I ask permission to post in this thread, because Italy is, sometimes, in a similar situation.

It is not "white/black", rather "urban/rural".

Rural hospitals are being routinely cut down, until they are shut down.

It is not uncommon that a young mother in labor or a more aged patiend with a heart attack has to be delivered not 10, but 30 miles away because the local hospital was shut down.
Mind you, Italy (and Europe as a whole) has a long-standing tradition of civic hospitals, or "religious" hospitals (i.e. run by a religious order).
Health care is free (almost) because it is paid for through taxes.

So when one reads that the local rural hospital is shutting down a ward, or in its entirety, the locals are all but happy.
Being driven an hour or more to the "nearest" hospital, once used to mean "they made it in the nick of time".
Sometimes, these days, it means "they sped off in great haste, and arrived at slow speed and with the emergency lights switched off  - the patient had died en-route".



As for "white vs. black", I learned to appreciate Norman Rockwell during my years in the US.

Here is one emblematic painting of his, "The Homecoming - 1945".



I was also very fond of MAD magazine, and loved the way it poked fun at anything and anything... but I won't post anything on Officer Joe, lest I offend anyone.

Hang on there  

mpescatori wrote on 11/21/14 at 06:06:14:


What are your thoughts regarding Rockwells's art?  I don't know what it was like during his time; although, I generally think that was the way it was or perhaps how it is supposed to be.

pg wrote on 11/21/14 at 15:06:51:


What are my thoughts on Norman Rockwell and his art ?
Absolutely, entirely positive.

Take notice, not once, afaik, did Norman Rockwell portray something negative. Ever.

He always did his best to highlight the positive even in the most grim situations.

See "The Runaway" - the happy ending is quite clear - maybe not immediate, but you can feel it's coming.



My 25th wedding anniversary will fall during tyhe XMas Holidays, and I intend to surprise my mother and treat her to a special exposition of Rockwell's art they are having here in Rome.

drharveys - FSO wrote on 11/20/14 at 19:26:32:


A blanket statement, though not entirely inaccurate, I am whate, and was poor and urban growing up
but most of my neighbors were minorities, both black and hispanic, depending what projects I was living in at the time