sisters actually condone the murder of this man. They see him as a symbol of an evil system and in that paradigm they negate his humanity. I think this is a very dangerous slippery slope and my guess is this isn’t the last we will see of such virulent anger. It feels like we are on the edge of a social breakdown; we are losing our sense of the social compact as we are beaten into the ground by corporate greed. I cannot imagine that a bilious, poisonous Orange BadMan administration is going to reduce the flame under our giant, simmering cauldron of hatred. I’m afraid of what’s coming and the rest of us should be too.
I agree with you. The facts that 1) murder is wrong and 2) we desperately need better healthcare in this country, are 2 separate discussions, in my opinion.
Thank you Shannon for this wonderful piece. Empathy is so lacking in people. I have unfotunately gone into financial ruins because of insurance denials when I was first diagnosed with a tumor behind my eye and then 6 months later with a brain aneurysm. I had such high deductibles and due to that all of my MRI's and other tests had to be paid out of pocket. I was not making enough money to pay for these so I had to max out my credit cards to pay. By the time I reached my deductibles it was time to renew my insurance for another year. Do nothing was ever covered by them and it ruined me financially. From that point on I never recovered becuase it was shortly after that I had to take early retirement due to all of the medical issues I was facing. And of course Social Security denied disability claims and my SS, due to taking early retirement was so minimal it was all I could do to pay my mortgage and try to survive. And this is where I am still at, struggling to just get by. But, through all of this, as angry as I was with my insurance company, I never, not even once would have considered going after them to the point of murdering someone because they have ridiculously high deductibles ot deny claims. I took that anger instead to be an activist for working to get the insurance companies to do the right thing. It's a ong process and I won't stop. They make billionf of dollars in profits every year because of their denials of claims. They are going against what the professionals deem necessary (the doctor's), and that has to stop. The doctor's of these claimants know better than the insurance company.
Thank-you Shannon! Another great post addressing the difficulties staying ‘human’ in the increasingly toxic online environment many of us interact with (too) frequently.
Extrajudicial killing is all well and good until people come for YOUR people. There are likely thousands of people out there who think my abortion doctor friends deserve the same fate as Brian Thompson. They don’t. If you don’t want mobs to decide the fate of your loved ones, reconsider your cheering of this murder
Thank you. Such an important piece. I have long believed that a lack or absence of empathy (in combination with ignorance) is the source of most social issues. "EMPATHY IS THE SUPERGLUE" should be a fundamental teaching in our culture. What greatly concerns me is the volume of individuals who appear not to have the capacity to empathize. To suggest that taking the life of someone who has studied and worked hard their entire life to achieve an executive position at a health services company is actually justified because of our suboptimal healthcare system is nothing short of cowardice. Improvements to the healthcare system (long known as a "sick care" system) should begin with improved COMMUNICATION as it pertains to disease prevention, the driving forces behind high healthcare costs, the relationship between premium and coverage, the 80/20 MLR insurance standard, and how insurance delays and denials can be reduced. Constructive efforts, as you say. Everyone has a role in the health status of this nation. Life is far too precious to take it away unmercifully, senselessly.
Excellent article Shannon. And so true. Retaliation is never the answer -- it only reduces us to the level of the perpetrator and makes us the same.
Thank you for your moral clarity, Shannon. This is what Michelle Obama meant by "When they go low, we go high."
I'll also add that as a member of a synagogue that families and communities like ours know too well what excusing violence looks like.
I too was uncomfortable with the jokes and laughing reactions. Something that also struck me was how ironic it was that many of the people cheering on the murder also have shown zero empathy for some of us who have been battling insurance companies who deny treatment for our chronic diseases. I have have been denied coverage for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of treatments for my lipedema disease that progressed into lipo-lymphedema due to drs misdiagnosing me for 30 years... There is such a lack of empathy today. Many of the people who have bullied me the hardest about my disease, mocked me, called me a worthless or lazy waste of life who doesn't deserve treatment for my disease (because they think it's a joke or lifestyle problem) were suddenly mocking this murder and defending their comments by claiming to support those who are denied medical care 🤦♀️ Many people enjoy the excuse to be cold, apparently. I've talked to my daughter about the situation—How I can't stand insurance companies, but also don't condone murder. It's all very sad, all around.
I love this - and agree with every word. I have felt ill reading all of the celebrations of murder. Our healthcare system is certainly broken, and it seems like people have lost the ability to think critically and hold several truths at one time. No one person...even the CEO of an insurance company holds the burden of the US healthcare problem. And no one deserves to be shot dead on the street.
I share your alarm, Shannon. I found myself marveling—and not in a good way—that so many of our brothers and sisters actually condone the murder of this man. They see him as a symbol of an evil system and in that paradigm they negate his humanity. I think this is a very dangerous slippery slope and my guess is this isn’t the last we will see of such virulent anger. It feels like we are on the edge of a social breakdown; we are losing our sense of the social compact as we are beaten into the ground by corporate greed. I cannot imagine that a bilious, poisonous Orange BadMan administration is going to reduce the flame under our giant, simmering cauldron of hatred. I’m afraid of what’s coming and the rest of us should be too.
I agree with you. The facts that 1) murder is wrong and 2) we desperately need better healthcare in this country, are 2 separate discussions, in my opinion.
Thank you Shannon for this wonderful piece. Empathy is so lacking in people. I have unfotunately gone into financial ruins because of insurance denials when I was first diagnosed with a tumor behind my eye and then 6 months later with a brain aneurysm. I had such high deductibles and due to that all of my MRI's and other tests had to be paid out of pocket. I was not making enough money to pay for these so I had to max out my credit cards to pay. By the time I reached my deductibles it was time to renew my insurance for another year. Do nothing was ever covered by them and it ruined me financially. From that point on I never recovered becuase it was shortly after that I had to take early retirement due to all of the medical issues I was facing. And of course Social Security denied disability claims and my SS, due to taking early retirement was so minimal it was all I could do to pay my mortgage and try to survive. And this is where I am still at, struggling to just get by. But, through all of this, as angry as I was with my insurance company, I never, not even once would have considered going after them to the point of murdering someone because they have ridiculously high deductibles ot deny claims. I took that anger instead to be an activist for working to get the insurance companies to do the right thing. It's a ong process and I won't stop. They make billionf of dollars in profits every year because of their denials of claims. They are going against what the professionals deem necessary (the doctor's), and that has to stop. The doctor's of these claimants know better than the insurance company.
Thank-you Shannon! Another great post addressing the difficulties staying ‘human’ in the increasingly toxic online environment many of us interact with (too) frequently.
Wonderful message and so true.
Agree
Thank you, Shannon. I needed these words and your voice after this week. I suspect so many more feel the same.
Shannon, Thank you for this wonderful piece.
So thoughtful, thank you!
This is perfectly said and sums up what feels like a sad minority perspective.
Extrajudicial killing is all well and good until people come for YOUR people. There are likely thousands of people out there who think my abortion doctor friends deserve the same fate as Brian Thompson. They don’t. If you don’t want mobs to decide the fate of your loved ones, reconsider your cheering of this murder
I look for all the shining lights of compassion and hope during this time. Thank you for your words.
Thank you. Such an important piece. I have long believed that a lack or absence of empathy (in combination with ignorance) is the source of most social issues. "EMPATHY IS THE SUPERGLUE" should be a fundamental teaching in our culture. What greatly concerns me is the volume of individuals who appear not to have the capacity to empathize. To suggest that taking the life of someone who has studied and worked hard their entire life to achieve an executive position at a health services company is actually justified because of our suboptimal healthcare system is nothing short of cowardice. Improvements to the healthcare system (long known as a "sick care" system) should begin with improved COMMUNICATION as it pertains to disease prevention, the driving forces behind high healthcare costs, the relationship between premium and coverage, the 80/20 MLR insurance standard, and how insurance delays and denials can be reduced. Constructive efforts, as you say. Everyone has a role in the health status of this nation. Life is far too precious to take it away unmercifully, senselessly.
Beautifully said, thank you.