The least grateful children on the planet put the "ick" in Sicko

Greg and I saw Sicko last weekend. Weirdly, the part that has stuck in my head has to do with family dynamics, not with medical issues. The documentary spends about five minutes on a couple who spent all their money on medical bills and had to move into their daughter's basement. The daughter and son (or maybe the guy was the daughter's husband; I'm not sure) are just appalling. They begrudge their mother and father every little thing. I'm thinking, Your dad had three heart attacks and your mom had cancer, and now they have to stay with you, and you won't even clean out a room in the basement for them? What is WRONG with you?? Maybe they were horrible parents—after all, how would I know, I'm just some chick at the movie theater—but they brought you into the world, right? And you seem to be healthy and stable and financially solvent, so share the wealth already, you capitalist running dogs with your hulking, ugly "display cabinet" filled with brand-name plastic crapknacks. Just yard-sale that sh¡t already. Your parents are old and tired and they are guests in your house. Give them a little space to rest and recharge.

Even if you hate your folks and want them to suffer, even if they allowed a documentary crew to invade your home without your permission (which seems doubtful) . . . the people on the crew work for MICHAEL MOORE. At least put on an act for them to make yourself look good. Hug your mom and dad, tell them you're glad they're here, offer them your room instead of the basement one. Because your children are watching, too, and I don't think you want them to treat you like that if something bad ever happens to you.

So, am I overreacting? I'm wondering if all this American stand-on-your-own-two-feet attitude is mixing with the "you're super-special" high-self-esteem propaganda to create people who don't even care about their own family members. Arrgh.