In Holland it is the UWV is the authority that is commissioned by the government to deal with the ill or handicapped employees on their entitlement of an allowance. Once I had to visit one of those bureaus.
There this gentleman considered that without any argument mentioned I was not entitled to an allowance. I felt humiliated. Did he think I was faking? I worked during going to school and later going to the university and also after graduating. I didn’t see a reason for not wanting to work. Why was I let down by the system?
It had been years and I still think of this so called doctor from time to time. Of course I cursed him, but I never wanted him to end up with M.E. I don’t wish that upon my worst enemy or dumbest ‘used to be’ acquaintances. However, I do fantasize about some ugly things that could happen to him. Like him accidentally shitting himself on a crowded bus or train on his way home.
Many of the M.E. sufferers must be frustrated by the same affairs. That is why we need a Blue Mob! A flash mob is a gathering of people on an appointed time and place, which surprises the audience that happens to be there. A well known example is a performance by the Black Eyed Peas in favor of Oprah Winfrey, where the crowd of people suddenly showed a well choreographed dance. After the flash mob came the carrot mob: an ecologic variation that is about trying to live an environmentally friendly and sustainable life. Now it is time for a Blue Mob on May 12 – M.E. Awareness Day. It will be a fun and public-friendly action to make sure that people will know about M.E. Even though the idea of throwing blue painted eggs that are leftover from Easter at some politicians sounds tempting… perhaps better not.
I am looking for participants for this Blue Mob to place as many Blue Marks as possible on strategic places at night on May 11 or in the early hours of May 12. For instance at those bureaus that consider our claims for allowances. Abroad I don’t know what these authorities are called. So if you have something to add about that, please leave a comment below.
An alternative is to leave a Blue Mark as a sign of protest: at those buildings or agencies where you was not taken seriously as a patient or as an ill employee. What about a hospital where a doctor made sure you had no serious illnesses, but then sent you home offering no other help. Or perhaps you were told to follow a program at a clinic that was about cognitive behavioral therapy? This is still very much heard of in Europe. Use this opportunity to leave (or ask someone to do it for you) a blue trail as if saying: ‘In your face!’ Don’t forget to take a picture and send it to Fleur (at) BlueMarkForME (dot) com. I can’t wait to read your stories and see those pictures.
Click here for the flash mob with Oprah
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This post is also available in: Dutch