As this seemingly never-ending election season drags on, it’s becoming hard to not get wrapped up in the minutiae: Our newsfeeds are populated by analyses of the petty barbs candidates trade with each over, and our televisions are clogged by scrutiny about everything from a candidate’s hairstyle to his or her love life. The 2016 election is a round-the-clock endeavor whose eccentricities are hard to resist investing in.
But PGN thankfully was recently given a dose of reality. This week’s issue carries a feature story about a local couple who has, and continues to, battle back against a number of intense struggles. The subjects’ resilience not only touched us, but also impressed upon us what really deserves our attention.
The women we interviewed admittedly came from tough childhoods — abuse, neglect, drug use, foster care, juvenile detention. But, in coming to terms with their own identities, and falling in love with one another, they deftly confronted the wounds those early challenges left. Life was moving forward until they were stopped abruptly by another blow: the likely diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Their days are now spent at doctor’s appointments, and with one woman adjusting to the loss of independence and her partner grappling with taking on a new caregiver role. The life they had built together has been flipped on its head — but that has not stymied their positivity, which is inspirational.
The couple has been broken down to the point where they’ve seen what really matters: their love for one another and the support of their family and friends. It’s a truth that may be hard to come by unless you’ve been pushed to the brink, and one that those of who’ve been privileged to enjoy good health and other advantages might need a lesson in.
These women are not alone in their struggles. Every day, people across Philadelphia confront poverty, disease, food insecurity, discrimination, abuse. The conditions facing so many of our fellow citizens are real — and warrant real action and investment.
There are systemic ills facing our society, and hearing about the trickle-down microcosmic effects of them can provide a needed wake-up call. Yes, we’ll likely still cringe over Donald Trump’s latest gaffe, but obsessing over rhetoric without action isn’t productive; rather, taking tangible steps to help the people whose lives could be further depreciated by figures like Trump is a viable way to take a stand for what really matters.