As your name is called, say 'present'

Over the years, demonstrations have started some incredible causes and made amazing changes to our world.

The Philippine Revolution of 1986 started as a show of public support for Corazon Aquino in her fight to take over power in the country from dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

In 1968, demonstrations took place the world over, which fuelled social change for years to come. Rallies for students' rights in Poland, anti-Franco gatherings in Spain and, of course, civil rights marches in the United States all planted the seeds of change in society.

Demonstrations are meant to show solidarity. They are meant to signal to those in authority that ordinary people demand action on a particular issue they believe matters in their lives.

The rally to support physicians at the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre on Thursday past accomplished what it set out to do. If the doctors in central Newfoundland had any doubt before that residents in the region - their patients - did not stand by them, then they don't now. If our politicians did not realize the seriousness of the crisis caused by the shortage of physicians, they should now.

It was a quiet, peaceful gathering, and there was no reason for it not to be. Militancy would not have served any purpose in this case, since it is well-known there have been efforts to recruit physicians to our town. What the people think, though, is those efforts have not been taken seriously enough.

The reason for this thinking comes from the fact that a sense of complacency has come from the powers-that-be. No one can honestly believe a health authority or government would willingly leave two empty seats at a surgeon's table that is set for four. The administrators and politicians have been trying to fill the positions - we all agree on that fact. What the public is unsure of is how hard they are trying.

Often, politicians only show up for good news. You can't blame them, since no one likes to have to defend something they have done wrong or something which is really beyond their power to fix immediately. It takes a very thick skin to stand at a podium in front of a throng, some of whom are ready to pounce, and say, "We are trying our best."

The only one who did that on Thursday was Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans MHA Susan Sullivan.

No one else showed up.

There are at least two other elected members of the House of Assembly who were not there to demonstrate their support for their government's efforts, the health authority's hard work or even their colleague.

Exploits MHA Clayton Forsey was not standing with the dignitaries. Neither was Grand Falls-Windsor Green Bay South representative Ray Hunter. Both were in meetings with Health Minister Ross Wiseman, about 200 metres away from the rally.

Ms. Sullivan's district may contain the actual building the physicians work out of, but Mr. Forsey's and Mr. Hunter's constituents are patients there too. And Ms. Sullivan was able to take time away from the meetings to speak to those at the rally, so why was the same not possible for the other provincial representatives?

I'm sure all three MHAs and the health minister were well aware of the fact that the news the minister would not be attending the rally would not be met positively long before the rally actually took place.

Ms. Sullivan was left to face the negative reaction of the crowd alone after it was announced Health Minister Ross Wiseman would not be making an appearance. Granted, she handled the situation with grace, but the presence of her House of Assembly colleagues would have shown support for her while she explained why the minister was not in attendance to a none-too-pleased crowd.

Minister Wiseman was less than 200 metres away, hunkered down with local politicians in meetings that were, admittedly, arranged long before any thought of a rally. It would have been a nice break for him, though, to at least stroll down over the hill to see how passionate central Newfoundlanders are about the portfolio he oversees.

Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor MP Scott Simms was out of the country, but there was no one there to officially represent him either.

It is important for politicians to be in attendance at event such as the one held last week that effects, well, everyone.

Often it is the appearance of action to which people react. Even if we know deep down you are "working on the file," we want to see you doing it and we want to see results.

The people of central Newfoundland showed their solidarity with the medical professionals last week.

Most of the politicians who should have joined in that show of solidarity, though, demonstrated their complacency.

Perhaps they should remember that in their positions, they are sometimes just as conspicuous by their absence as they are by their presence.