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Oregon Senator (Smith) Grieves Over Son's Suicide
guardian.co.uk ^
| 03/02/04
| AP
Posted on 03/02/2004 3:28:15 PM PST by KQQL
WASHINGTON (AP) - Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith's 21-year-old son, Garrett, killed himself last fall at his college apartment. ``For me time stopped,'' Smith said. ``My public career seemed vain, my hopes and dreams in ashes. I felt I had failed at my most important duty, as a father.''
Despite their pain, Smith and his wife, Sharon, spoke out Tuesday about their son's life and death, saying it was important to raise awareness of youth suicide and mental illness.
``It's been six months, and it's time to find more meaning and help others who suffered like he did,'' Gordon Smith said after speaking in favor of a bill on suicide prevention.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: depression; gordonsmith; mentalillness; suicide
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To: Wolfstar
Brit HUme established two scholarships in his son's name and asked the National Press Club to created the " Sandy Hume" Award for best young journalist.
61
posted on
03/02/2004 9:10:20 PM PST
by
tcuoohjohn
(Follow The Money)
To: KQQL
``For me time stopped,'' Smith said. ``My public career seemed vain, my hopes and dreams in ashes. I felt I had failed at my most important duty, as a father.'' I can't even imagine the torment. May G-d comfort those who mourn in this family.
To: ValerieUSA
Superior to you?...of course. But that is a very small achievement at best.
63
posted on
03/02/2004 9:13:17 PM PST
by
tcuoohjohn
(Follow The Money)
To: KQQL
The fear of every parent. Lord, may I never experience such pain.
64
posted on
03/02/2004 9:13:21 PM PST
by
doug from upland
(Don't wait until it is too late to stop Hillary -- do something today!)
To: Salvation
Odd timing for the ping to this thread. My cousin just killed himself yesterday, and it was a bit of a surprise. My understanding of his problems was just that he was a heavy drinker. He had some problems in life, but nothing that unusual - we just about all know someone who will pound down a half rack or better between quitting time & bedtime, and that's what I'm talking about. I used to hang out with him fairly regularly, but I rather dislike hanging around people who drink all the time and it having come to that with him, we grew apart, though he had been my closest cousin and shared a name.
I don't know what I could have done, but learning what I have over the past day, the issues in his life, except for the drinking, weren't a lot unlike those in my own. And while a final solution like that wouldn't be my cup of tea, I think it would be hard to communicate the work it out vs. end it all side of the argument to someone with judgement constantly impaired by alcohol or other substances.
Not sure what sort of legislation would address that issue, we already tried the prohibition thing.
65
posted on
03/02/2004 10:40:01 PM PST
by
Clinging Bitterly
(President Bush sends his regards.)
To: KQQL
I dont know whether to feel sad or not. Was his son a Liberal or a Conservative? This should help me make up my mind. (I'm not cold, I'm on Maui)
66
posted on
03/02/2004 10:57:26 PM PST
by
fish hawk
("I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more")
To: Wolfstar
I understand the need to memorialize. But memorializing with our money is wrong, no matter what event you use to justify it.
67
posted on
03/02/2004 11:03:33 PM PST
by
flashbunny
(Taxes are not levied for the benefit of the taxed.)
To: hoosierham
From the replies on this thread, I guess if there is a tearjerker reason, most people will give the gov. everything it wants.
68
posted on
03/02/2004 11:12:32 PM PST
by
philetus
(Keep doing what you always do and you'll keep getting what you always get)
To: philetus
From the replies on this thread, I guess if there is a tearjerker reason, most people will give the gov. everything it wants.
These "compassionate" conservatives are actually even more loathsome than the Dems. At least the Dims actually believe the stuff they spew.
Maybe it's worth pointing out that Smith, along with Voinovitch (R, OH) will be joining with Dodd (D., CT) to introduce this suicide porkbarrel soon. And the same three all voted for the AWB renewal today.
Enough of this stupid compassion.
69
posted on
03/03/2004 2:59:53 AM PST
by
George W. Bush
(It's the Congress, stupid.)
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