GRIEF GROUP TRANSCRIPT
SESSION 7
DATE: 10/20/2014
TIME: 06:31 P.M.
TOTAL IN ATTENDANCE:
15 ATTENDEES, 16 REGISTERED FOR ATTENDANCE
DURATION OF MEETING:
70 MINUTES OUT OF THE MINIMUM 60 MINUTES REQUIRED
*BEGIN*
DR KUVAAR:
HOW IS EVERYONE TONIGHT?
SEVERAL PATIENTS RESPOND OVER ONE ANOTHER
DR KUVAAR:
I HEARD A LOT OF POSITIVE COMMENTS. THAT’S GREAT. IT PUTS MY MIND AT EASE WHEN YOU ARE DOING WELL.
PATIENT 822:
YOU KNOW WHAT, THOUGH, WHAT ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE?
DR KUVAAR:
MAY I HAVE MORE CONTEXT, JARRON?
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
IS YOUR MIND REALLY AT PEACE WITH THE INJUSTICE THAT RUNS RAMPANT IN OUR STREETS? IT TAKES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY – BLACK PEOPLE USUALLY.
DR KUVAAR:
IF YOU MEAN TO ASK GENERALLY, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WISH I COULD HELP EVERYONE AND SAVE EVERY LIFE, BUT THERE IS MUCH OUTSIDE OF MY CONTROL. WHILE IT SADDENS ME AND SICKENS ME TO HEAR OF THE DANGERS THAT EXIST ALL AROUND ME, I CANNOT LET IT STOP ME FROM DOING THE JOB I DO FOR EVERY STUDENT THAT REQUIRES MY SERVICES.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
SO YOU DON’T CARE THAT BLACK PEOPLE – MEN AND BOYS JUST LIKE ME – ARE BEING SHOT AND KILLED BY WHITE MEN IN POWER? NONE OF THAT BOTHERS YOU?
DR KUVAAR:
THE RACISM THAT AFFECTS OUR SOCIETY IS DISTURBING. I WORRY THAT ANY NUMBER OF WELLS UNIVERSITY’S STUDENTS COULD BE THE NEXT VICTIM OF A HATE CRIME.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
HATE CRIME IS A SEVERE UNDERSTATEMENT.
PATIENT 621:
THIS IS THE MOST DISGUSTING DISPLAY OF RACISM THIS COUNTRY COULD KNOW, SHY OF PUBLIC LYNCHINGS, BUT IT ISN’T THE ONLY WAY PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE BEING SLIGHTED BY WHITE PEOPLE. DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS GOING TO BE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AS A MEXICAN-AMERICAN DOCTOR?
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY, ONLY AN A COUPLE OF HOURS AWAY FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO BE SCARED OF EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE. IF I WALK FUNNY, HOLD SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A WEAPON, OR TURN MY BACK ON A RACIST POLICE OFFICE, WHICH YOU CAN’T TELL BY SKIN COLOR BECAUSE THAT’S A PERSONALITY DEFECT, I COULD BE SHOT AND KILLED AND NEVER DO A THING WRONG. HOW MANY BLACKS FOLKS HAVE TO DIE BEFORE PEOPLE REALIZE THAT WE ARE STILL SLAVES TO A SYSTEM THAT DOESN’T SEE US AS EQUALS?
DR KUVAAR:
I CANNOT PRETEND TO UNDERSTAND THE DISADVANTAGES THAT YOU FACE FOR BEING PEOPLE OF COLOR. MY SKIN IS WHITE AND THERE ARE PRIVILEGES THAT I BENEFIT FROM WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING TO DESERVE IT. FOR THAT REASON, ALL I CAN DO IS BE AN ALLY AND CONTINUE TO VOICE THAT EVERY LIFE IS VALUABLE.
PATIENT 911:
HOW CAN WE BE GOOD ALLIES, THOUGH? I FEEL LIKE TRYING TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THIS BULLSHIT THAT’S HAPPENING JUST MAKES IT LOOK LIKE WE DON’T BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES. RIGHT?
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
THAT’S NOT WRONG, BUT IT’S NOT COMPLETELY RIGHT. ALL WE WANT IS TO BE HEARD, TO BE RESPECTED, AND TO BE SAFE. WHITE POWER AND PRIVILEGE HAS BEEN RUNNING RAMPANT IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE IT WAS STOLEN FROM THE GRIPS OF NATIVE AMERICANS. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN. WHEN YOU SEE RACISM – STOP IT. WHEN YOU SEE INJUSTICE – STOP IT.
PATIENT 621:
AND DON’T THINK THAT YOU ARE WITHOUT BLAME.
PATIENT 911:
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
PATIENT 621:
WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT, YOU MAY HAVE INTERNALIZED PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR THAT ARE BASED ON RACIST BEHAVIORS THAT YOU SAW GROWING UP, BEHAVIORS THAT YOU MIGHT’VE BEEN TAUGHT IN SCHOOL, CONDITIONED TO DO BY THE MEDIA. MANY WHITE INDIVIDUALS DON’T REALIZE THAT THEY’RE HARBORING RACIST THOUGHTS AND BEHAVING AS A DIRECT EFFECT OF THEM.
PATIENT 911:
HAVE I EVER DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE YOU FEEL THAT WAY?
PATIENT 621:
EVERY WHITE PERSON I’VE EVER MET HAS DONE SOMETHING TO MAKE ME FEEL THAT WAY.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
PREACH, BROTHER. THERE’S NOT A PERSON OF COLOR IN THIS ROOM, IN THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT HAS EVER MET A WHITE PERSON THAT DIDN’T DO SOMETHING THAT WAS RACIST.
PATIENT 621:
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T EVEN REALLY NOTICE IT BECAUSE IT’S BEEN NORMALIZED WITHIN THE AMERICAN CULTURE FOR SO LONG THAT IT MIGHT NOT EVEN SEEM RACIST AT FIRST.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
LISTEN, CAROLINE, DON’T BE OFFENDED, RIGHT? YOU’RE A GOOD PERSON BUT THERE ARE THINGS YOU DO THAT YOU CAN’T EVEN KNOW ARE RACIST. YOU EVER ASSUME A BLACK PERSON LIKES FRIED CHICKEN?
PATIENT 621:
OR THAT A MEXICAN ALWAYS EATS TACOS?
PATIENT 911 (CAROLINE):
BUT YOU JUST TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD ALWAYS ASSUME YOU WANT THE SPANISH FOOD ITEMS. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT INSTEAD OF TELLING ME THAT I WAS BEING RACIST? THAT DOESN’T SEEM FAIR.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
WAS IT FAIR TO ASSUME THAT SANTI PREFERS TO EAT MEXICAN FOOD JUST BECAUSE OF HIS RACE?
PATIENT 621 (SANTIAGO):
I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT IT WAS OKAY AND THAT I PERSONALLY WASN’T OFFENDED, CAROLINE, BUT THAT ISN’T GOING TO BE TRUE FOR EVERYONE.
DR KUVAAR:
IF I MAY INTERJECT, I WANT TO ASK CAROLINE IF THERE ARE ANY MOMENTS THAT SHE CAN RECALL WHERE SHE MAY HAVE NOTICED HER OWN PRIVILEGE.
PATIENT 911 (CAROLINE):
WELL, CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED IN CHICAGO TODAY, I DEFINITELY REALIZE THAT I DON’T HAVE TO BE NEARLY AS AFRAID FOR MY LIFE WHEN I’M WALKING AROUND TOWN. I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I’LL FIND A JOB IN THE FIELD I CHOOSE TO MAJOR IN BECAUSE I’M WHITE. WHEN I GOT SHOPPING FOR MAKEUP, I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER THERE’S A SHADE FOR MY SKIN COLOR BECAUSE MOST OF THE FOUNDATION AND CONCEALER IS MADE FOR WHITE PEOPLE.
DR KUVAAR:
THOSE ARE ALL GREAT EXAMPLES. IS THERE ANYTHING MORE PERSONAL THAN THAT?
PATIENT 911 (CAROLINE):
NOT THAT I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW. I’M SURE THERE’S BEEN SOMETHING.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
AND THERE’S YOUR PRIVILEGE RIGHT THERE. YOU CAN’T THINK OF IT BECAUSE YOU DON’T EVEN REALIZE THAT IT’S HAPPENING. PROBABLY DAILY.
PATIENT 621 (SANTIAGO):
HONESTLY, ALL I WANT IS FOR PEOPLE TO RESPECT ME BECAUSE I’M EDUCATED AND KIND. I WANT THE FIRST THING PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY SPEAK TO ME IS HOW I COMPOSE MYSELF – NOT WHAT I’M COMPOSED OF.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
ISN’T THAT SAD? THAT WE’RE AT THE END OF 2014 AND STILL DREAMING OF A TIME WHERE WE’LL BE EQUALS IN OUR OWN HOME?
PATIENT 401:
I AM SORRY THAT IT’S STILL THIS WAY FOR YOU. FOR ALL OF YOU, FOR EVERYONE THAT’S NOT EVEN HERE TONIGHT – IT SHOULDN’T BE LIKE THIS.
DR KUVAAR:
SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THAT WELLS UNIVERSITY TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY ARE MATTERS CONCERNING PREJUDICE OF ANY KIND. WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOLS TO BUILD A CIVIL RIGHTS SUPPORT GROUP THAT SENT STUDENTS TO MARCH WITH DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING. WELLS UNIVERSITY WAS ONE OF THE EARLIEST CAMPUSES ACROSS AMERICAN TO FORM A GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE. EVEN NOW, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS A SUPPORT GROUP FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.
PATIENT 417:
THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY MADE ME WANT TO COME TO WELLS UNIVERSITY OVER OTHER SCHOOLS THAT MIGHT’VE BEEN BETTER FOR MY MAJOR. THERE’S NOT AS MUCH PRESTIGE HERE, BUT THE DIVERSITY AND SUPPORT IS PHENOMENAL.
DR KUVAAR:
WHEN MY HUSBAND GOT HIS RESIDENCY IN WELLS, I KNEW THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE PLACE I WANTED TO WORK. THOUGH IT IS NOT ENCOURAGED FOR STAFF TO DISCUSS THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS, I FIND THAT MANY OF MY PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL BELIEFS ALIGN WITH THE VALUES AT THIS SCHOOL. IT MAKES FOR A VERY HAPPY CAREER AND A VERY HAPPY LIFE. I HOPE THAT YOU FEEL SAFE AND RESPECTED HERE.
PATIENT 401:
IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DREW ME TO WELLS UNIVERSITY. I WAS ON THE DEBATE TEAM DURING MY SENIOR YEAR AND WE WERE TASKED WITH DEBATING WHETHER WE STILL NEED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN AMERICA. IT MADE ME SICK HOW EASY IT WAS FOR PEOPLE TO SAY THAT IT WASN’T NECESSARY WHEN I SAW FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH HARDER LIFE WAS FOR MY BEST FRIENDS WHO WERE LIVING IN THE WORST APARTMENTS THAT SHOULD’VE BEEN CONDEMNED WORKING THE SAME JOBS AS MY OWN PARENTS FOR SALARIES THAT WERE INSULTING. I GOT JOBS THAT MY FRIENDS WERE TURNED DOWN FOR, DESPITE THEIR HAVING MORE EXPERIENCE. I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT BUT I WAS DONE BEING SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO WOULDN’T LISTEN TO ME. I LOST EVERY DEBATE BECAUSE I ALWAYS WENT OFF SCRIPT, AND WAS EVENTUALLY LET GO FROM THE TEAM, ALL BECAUSE I ALWAYS CALLED OUT THE INHERENT RACISM IN MY OPPONENT’S ARGUMENTS.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
THAT’S THAT SHIT RIGHT THERE, ISN’T IT?
PATIENT 621 (SANTIAGO):
DID ANYONE FIGHT FOR YOU STAY ON THE TEAM?
PATIENT 401:
SOME PEOPLE SAID I SHOULD’VE RAISED HELL ABOUT IT, BUT I WAS TORN. WOULD THEY HAVE SAID ANYTHING IF I HAD A DIFFERENT COLOR OF SKIN? WOULD THEY HAVE BEEN JUST AS QUICKLY TO ANGER IF I WEREN’T A WHITE GIRL?
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
YOU’LL NEVER KNOW AND THAT SUCKS, BUT THE PATTERN WE SEE FROM HISTORY IS THAT IT PROBABLY WOULD’VE BEEN THE OPPOSITE. WE CAN’T CHANGE THE PAST, NO MATTER HOW NASTY IT IS, SO WE GOTTA FOCUS ON THE NOW AND TOMORROW. HOW CAN WE START MAKING WAVES AND MAKING CHANGES?
PATIENT 621 (SANTIAGO):
WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND, DOCTOR KUVAAR?
DR KUVAAR:
LET’S TAKE A BREAK FIRST, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT WAYS WE IMPACT THE SOCIETY THAT WE’RE IN AFTER. I THINK WE’VE HEARD A LOT OF SERIOUS INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO PROCESS BEFORE WE CAN APPROPRIATELY ASSESS THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AHEAD OF US AT THIS POINT.
** BRIEF UNSTRUCTURED BREAK FROM 6:55 – 7:05 **
DR KUVAAR:
BEFORE OUR BREAK, JARRON BROUGHT UP THE FRIGHTENING REALITY WE’RE FACED WITH TODAY. THERE’S UNIMAGINABLE AND UNSEEN RACISM EVERYWHERE AROUND US. OUR CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST RAISE OUR VOICES AND BE THE BEST REPRESENTATIVES AND ALLIES WE CAN BE TO MAKE THIS A BETTER WORLD.
PATIENT 808:
I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO PAY ATTENTION TO HOW STORIES ARE BEING TOLD. I’M AN ENGLISH MAJOR AND THE LANGUAGE THAT THE MEDIA KEEPS USING TO DESCRIBE THESE INCIDENTS WITH ERIC, MICHAEL, AND LAQUAN, THEY’RE TRYING TO MAKE THEM SEEM LIKE VILLAINS. BUT THEY WEREN’T DOING ANYTHING TO PROVOKE THE EXAGGERATED ACTIONS. SO, I WAS THINKING, ONE WAY WE CAN CHALLENGE RACISM IS BY CHANGING THE LANGUAGE WE USE TO ADDRESS IT.
DR KUVAAR:
HOW DO YOU MEAN, SPECIFICALLY?
PATIENT 808:
WELL, WE SAY ‘RACISM IS BAD’ BUT SAYING ‘BAD’ IS TOO SIMPLE. WE HEAR ‘BAD’ BUT PEOPLE DO THINGS THAT ARE BAD AND GET AWAY WITH IT. EATING SWEETS ALL DAY IS BAD, BUT IT DOESN’T STOP ANYONE FROM DOING IT, NECESSARILY, UNLESS THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD REASON. SO WHY DON’T WE GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT AND USE A WORD WITH A HARSHER CONNOTATION TO MAKE OUR POINT CLEAR: RACISM IS INEXCUSABLE. NOW THERE’S NO WAY AROUND IT BECAUSE WE’VE LOCKED THE CONSEQUENCES DOWN BY DECLARING THAT THERE’S NO REASON FOR SOMEONE’S RACISM. WE, AS A PEOPLE, MUST BE BETTER THAN RACISM.
DR KUVAAR:
YOU ARE RIGHT. LANGUAGE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN POLITICAL AND PUBLIC MATTERS LIKE THIS, SO CHANGING THE DESCRIPTORS WE USE CAN MAKE A BIG IMPACT. THANK YOU, NADIA.
PATIENT 1002:
I WAS ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE GENERAL PROBLEM THAT WE’RE STARTING TO SEE IN THE MEDIA, AND IN THE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER. THE INTERNET HAS A TON OF INFORMATION ON IT, BUT THAT ACCESS HASN’T MADE US SMARTER OR BETTER INFORMED. ALL IT’S DONE IS CREATE A TREASURE TROVE OF INFORMATION THAT COULD BE TRUE OR FALSE. SO FACT-CHECKING IS GOING TO BE A VITAL PART WHEN DISCUSSING ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY WITH RACISM. PEOPLE DON’T THINK WE NEED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION? PROVE THEM WRONG WITH THE STATISTICS THAT WE CAN ACCESS WHEN WE GO SEARCHING FOR FACTS.
DR KUVAAR:
WHAT ABOUT FAKE RESOURCES? YOU SAID THAT THE INTERNET CAN HAVE TRUE INFORMATION AND FALSE INFORMATION. HOW DO WE DECIDE WHAT IS RELIABLE?
PATIENT 621 (SANTIAGO):
CONSIDER THE RESOURCE ITSELF. FOR FACTS LIKE THIS, IT’S NOT HARD TO FIND A GOVERNMENT RESOURCE THAT IS UNDEBATABLE. CENSUS STATISTICS WILL ALWAYS REVEAL THE TRUTH.
PATIENT 1108:
YES, BUT THE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO COVER A LOT UP, SO HOW CAN WE REALLY TRUST THE STATS THAT THEY’RE PUTTING OUT?
PATIENT 911 (CAROLINE):
TO BE FAIR, I DON’T THINK THE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY EXPECTS PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME TO EVEN READ THAT KIND OF STUFF. THEY’RE BANKING ON US BEING SO DISTRACTED BY THE GAMES AND WEB PAGES WE HAVE ACCESSIBLE AT OUR FINGERTIPS THAT WE WON’T USE THEIR PUBLICATIONS TO RALLY AGAINST THEIR CORRUPTION.
PATIENT 621 (SANTIAGO):
WHICH IS NOT ENTIRELY WRONG. HAVE YOU SEEN THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT OUR GENERATION? THE PEOPLE WE’RE GOING TO WORK FOR SOMEDAY THINK THAT WE’RE LAZY, ENTITLED, AND PAMPERED. MEANWHILE, WE HAVE A PAY GAP SO WIDE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN THAT IT’S WORSE THAN AN INSULT. THERE’S ALSO THE PAY GAP TO CONSIDER BETWEEN RACES, TOO, WHICH MAKES IT REALLY HARD FOR US TO LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF THOSE OLDER THAN WE ARE BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ECONOMY.
PATIENT 911 (CAROLINE):
IF I HAD A DOLLAR FOR EVERY TIME SOMEONE MOANED AND GROANED ABOUT ‘LAZY MILLENNIALS’ TRYING TO CLING TO THEIR YOUTH WITH SHITTY PART-TIME JOBS, I WOULD NEED A SHITTY PART-TIME JOB.
DR KUVAAR:
SOMETHING THAT I’VE SEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS AN INCREASED SOCIAL AWARENESS IN THE YOUTH. MILLENNIALS ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER AND GUARANTEEING EQUALITY – NOT JUST MAKING IT AVAILABLE – BUT MAKING SURE EVERYONE ENJOYS IT. I AM HUMBLED BY CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS BECAUSE USING YOUR ANGER TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IS PRECISELY THE THING THAT CAN HELP YOU HEAL AFTER LOSS.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT PROTESTS FOR THESE BROTHERS THAT DIED. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
DR KUVAAR:
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT PEACEFUL PROTESTS CAN BE VERY PRODUCTIVE. BUT IT IS MY KNOWLEDGE THAT A PEACEFUL PROTEST DOES NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEE SAFETY. CONSIDERING THE EVENTS THAT HAVE TRANSPIRED, I THINK IT WOULD BE RECKLESS TO IGNORE THE RISK OF DANGER WHEN ATTENDING A PROTEST.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
IT MAKES ME ANGRY THAT WE EVEN HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I COULD GO TO A PROTEST AS A VOICE FOR SOMEONE THAT GOT MURDERED AND THEN END UP DYING FOR DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT.
PATIENT 1108:
BUT DYING FOR SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE IN IS AN HONORABLE WAY TO GO.
PATIENT 911 (CAROLINE):
AND IF THEY KILL PROTESTERS THEN IT ONLY MAKES THE POLICE LOOK WORSE THAN THEY ALREADY DO RIGHT NOW. THAT WOULD BE UNWISE SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY INNOCENT OFFICERS WHO REALLY DO THEIR JOBS THE RIGHT WAY.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
THERE ARE TOO MANY OFFICERS THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR POWER FOR ME TO NOT THINK NEGATIVELY OF THEM AS A UNIT RIGHT NOW.
PATIENT 1108:
THERE’S ALWAYS GONNA BE A BATCH OF BAD EGGS, BUD. CAN’T DO SHIT ABOUT IT. JUST THINK ABOUT ALL THE GOOD BLACK PEOPLE THERE ARE THAT ARE PEGGED AS BAD BECAUSE OF THE HANDFUL OF CRIMINALS THAT MADE IT INTO THE SPOTLIGHT. OR ALL THE MEXICANS THAT HAVE BEEN BUSTED FOR CARRYING DRUGS OVER THE BORDER THAT NOW DEFINE A WHOLE RACE OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY JUST WANNA WORK HARD AND BE HAPPY. THERE’S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
THAT’S YOUR PRIVILEGE BLINDING YOU.
PATIENT 1108:
MAYBE, PROBABLY. BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT, YOU CAN’T FIGHT A BATTLE IF YOU DON’T CONSIDER THE REALITY YOU’RE FACING. YOU CAN ASSUME EVERY OFFICER IS RACIST, SURE, BUT YOU CAN’T MARK THEM AS YOUR ENEMIES UNTIL YOU GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO MAKE A CHANGE FIRST.
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
THESE OFFICERS ARE KILLING MY PEOPLE OFF JUST FOR EXISTING.
DR KUVAAR:
HOWEVER, KELLER DOES HAVE A FAIR POINT. IS IT HEALTHY TO GO INTO EVERY BATTLE WITH GUNS BLAZING?
PATIENT 822 (JARRON):
NO, BUT IT MIGHT KEEP ME ALIVE.
DR KUVAAR:
I DON’T NEED ANY OF YOU TO BE MARTYRS. WHAT I NEED FROM YOU IS THE WILLINGNESS TO HELP FOSTER CHANGE AND WILLINGNESS TO HEAL. WE’RE ALL GOING TO BE ANGRY IN THESE MONTHS AFTER LOSING OUR LOVED ONES, AND THE BEST WAY TO CHANNEL THAT IS TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.
PATIENT 911 (CAROLINE):
WE CAN’T MAKE CHANGES IF WE DON’T SEE THE PROBLEMS. WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN LISTEN TO THE LANGUAGE AND FACT-CHECK EVERYTHING WE TRY TO DEBATE. WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE RACISM SO THAT WE CAN START TEARING IT APART.
DR KUVAAR:
THAT’S THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE PROGRESS.
PATIENT 506:
I AGREE. IF WE’RE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS, THEN WE’LL HAVE TO SEE WHERE THE CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE. HOPEFULLY, EVERYONE HAS BEEN AS MOVED BY TONIGHT’S CONVERSATION AS I HAVE BEEN.
PATIENT 911 (CAROLINE):
IT HAS REALLY OPENED MY EYES.
DR KUVAAR:
I EXPECT A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN ENLIGHTENED TONIGHT. WE DIDN’T TALK A LOT ABOUT GRIEF, BUT I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTERED TO US, AND THAT’S ALL I WANT FROM YOU. IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO SPEAK WITH ME FURTHER ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING PRIVATELY, I’LL BE HERE FOR A BIT AFTERWARDS CLEANING UP, AND I’M ALWAYS AVAILABLE WHEN YOU NEED ME.
MULTIPLE PATIENTS SPEAK OVER ONE ANOTHER
DR KUVAAR:
ON THAT NOTE, HOWEVER, WE’RE WAY PAST OUR STOP TIME. YOU ARE ALL WELCOME TO LEAVE AS YOU PLEASE. I CARE ABOUT YOU ALL VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SAFE AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES.
CHAIRS SKIDDING ACROSS THE FLOOR AS PATIENTS EXIT
*END*
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Acknowledgements:
I did have Ouranose read over my transcript just because I wanted to be especially sure I got everything right on this one because of the serious issues that I address in it. Please give her art-and-writing blog a look if you have the chance because it’s very good and super fun!
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