Saturday 9 April 2011

Conversations with Deluded People

I didn't want to post this because it's a bit political but I was just so frustrated and I needed to vent.
Today is 9/4/2011. Earlier today at about 3 am in the morning , the military along with the police forces shot  at the protestors in Tahrir for about 3 hours. Now, there's an official statement by the army saying they were only protecting the people and they were apprehending some pretty important people who were involved in the thuggery acts during the revolution.

Regardless of the truth behind their statements or not, live ammunition was used and people, pardon my french, freaked the fuck out. Now I was in the ER pre-op/ post-op ward (where the patients are either waiting for their operation or recovering). I went and checked to see whether or not we got patients from Tahrir (some said a few, most said none). I went back to my ward to tell the patients (the ones I formed a bond with) and listen to what they had to say. Some said the protesters were violating the curfew, others said that it was obvious that the army was going to turn on the people and some said we should wait and hear and collect data first before damning anyone. The general consensus however was unified. Grief at the overkill method, hope that no one died (I've seen the picture with blood. Gruesome stuff but I'd like a death toll please) and fear on what's next for Egypt.

While talking to the patients, one of the janitors cleaning up the ward looked at me and told me:
"You are a liar. Stop spreading lies about the army. There is no way they could do this to us." He said it quite angrily. The worst part is what he followed up with:
"Are you even Egyptian? You don't sound Egyptian." I told him I wasn't and his response was that of disgust and imaginary confirmation. What I surmised out of the situation was that this asshole of a janitor thought I was operating some sort of hidden agenda. Here we are, 2 months later, and a man will believe something that was irrevocably proven to be false over something as factual as videos, photos and eye-witness reports on the news channels.

I was furious, but I let it go. I laughed it off and said to the patients, "I'm sorry I forgot to tell you guys. I do have an agenda. So call me Dr. Agenda from now on okay? " We all laughed it off and I hope to God I made the janitor feel like a retard.

One thing I will never understand is the people's unyielding support for any institution. No institution can represent a country. That's because every one of them is led by men, and last I checked - Man corrupts easily. 

I hope things don't escalate. I sincerely do. God bless

4 comments:

  1. I always found it interesting that many people in Egypt refuse to question the army. I wonder whether the regime and the army can really be separated after 60 years of corruption?
    Love this blog!

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  2. To put it in the words of my Filipino housekeeper of 15 years, when she saw the army on Jan 28th she looked at me and said, "Why are the people hugging and kissing the soldiers?" Words of wisdom to live by.

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  3. These are sentences exactly as typed by medical secretaries

    in NHS Greater Glasgow



    1. The patient has no previous history of suicide.


    2. Patient has left her white blood cells at another hospital.


    3. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.


    4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.


    5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.


    6. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it disappeared.


    7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.


    8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.


    9. Discharge status:- Alive, but without my permission.


    10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.


    11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.


    12. She is numb from her toes down.


    13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.


    14. The skin was moist and dry.


    15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.


    16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.


    17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.


    18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.


    19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our care for physical therapy.


    20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.


    21. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.


    22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.


    23. Skin: somewhat pale, but present.


    24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.


    25. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.


    26. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

    27. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.


    28. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of fuel and crashed.


    29. Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.


    30. She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.


    31.. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Smith, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.


    32. The patient was to have a bowel resection.. However, he took a job as a stock broker instead.


    33. By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped, and he was feeling better.

    For the sake of your health - stay away from hospital

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  4. A week is a long time in politics.

    Any push that attempts to get the army out more quickly increases the likelihood of maintaining the status quo - which suits the army just fine. Consider the Military trolls who are baiting us. Consider the Army hockey instigators who wish to antagonize hockey players so much on the other team that they draw a penalty so that the other team plays short handed.

    Excuse my limited French but the only French word that sounds exactly like the word you used is phoque and it means seal - like the sort which clap their approval. Bien christ! Sacred blue!

    ReplyDelete