The activity room at WilPower, a mental health center in Northfield, is so close to the Edens Expressway you can see traffic speeding past the window. There’s a map on the wall for the world cultures class, a painting of a windblown tree, and a handwritten poster headlined “What to do when your symptoms increase.”
O’Reilly, looking like a high school reporter quizzing the principal, gingerly asks Bush, “According to a poll, only 5 percent of the Iraqi people see the United States as liberators. Are you surprised they don’t appreciate the American sacrifice more?” Cheryl, one of the liberals in the room, cackles derisively.
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A few moments later Bush declares, “You gotta stand tough with these terrorists.” Barbara (not her real name), the room’s most vocal Republican, shouts, “A-men!”
“This is the kind of guy who’ll get the world blown up,” says Cheryl.
One of the first to sign up for the political awareness group, Rob rarely misses a week. He says it’s one of the few classes that engages his mind. “I went to a therapist once and he called day treatment programs–he was saying they were like babysitting services or kindergarten groups,” he says. “This is definitely an adult group. We talk about real issues that concern adults. Some people would probably call me a big mouth, but I’m passionate about it. I think there’s some good discussion.”
“Ohhkaay,” says Dan, as the tape of the Bush interview blurs to static. “What do you guys think?”
Dan cuts their argument short by asking, “How do you think he did in the interview?”
