First They Came For The Jews
Our daughter Jenny lived at the Conway Human Development Center for 19 years. Periodically, financial crises in state government would send shock waves through the human development centers, upsetting the well being of the clients.
There were other kinds of funding threats, too. In 1988, for example, a psychology professor at the University of Arkansas reported to a legislative committee that residents of the state's seven human development centers would be safer in a war. He had an $11 million fix.
Then an out-of-state lawyer launched a jihad to close such institutions nationwide. Claiming that money wasn't his motivation, he alleged that the HDC clients would be better off "in the mainstream." But the specialized services required for their care didn't exist, and he would be long gone when they were kicked out on the street.
Sensitive, caring people would often stand in the gap when money ran short. The air conditioning failed one summer, and Dewayne Davis donated a ceiling fan to keep Jenny cool. When there were no funds for a much-needed chair, L.G. Reynolds delivered a wonderful recliner (provided by anonymous donors) from his furniture store.
Then in public office, State Senator Stanley Russ and State Representative Bill Stephens consistently fought to keep the Centers viable. And long before their elections to public office, State Senator Gilbert Baker and State Representative Marvin Parks would often take their families to visit Jenny. Firsthand involvement brings a perspective foreign to desk-bound decision-makers.
Even with funding, mistakes and oversights happened. After an aide left Jenny unattended, she fell on her head onto the concrete floor. Another let her get badly sunburned. An unconcerned doctor had to be repeatedly awakened before he would walk 100 yards to examine her one night--and then overlooked her pneumonia. But funding helps assure trained, qualified personnel.
Martin Niemöller was a Germany pastor who was arrested by the Nazis and spent seven years in Nazi concentration camps. How he found himself so defenseless is haunting:
"First they [the Nazis] came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me."
Those personally untouched by the desperate plight of the Human Development Center clients might be lulled into thinking that "someone" will always take care of "them." But we are the "someone," and "they" are just weaker versions of ourselves. And if we fail to speak up for--and provide for--those who can't speak for themselves, we might be surprised at what happens next… perhaps to us. Remember Martin Niemöller.
Copyright 2002 James McAlister
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