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View Full Version : In Which I Cheer for Something Good


elucidator
03-12-2009, 07:58 PM
Here's the story.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/12/a_head_with_a_heart/?s_campaign=yahoo

So there's this guy, Paul Levy, runs a hospital, Beth Israel. In the bind, he was facing laying off people. Of course, being a hospital, you can't really lay off House. Or nurses, or anaesthisia....anesctheisia....gas passers. You are stuck with "staff" positions, the lesser breed. Expendables.

And he didn't want to, so he asked everybody else....people who just about can't be fired....to make sacrifices.

...."I want to run an idea by you that I think is important, and I'd like to get your reaction to it," Levy began. "I'd like to do what we can to protect the lower-wage earners - the transporters, the housekeepers, the food service people. A lot of these people work really hard, and I don't want to put an additional burden on them.

"Now, if we protect these workers, it means the rest of us will have to make a bigger sacrifice," he continued. "It means that others will have to give up more of their salary or benefits."

He had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when Sherman Auditorium erupted in applause. Thunderous, heartfelt, sustained applause.....

He's got people volunteering pay cuts for themselves, give up vacation pay, raises, bonuses. To help out the vulnerable amongst them, to stand with them.

Behold the power of common decency, and gape in awe. Ring a bell, raise a beer, give a yell, wipe a tear. Chicka-boom, chicka-boom, don'tcha just love it?

elelle
03-12-2009, 08:22 PM
So nice, Luci, thanks, and, it really is worth reading the whole linked article. We can choose how to react to hardship, and I think most people want to help each other. It's really the only way we're gonna get through tough times.

Rhythmdvl
03-12-2009, 11:13 PM
I'm up all night working on a 300 page report on children in conflict zones. It's extraordinarily chilling -- especially the pull quotes from kids. Kids who lived through situations that make the Saw movies look like Disney productions.

Thanks for posting the link. A nice touch of vicarious euphoria. Cheer on!

TroubleAgain
03-13-2009, 01:13 PM
Awesome! My team have already said they'd be willing to sacrifice to keep anyone from losing their jobs!