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At Least We Try
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The Voice, August 2004
The theater was dark and hushed, and the image of Jack Nicholson filled the screen. As in most of the film, as R.P. McMurphy, he was trying to rile the men up. He said; “look at you, just sitting there taking all this shit from nurse Ratched. Well, not me, no sir. I’m not going to waste any more of my time with these mind games in this crazy place. I’m tired of locked doors and medicine that makes us like mice. I’m going to walk over to that sink, pull it from the wall, throw it through that window and get the hell out of here.
The men, standing in their psychiatric hospital gowns, looked back at McMurphy in disbelief. A sullen Martini said, “Mac, you can’t pull that sink out of the wall, it’s too heavy and it’s connected by pipes.” McMurphy glared back “You want to bet?” Now the men were aroused; they always like a good bet, especially one that they knew they could win. “Sure we’ll bet you, Mac,” said one of the patients. Another chimed in, “Count me in too.” Soon all the men bet against McMurphy, and using cigarettes as a median for the wager, anted up to the holder.
McMurphy swaggered up to the sink; he spit into his hands and rubbed his palms. He looked back over his shoulder at the men and wrapped his arms around the old institutional porcelain. With a long grunt he grasped to the sink and pulled with all his might. McMurphy was exerting maximum force. When about to burst, he let go of the sink and fell to the floor. The men swarmed around him and taunted him, saying, “We knew you couldn’t do it!” McMurphy jumped up and said, “Step back boys, I was just warming up.”
Again he approached the sink. He cracked his knuckles and slowly embraced the sink, this time putting one hand on the faucet and the other around to the bottom. He took a couple of deep breaths and looked back at the men. The look in his eye caused the men to pause for a bit, some beginning to think that he might just do it. He locked in on the sink and pulled and pushed for what seemed an eternity. Sweat began to bead on his forehead and the veins in his neck and temple began to bulge. He groaned and grunted as he expended the last of his energy. Finally, he fell to the ground breathing heavy, beat by the sink. The men chanted, “We knew you couldn’t do it.” Slowly McMurphy got up and dusted himself off. He paused for an eternity and then said, “At least I tried.”
The movie, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, is based on the book by Ken Kesey and was a hugely successful film. It spoke of the negatives of institutionalization, the man against the system, the notions of insanity and the defiance of authority. This story is appealing because the notion of fighting the system touches us deep inside and inspires us to be better.
Such is the same with advocacy. Regardless of the situation, the advocate is working to make things better and ensure that people are treated fairly in the exchange. To this extent, advocacy is inspirational and romantic. UCP/CLASS is an advocacy organization. First and foremost we want to advocate for a community where each belongs. Over the years and I am sure into the future our advocacy will win some and lose some– but in all situations– at least we will try!
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