Chamblee54

PG saw the physical therapist today. His banged up knee is a little bit better, but that does not help his mental state a lot. The physical therapy center should be a place of healing. While the emphasis is on the physical part, most would agree that the mental part is also helpful. Some of the other participants did not seem to care.
It started out on the drive to the parking garage. PG tuned into the Dennis Prager. There was a monolog, about Arabs and their opinions about Israel. According to Mr. Prager, Arab journalists talk about nothing except Israel. This is in spite of the many problems in the Arab world. He then went on to say that this leads to Iran talking about destroying Israel, and getting nuclear weapons to do so.
Lets take this point by point. Several of the Arab states have had revolutions, which either ousted regimes (Egypt) or sparked bloody conflicts (Syria). This is not the same as thinking only about Israel. Next, Iran is a Persian country, that does not especially like Arabs. One of their officials, Mr.Ahmadinejad, made a statement about Israel. Some have translated his remarks to be a threat to Israel’s existence, while others say that he wants regime change. Since PG does not speak Farsi, he simply does not know who to believe here.
At this point, PG turned off the radio, and pulled into the parking garage. After the first visit, he learned the best place to park, and was able to find a convenient spot.
The business of rehabbing a knee is tricky. You need faith that it will get better, even when all outward signs say to abandon hope. When you are working out on a machine, it is easy for your spirits to struggle. The last thing you need is to overhear a loud conversation about a touchy subject.
There are tv sets all over the therapy room, which are tuned in to all news channels. (PG does not know which one.) While PG was stretching rubber bands with his legs, and feeling uncertain about the value of the effort, a story came on the tv about Desmond Hatchett. He is the Tennessee man who has sired thirty children with eleven different women. At least that is the story. PG suspects that a few baby daddies are blaming him for their output, so they won’t have to pay child support.
There was a loud, festive conversation about the Tennessee Babydaddy a few feet from where PG was working out. The loudest was a man who works for the center. PG could hear every word that was said, and did not appreciate the entertainment. PG was in a tough place emotionally, and his neighbors were not helping at all.
The story is a tragedy. At least thirty kids are growing up without a daddy in the house. PG imagines there are a few men who see Desmond Hatchett as a hero. It so is considered racist to discuss one aspect of this story. The story is a tragedy, and these people were having a jolly conversation about it.
Pictures are from The Library of Congress.