[stylist] stylist Digest, Vol 81, Issue 21

[Judith Bron]

Kerry, I agree with you.  I don't remember  when it happened, but at least 
in New York State the government opened the doors of the mental institutions 
and told the residents to go their own way.  The reason given was that they 
couldn't continue to hold people against their will.  I agree with part of 
that, but what if the person was too ill or unstable to be let back into 
society?  Yes, we can't hold people against their will, but what if that 
tperson is a danger to him or herself and society in general?  These are not 
easy questions to answer.  I think that when college professors, teachers, 
parents and others involved with a youngster see that the person is a danger 
to himself and others, there must be a plan to institutionalize the person 
and get him or her the help needed to re-enter society.  Thanks Kerry, 
Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerry Thompson" <kethompson1964 at gmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 6:10 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] stylist Digest, Vol 81, Issue 21


> Judith, your piece is reasoned and calm.
>
> I am what might be described as a Left Wing Democrat. Yet, I agree with 
> you completely that the leap on the part of some to blame the Tea Party in 
> general and Sarah Palin's hatred-filled rhetoric in particular for the act 
> of a demonstrably disturbed young man was premature at best. We don't know 
> whether politics in the conventional sense played a part here, and we may 
> never know.
>
> As a fervent Lefty, I could wish that this terrible occurrence leads to 
> the tightening of gun laws. But, I think we can all agree in hoping that 
> at last, after Virginia Tec, after Columbine, after seemingly countless 
> instances over a good decade and a half of children and young people with 
> social problems and demonstrated mental instability trying to solve their 
> problems by mass murder, our society will formulate a plan to identify, 
> help and protect youngsters with such problems. Doing so is not only the 
> morally right thing to do. As is becoming increasingly obvious, it is also 
> a matter of national security.
>
> Kerry
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