Posted on 01/12/2011 8:14:18 AM PST by Kaslin
Americans reach for a larger meaning in tragedy when possible.
We hate the truth that the attempted murder of a congresswoman was likely a random act of madness.
Because as frightening as some of the proposed explanations are, any explanation is better than no explanation; any explanation suggests a problem that could, potentially, be solved -- a future murder that we can avoid, rather than a problem that has no solution because it is rooted in insanity and evil, both of which test our capacity for explanation.
If the devil made the shooter do it, it could (and will) happen again; we can't stop it -- personal demons are also hard to tame.
Let me think, in this charitable way, about the attempt by major voices on the American left (like The New York Times' Paul Krugman) to blame their favorite political enemies for this assassination attempt.
Changing a "climate of hate" is like climate-changing generally -- an urgent opportunity for the left to do things it would like to do anyway.
In this shooting, we lack full information on who had what opportunities, if they had chosen, to prevent this literally senseless crime.
But my best guess is that the answer will lie in the intersection between mental illness, substance abuse and guns.
If you are a progressive, can you think less about Sarah Palin and more about how we can keep mentally ill left-wing potheads away from guns?
Our system for making sure licensed gun owners are responsible people clearly has some holes in it.
As does our system for catching disturbed young men before they kill large numbers of people.
The Tucson shooter is like the Virginia Tech shooter -- a young man whose mental illness was visible to many around him.
As The Washington Post noted in its editorial, this case "is eerily reminiscent of that of Seung Hui Cho, who slaughtered 32 people at Virginia Tech in 2007. School administrators suspended Mr. Loughner because of his disturbing behavior and told his parents that he would have to obtain a mental health evaluation to return. That was a sensible course -- but if Mr. Loughner's violent videos and other actions were so troubling, perhaps more was required than simply excluding him from the college."
We do not know what attempts the Tucson shooter's parents made to get their son help, so we do not know if we can properly blame them, in part, for this enormous failure.
We do know our mental health system makes it difficult for anyone to treat the adult mentally ill who lack insight into their own mental conditions and therefore do not wish treatment -- clearly the condition of the Tucson shooter, who complained he could not sleep and blamed the government for attempting mind control through grammar.
If you are a progressive, could you also take a second look at the right of mentally ill people to refuse treatment, especially if they are simultaneously drug abusers?
Recent studies of schizophrenia and violence confirm that a) most schizophrenic people are not violent, and b) schizophrenia increases the risk of violence -- especially when it is combined (as it often is by troubled young men seeking to self-medicate) with substance abuse.
A 2009 review of the international literature in the French journal Encephale concludes: "Schizophrenia increases the risk of violence by six- to 10-fold in men and eight- to 10-fold in women. Schizophrenia without alcoholism increased the odds ratio more than seven-fold; schizophrenia with coexisting alcoholism more than 17-fold in men."
If the horrible death of a 9-year-old girl is to have any redeeming meaning, it should lead to a better system to identify, disarm and treat mentally ill substance abusers before they kill.
Is that a goal we can come together to pursue?
Or is our climate of hate so entrenched that rather than seek solutions we prefer to say this is yet another reason to hate Sarah Palin?
Just ask the liberals “Then who made the Ft. Hood shooter do it?”
Why don’t people just stop writing such stupid stories, it’s over, all but the liberal idiot’s know Sarah had nothing to do it, why are we carrying their water, stop responding now, Sarah made her statement, the liberals are fools and America see’s it.
then, they can write laws that force people, who verbally or in writing threaten other people, to have mental health assessment and be treated and monitored.
Full employment for a whole new set of health aides, eh?
What is nuts is that we are on the defensive again!!
A LEFTIST loon takes a gun and murders a Conservative Federal Judge, and we have to defend ourselves instead of attacking them?!?
I know the congresswoman was shot, but she is alive, not dead.
Our kind is DEAD
Democratic Congressman on GOP Gov. Rick Scott: ‘They ought to put him against a wall and shoot him.’
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/01/ex-rep-paul-kanjorski-d-pa-fla-gov-rick-scott-they-ought-put-him-#ixzz1Aq5UoOvA
Hypocrites
Sure, just like Speaker Boehner just gave me my instructions by saying on the House floor a short time ago, that “now is a time to lock arms”. Lock and loaded, John!
(SARCASM PEOPLE, SARCASM, and demonstrating absurdity by being absurd...)
Have you seen the VOMIT violent killing spreed movies Hollywood has been spewing lately like an ATM lately?? I’m blaming them, the communist liberals and their hordes!! THEY DID IT they brainwashed this jerk!!
Back in the 70s, the “powers that be” decided that institutionalizing the mentally ill was “unConstitutional”- even if they were delusional, dangers to themselves and others, and on cocktails of medications. I hope they are happy with thousands of unfortunates living on the streets, talking to themselves, and self-medicating with alcohol and various drugs NOT approved by the FDA. I’m fairly sure, they are turning away, whistling and adopting a “not me” attitude as another delusional psychotic waged a personal war in Arizona. Nice job!
The “experts” have seen to it that the parents of adult children, who are becoming more and more unstable, have no recourse to DO anything about it. It is part and parcel of the push to give the decision making regarding our children into the hands of those who have NO stake in their success. But it DOES give these “experts” someone to blame when the decisions of these “experts” go so wrong.
Psychotic people need to be cared for, in an institution or a rehab. They cannot be depended on to take their meds on their own, nor can they recognize a crisis when they are sliding into one.
Shall we look to blame anyone for this? How about the “experts”?
Definitely =
`If they bring a knife,we`ll bring a gun.`
Yup- incontrovertible evidence his words incite to violence
“A LEFTIST loon”
Not even leftist. The guy was a complete introvert. He cut himself off from the outside world, and did drugs to the extreme. I wouldn’t call him a leftist because he wouldn’t bother communicating his ideas. In all honestly, he is not associated with anyone major or political, so let’s just call him a loner, I’m sick of the leftist terrorism, and I honestly don’t even want to treat an ounce of their words as truth right now.
What we DON'T HAVE is any evidence of any statements, written notes, or lists about conservative politicians, conservative columnists, or conservative radio personalities who he followed, because THEY DON'T EXIST!!!
And then we have Sheriff Dupnik...
Yeah, Sarah made him shoot a REPUBLICAN Federal Judge. /s
-——Did Sarah Palin Make Him Do It?-——
Yes. She got out on top of the situation, gave a nice talk and forced the President to respond by going to Arizona where he is considered a despicable excuse for a national leader.
Obama: “They Bring a Knife…We Bring a Gun”
Obama to His Followers: “Get in Their Faces!”
Obama on ACORN Mobs: “I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry! I’m angry!”
Obama to His Mercenary Army: “Hit Back Twice As Hard”
Obama on the private sector: “We talk to these folks… so I know whose ass to kick.“
Obama to voters: Republican victory would mean “hand to hand combat”
Obama to libearal supporters: “It’s time to Fight for it.”
Obama to Latino supporters: “Punish your enemies.”
Obama to democrats: “I’m itching for a fight.”
“...can you think less about Sarah Palin and more about how we can keep mentally ill left-wing potheads away from guns?”
How about we apply this for all mentally ill potheads, regardless of political persuasion? Just sayin’...
Liberals reach for a larger meaning in tragedy when possible. Or as everyone calls it mind fu****g it death.
The DEVIL made him do it!!! Not our angelic Sarah!!!
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