page 24 s february 2008<strong>Crozet</strong> gazetteTabor PresbyterianScreening of SickoPrompts Discussionof Health IssuesBy John AlexanderMichael Moore’s film “Sicko” was aired at Tabor PresbyterianJanuary 20 at the impetus of Rev. Marie Hulme Adam. DeniseMurray provided the DVD and Rich Oboyski brought the projector.The viewers numbered not quite a dozen, including a ladwho looked to be middle-school age.Whatever one may think of Moore, he is a skillful film-makerand the subject, American health care, is a rich vein to mine.Artfully, he had us fighting back tears or letting them flow asthe people on the screen related their tales of lives interruptedby sickness and accident. We also shared their sense of betrayalby insurance companies, HMOs and pension plans—organizationsthat seem overly concerned with cost effectiveness andindifferent to tragedy. If the testimony of medical directors andinsurance policy adjudicators was not enough to bring seethingfrustration to the boil, our political leaders perversely answeredthe call. They routinely obscured important issues and rarelyclarified as money figures of five, six and seven digits movedbetween them, their staffers, lobbyists and industry giants. Wealso felt a touch of envy as we found out more about the systemswhich our Canadian and European cousins use. As grimas all this was, there were moments of humor and hope. It was afilm worth seeing and the discussion which followed was everybit as good.Rev. Adam led this discussion in a fair and open-minded way.With the exception of the youngster who, by the way, did notseem overly concerned about sickness, insurance policies,HMOs, mortality, etc., the ages of the viewers ranged from thethirties to the fifties and at least one retired person. The genderdivide was 50-50 and it seemed that most present were raisingor had already raised children.Since both health care and Michael Moore are hot-buttonitems, we tried to keep the salt shaker handy as we discussed thefilm and our opinions. A radiologist present stated that hisexperience showed that insurance companies often seemed arbitrarywhen denying coverage.Someone raised the issue of faith: If we were to agree a problemexisted, should the search for a solution be faith-based? Noone was willing to answer with a definite “yes,” but there wasagreement that faith is both welcome and helpful. Several peoplestressed the importance of the educational system. Certainlythis would be part of a long-term plan, but it also raised thequestion: Is our education system as troubled as the health caresystem is? Concerns were also expressed about the modern diet.Have we exchanged food that is both chemical-free and localfor the packaged and processed kind? Common sense seems tosay that good diet is one of the pillars of healthy living.How should we continue? Write our Congressperson? Votefor a favorite candidate? Morph into a <strong>Crozet</strong>-style “grassroots”movement? The last choice seemed the most inspiring and hadthe advantage of not precluding the others while at the sametime building community ties.Discussion of the topic will continue at Tabor Presbyterianand all are urged to participate. Rev. Adam can be reached at882-2518.Crossword Puzzle by Mary MikalsonAcross1. Flying mammal4. Try a Pepsi again9. Beginning of wolf or crab12. Jackie’s ex13. Relative on the mother’s side14. Equilibrium organ15. A Santana Moss catch17. English teachers’ prof. group18. Swiss canton19. What hitchhikers want21. On the ______ (up for consideration)23. Arafat’s org.24. Ungentlemenly men25. Results of 35A, often29. NOW’s 60’s kindling?30. Question32. Gov’t. agency33. Alfalfa: e.g.35. A fourth-down strategy36. No or not37. 19th century Supreme Court ChiefJustice39. Biggest Bowl of all42. Ignoble43. _____ Gray (American botanist)44. Occasional result of 41D49. Mid50. Call forth51. A short life52. _____ Sullivan et al.53. Smooth fabric54. Va Tech grad, oftenDown1. Miller’s (in Charlottesville): e.g.2. An area of 100 square meters3. Facial _____4. Drive away5. Between: French6. Make the sign of the cross7. Judge in Simpson trial8. Interference, for example9. Familiar sight on Int. 8110. Thirty minutes of football11. She was: Latin16. Recedes20. ______ Groza (kicker)21. Camping necessity: abbrev.22. Sixth month of the Jewish civil calendar23. Word found in NFL statistics24. ______ Sports25. Legal thing26. An example of 47D27. Hawaiian goose28. Drunkard30. ________ back (Campbell or Collinsfor example)31. Utah: abbrev.34. _______ for the money35. Having a parti-colored coat37. Crazy38. Pale39. Not different40. Previously owned41. A Brett Favre throw42. Raise up (spirits)45. Eggs: Latin46. Type of corporeal separation: abbrev.47. Score the most points48. Type of strong English ale
<strong>Crozet</strong> gazette february 2008 s page 25BereavementsAlfred Hartman, 87 December 26, 2007Robert James Lawton, 78 January 2, 2008Buford Ellis Baber, 85 January 4, 2008George William Bailey, 80 January 4, 2008Eleanor Sandridge Hoover, 88 January 4, 2008Norman Ray Garrison, 75 January 5, 2008William James Watson, 85 January 5, 2008Warner Franklin Wilkerson, 69 January 5, 2008Sherwood Berkley Thompson January 6, 2008Albert King Smith, 94 January 7, 2008Frances Breeden Tapscott, 75 January 7, 2008William Earl Shifflett Sr., 87 January 8, 2008Robert Edward Lee Crawford, 96 January 9, 2008Dirk Geerlof DeHooge, 101 January 9, 2008Billy Frank Ballard, 81 January 11, 2008Mary Elise Brickle Deale, 92 January 11, 2008Ruby Pearl Roach, 79 January 12, 2008Joseph Shelton Ritchie, 63 January 14, 2008Blanche Morris Small January 14, 2008Claude Leroy Kennedy, 76 January 18, 2008George M. Penn, 77 January 18, 2008James McConnell Christmas, 80 January 19, 2008Helen Bittner Ponton Atkins, 98 January 21, 2008Howard Aberle Monto, 95 January 25, 2008Edna Dovel Jones, 100 January 2008Maxine Fox Lowe, 78 January 26, 2008Tobi Gardner Gay, 64 January 28, 2008Samuel Robert Ward, 71 January 28, 2008Mary Magdalene Shifflett Morris, 78 January 31, 2008Rosie Marie Fitzgerald, 80 February 2, 2008AndersonFuneralServicesInc.Serving <strong>West</strong>ern AlbemarleFamilies Since 1967Robert S. Anderson &John W. Anderson, Jr.,D I R E C T O R S823-50025888 St. George Avenue<strong>Crozet</strong>, VA 22932
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