Re-Writing History - Serene Branson - A Case in Point

I'm extremely sorry that news reporter Serene Branson had the very scary online incident with what the doctors have determined was a migraine aura, in which her speech suddenly became garbled on air while reporting the Grammy's. I'm thankful she did not have a stroke or evidence of a brain tumor.

I can appreciate that she found it embarrassing and stressful to think that this clip had gone viral on YouTube and had been the topic of much conversation and concern for her health.

BUT, our own daughter was out of work for several months after having a similar migraine event at work. Her speech was not garbled, but very halting and slow, as she struggled to get words out to the extent that she sounded like she had had a stroke. We put her in the hospital where they basically doped her up, hoping to break the grip of the migraine. After putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the medical establishment, we succeeded in getting her a fast appointment with the Neurologist who had seen her in the hospital. After some testing, he diagnosed her with having a Complex Migraine with aura.

According to the CBS news article I've linked to, "Now, with a positive diagnosis, Branson said she wants to help others who might have the same condition."

And THAT's my problem.

Yes, what happened to her was personally embarrassing. I know because we watched the emotional distress that our daughter, and we for that matter, felt during her struggle with a similar migraine event.

BUT, CBS has pulled the YouTube video of her online report during which this migraine event happened, citing copyright laws (their legal right). But it happened, and it happened on air! It was not reported on air, it HAPPENED on air. To me, there's a difference.

How is that helping people who need to know that when something like this happens out of nowhere that they might not be having a psychotic break??? Or a brain tumor??? That it could be from a migraine??? Please don't misunderstand me on this, this type of migraine is called a Complex Migraine and is much more severe than regular migraines, but it's still a migraine, not a life ending event.

Once "news" has been made, we shouldn't have the right to "take it back". Obliterating the event by removing the record is a disservice to others who might suffer a similar problem. It's a disservice to our country that news can be sanitized to the point that the meaning is lost.

I've lived long enough to see quite a few "facts" from the past ignored, minimized, and even re-written. This situation is just one example.

That's scary.

The Day that Will Live in Infamy

Today is December 7th. I wonder to how many people that means anything?? In case you're one of the ones who doesn't know what it represents, it's the day of the Pearl Harbor bombing during World War II. We've only had a few such dates that have rung out across the ages - Remember the Maine - Remember the Alamo - 9/11... Do YOU know what all of them mean? Do YOU commemorate them??

Personally, I'm old enough to commemorate December 7th, and obviously 9/11. I don't have any trouble knowing the history of the Alamo, because I grew up to the Davy Crockett movies and TV shows. I remember the situation with the Maine during the Spanish American war, because historians suggest that the whole thing was "blown" out of proportion to drum up a war, so two rival newspapers could increase their circulation!

It's so sad to think that such defining moments in history lose their importance to most people over time. I pray that the citizens of the United States will remember fallen heroes from past battles and value their history. If we don't learn from the past, we are destined to repeat it!!