Blog Posts for Author

Hey Stranger, Gotta Match? New York Attorney/Activist/Mother Needs Bone Marrow Transplant

mollysecours — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:06:03 -0800

Two and a half years ago I sat draped in a tattered, faded blue dressing gown across from a stranger who solemnly uttered the phrase: "you have cancer." In Touretts like fashion four words instantly erupted in my brain countering the proclamation with: "I want to live". In that moment the stranger (doctor) became my collaborator and together we embarked on what was a ...

Illness Speaks: Healing from Cancer, Addiction and Racism in the Age of Rush Limbaugh

mollysecours — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:05:06 -0800

As I approached day number six of a full on "chemotherapy detox" process in the peaceful isolation of the Tucson desert, I was reminded how noisy and all consuming the mind is. The parallels of healing disease, addiction and racism had never penetrated my brain before receiving a diagnosis for stage four uterine cancer two years ago. Similar to facing addiction or admitting racism, ...

Biscuits, Gravy, Donuts and Health Care Reform: How to Avoid Meaningful Conversation Around The Public Option

mollysecours — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:53:48 -0800

Along with 130 some other small business owners and self employed people (Democrats, Republicans and Independents) from across the country, I went to Washington yesterday to amplify the voices of those who are among the 58-72% of Americans in support of a public option. I was excited--and surprised--to hear that Republican Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker agreed to a Tennessee ...

Youngest Inmate Incarcerated in TN being released after spending more than half his life in prison

mollysecours — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:51:56 -0700

Almost 10 years ago, I met a young man named Terrence in a juvenile prison who had been locked up at the age of 12. He is an amazingly gifted young person who withstood prison life for 13 years and is being released for the first time at age 25. I am part of a committee who has formed to help him with his re-entry into life in Nashville. As you can imagine the challenges facing ...

Muddy Racial Waters

mollysecours — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:39:20 -0700

Some days it seems so obvious that we might get a lot further ahead if we could admit just how far behind we are.For instance, what if for one day all white people admitted that yes, indeed we are all inherently racist? And what if we went even further to say that it is only the degree to which we disrupt the internalized racism we carry within, that we become less racist--or at least become more ...

How We Say Good-Bye: To Ourselves

mollysecours — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:04:33 -0700

No one likes endings. Unless it's the end of a brutal storm or say, an 8 year presidency that wreaked havoc on our lives.Before 911 all you had to do was look side to side while waiting to board an airplane to know that the two most difficult words in the English language joined by a hyphen are good-bye. It's a shame that we no longer have the privilege of witnessing total strangers part from ...

Blast From The Past?

mollysecours — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:54:49 -0700

Look Carefully. See anyone you know in this photo? Is it your mother, your aunt, your grandmother? Young Elizabeth Eckford is 'welcomed' by angry white women on her first day of school-southern style. The 'insanity' now, is the 'insanity' of 1957. Rush Limbaugh was only seven and Fox TV did not exist so we can't blame him for stirring our beloved mothers, aunts and grandmothers. As ...

Boogeyman Time In America: Lift Every Voice-- No Matter Your Political Party

mollysecours — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:12:26 -0700

According to Webster's Dictionary, a boogeyman is defined as something frightful; anything imaginary that causes needless fright or excites needless fear. As in many countries, Boogeymen in Azerbaijan are creatures conjured up by parents, so their children will behave. If you are a parent who requires absolute capitulation, the boogeyman is your friend. Because the physical qualities of the ...

Letters From Here and Beyond: Ted Kennedy's Last Words to President Obama About Health Care

mollysecours — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:17:13 -0700

Last night I arrived home too late to catch President Obama's speech on healthcare reform. So as not to be influenced by other's reactions, I waited to speak with anyone until I could sit down this morning for the re-run courtesy of Youtube. When President Obama spoke of those living with cancer--and other serious diagnosis--who die due to lack of access to care, or are struggling now because ...

Being Right. And That's Final.

mollysecours — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:42:50 -0700

This weekend I heard something simple and profound about being right. And it was this:You can say things 'once' and after that it's about control and being right. You mean if I suggest to you 147 times that you might need to seek counseling, financial advice or get a new job that I'm being controlling? Even when I speak in my best/worst Australian accent all the while employing the entire ...