Carnage-Evil, Detached, Loners-Glorified Acts Of Violence

When are people going to wake up to the fact that we need to stop allowing instances of evil and violence to be glorified on television, movies, books and in our music?  Isn’t it obvious that the world has been turning this garbage into “entertainment” and that it is having a terrible influence on our society?  Today there was two distinctive situations that destroyed lives that is shockingly cruel in the fact that the victims of violence were totally innocent.

A nursing home in Carthage, North Carolina has 8 dead people , 7 residents and a nurse, because a young man came into the nursing home and started shooting at people.  The reason is unclear at this point.  It is alleged that his estranged wife works at this nursing home although that is not confirmed.   An unprovoked attack on innocent people that would have been much worse had it not been for the heroic actions of a 25 year old police officer who was able to stop the shooter.   While the news media covers these terrible bursts of violence…we must learn to carefully balance how these things are addressed in the media; so that they do not become gloried examples for those with similar thoughts.

Another equally upsetting situation; an ex-con attacks his sisters and kills two of them…one a five year old child on her birthday.  He kills his 17 year old sister by brutally stabbing her…then, he goes after the five year old and decapitates her as the police come in.  She is found near her birthday cake.     The nine year old sister had called the officers…some how she was stabbed as well; she is in the hospital with injuries.  Not only has she been injured, she lost members of her family and she has to live with the images of death and violence.  This brother was clearly a person out of control; it was alleged that he had some kind of a run-in with a neighbor the evening before as well.

We have people who dont know how to resolve their personal problems…committing violence and killing innocent people.  We have loners, and mentally ill people who do not get treatment.   Our economy is so tight that those who desperately need mental health treatment do not get it because of cost.  We need to seriously consider spending more money for preventative well-care programs for people at risk for such behaviors.

I would really like to see people stop supporting slasher/shoot them up shows and movies with their dollars.  These type of entertainments only serve to encourage those who are bent on venting their anger and revenge or for those who are mentally unstable on taking out their rage on innocent people.  How do you protect yourself and your loved ones from random violence?  It is impossible.   Is anyone else sick and tired of these things  happening in schools, shopping malls, nursing homes and colleges, etc?

I have moved to a new Url: WriteWhereYouAre if you are interested in reading more of my blog posts!

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An Awakening To Domestic Abuse

      This subject is never a pleasant one.  No one likes to acknowledge domestic abuse is a way of life…especially if it is happening within their own life.  Unfortunately, domestic abuse happens every day in a multitude of ways.  It doesn’t just happen in the lives of the poor, the rich, or the celebrity world; even though, that is often the stories that we hear about…those who are famous.  We must awaken to the facts of domestic abuse; it is often learned behaviors that are used to control another person…either with intimidation, physical violence, emotional abuse or sexual abuse.

       Domestic abuse is like cancer…it is constantly trying to destroy the people involved.  It is a pattern of behavior that affect both the abuser and the person being abused.  Many who are being abused do not recognize that what is happening in their lives is actually domestic abuse.  The reasons for their lack of understanding, or denial are many. 

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China Steals Fetus From Mother’s Womb

      This is a terrible example of how China is wiping away the future of some of it’s children.  This week, a woman is sitting in a hospital under control of the authorities awaiting a forced abortion.  Her crime; she already has two children.  The authorities in China control the population by limiting the amount of children a family is allowed to have.  Parts of China enforce this control by limiting a family to one or two children.

       The woman’s name is Arizgul Tursun.  Arizgul is six months pregnant.  She ran from her village to avoid the forced abortion; however, her family received threats; and, she was taken and placed under custody in the hospital.  Human rights organizations are protesting this treatment.  China says publically that it doesn’t endorse such extreme means of controlling the population; however, this case will shine a light onto the Chinese government’s sincerity.

        This is cruel and inhuman treatment to both the mother and the infant.  At six months, this child could live outside of the womb; however, the authorities will give her a shot that will cause her to deliver a child that will not be allowed to survive.  We need to pray for this woman, her “caregivers”, her child and the authorities in charge of enforcing this abortion. 

          Decisions about family growth should be left up to the parents in a family…not outsiders.  Every life has value and it is immoral to force an abortion on a woman who does not want it.  God help her and her child. 

          Is it right to allow this kind of treatment to take place; without protests and sanctions against countries that allow it?  If China allows this abortion to take place…what should other governments around the world do to demand more humane treatment of individual rights in China?

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Robin Robert’s View

       Today is going to be a special day on The View on ABC.  They are doing a special on breast cancer.  They are going to have several guests…and one of them is Robin Roberts.  As many of you know, Robin has had her life impacted by the disease in the last year.  She has been quite an inspiration to others who have also had their lives impacted by breast cancer.  I am looking forward to the show.

        This morning on Good Morning America, Robin gave us a small glimpse into a special that she is doing tonight on Nightline.  It is basically an overview from Robin’s viewpoint of her diagnosis and treatment to the present in her life.  I think this is also going to be an outstanding program. 

         What I absolutely love is Robin Robert’s view:  “This (meaning cancer diagnosis & fight) is just a chapter in my life…it is NOT my life story; and, it will NOT be the last chapter in my life story!”    This goes right along with my blog post yesterday (before i knew about these two specials that Robin was involved in…it applies to many of us in so many areas of our lives)  See here:  https://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/bravery-is/ 

         See related topics: https://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/triple-negative-breast-cancer/, https://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/cancer-is-a-thief/

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How Much Is A Life Worth?

        Ok, I want to know…who gets to decide how much a life is worth in an insurance agency?  I read about a woman in Oregon who has lung cancer.  It was treated in the past and she was in remission; and then, it came back.  Her doctor recommended a course of drug treatment that would cost around $4,000.00 a month to treat it.  Her insurance refused to pay. However, they had an alternative suggestion.

        There was another drug that they WERE willing to pay for…it was medicine that cost a mere $50.00…it was for a physician assisted suicide. 

         The first medicine would have extended her life for approximately another 4 to 6 months…therefore costing a maximum of $24,000.00; compare that to a $50.00 death sentence; and, you will see that a life is worth somewhere in the middle; if it were up to that particular insurance company.  If the medication would have helped her to survive for 5 years or more they would have probably covered it; according to their 5 year, 5% survival rate after the five years.  It may be helpful to remind yourself that insurance is a booming business…you have to have it; and yet, basically you are gambling with the money that you pay in for premiums…they may or may not choose to cover you.

         So now you know how much a life is worth in case you need to know.  This woman was blessed to have a caring doctor who was somehow able to get the medication from the pharmaceutical company for her.  Hopefully, the medication will give her additional time with her friends and family. 

        However, she is not alone in this experience…it happens every day.  You may want to check your insurance coverage to see where you stand and how much value your insurance company places on your life!  Isn’t it outrageous that you are only valuable to your insurance company when you are healthy and paying your premiums…not when you need them to cover you, like they are supposed to do? 

       

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Arm Wrestling The Devil

      For those who have had the unfortunate experience of hearing that they have cancer, facing the decisions of how best to fight the disease is a bit like arm wrestling the devil.  You can’t see cancer from the outside…but, it has the power to destroy you.  For the most part, you are in a battle against something the size of golliath, when most of us are only armed with a sling shot and a stone.  The patient has a lot to learn about what type of cancer it is, what drugs work best on it, and whether to have surgery, radiation or not.

       Thank goodness for the streams of information on the internet…it saves alot of time asking useless questions in the doctor’s office when you can eliminate some of the obvious questions and answers right off…saving the precious little time and attention that the specialist have to devote to their patients.  The really important things can be concentrated on while you are face- to- face.

         Finding the right kind of support that you need to stay strong, stay focussed and stay informed about the latest and the greatest tools that you have; not to mention taking the time to nurture your mind and spirit; these are essential.  The mind, the body, and the spirit are all connected and when under attack…each of those areas need special treatment.  Fear is a mighty enemy and is not to be underestimated.  Surrounding yourself with love and support is critical.  Faith in God is what shores up the spirit for many patients and is to be considered as one of the greatest tools you can have.  Prayer partners are your warriors…people who will go to the mat for you whenever you need it…when circumstances appear to hit you hardest.  Inspirational role models can’t be underestimated; those who have fought and or are still battling will freely share their experience. 

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She Chose Death Over Moving…How Sad Is That?

        I heard a recent news story about a woman in Germany who chose to commit suicide over moving to a nursing home.   Did she not have loved ones to live with; or some other option?   She consulted with a knowledgable person about what drugs/chemicals to mix together to kill herself because she said she had no wish to struggle with a mediocre life.  She was not going to live the rest of her life, living what she considered to be a less than ideal lifestyle for the rest of her life; how sad is that?  Some families park their elders in a home and neglect to visit them; maybe she was afraid of being abandoned in this way.

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Asthma Sufferers In Distress

         I just read something that is going to make asthma sufferers very distressed and somewhat fearful.  The Federal Drug Administration has said that by the end of the year that inhalers made with CFC’s will be banned.  CFC is Chlorofluorocarbons; and, they deplete the protective ozone layer around the earth.  So, by December 31st of 2008 the inhalers, that operate by using CFC’s to push the medication out of an inhaler and into the lungs of a patient, will no longer be available.  These inhalers are life savers.  Without an effective way of getting the medication into the lungs of a person with asthma they could suffer ill health or die.

         There are new inhalers that use hydrofluoroalkanes to administer the medicine.  The new inhalers don’t have damaging chemicals to hurt the earth’s ozone layer.  The ozone layer is important because it protects earth and it’s people from harmful ultraviolet radiation.  Green practices in our everyday lives is important…but it seems to me that there could be other areas of cutting back that don’t endanger people’s lives.

         It is important to protect the ozone…but, not at the risk of individual asthma sufferers well-being.  Most asthma patients know that changing medicines take time for the body to adjust…this could mean more trips to the doctor or the hospital while their bodies adjust to the new inhaler.  They will want to discuss this issue of inhalers with their doctor soon…so that they can find an effective treatment that works for them.

          The problem here, is that the new inhalers don’t work in the same way.  Therefore, many people are concerned about the health of the people they love being able to breathe the way they need to.  The medicine is not delivered efficiently through the new inhalers.  It seems that they tend to clog up more and the cost is higher for the new inhalers.  People need to learn the new way of using the inhalers, to get the best results.  This could be dangerous if not done properly.  People do die from asthma if it isn’t properly managed.  Patients will need to talk to their pharmacist and/or physicians to get accurate information.

          Many are feeling a bit of panic about this because it is going to happen no matter what.  This is about people’s life and health.  There is no room for error when it comes to asthma.  It is distressing to think that these inhalers are being forced on patients when the asthma sufferers aren’t sure that they will work just as well as the old inhalers for them.  What do you think about this issue? 

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I hope I dont hear…ooops, she did it again!

       Ok, i have been awake less than 15 minutes and I am hearing the news (good, I believe) that Britney Spears has been admitted again for a mental health evaluation in California.

       I hope i do not hear in the headlines the stupid line, Oops, she did it again.  I know some media will make terrible headlines.  This is serious people…she is in terrible need.   You know what…we have all been observing a young woman who has been drowning.  It is almost like everyone is standing around saying, i wonder who is going to jump in and save her.  While we all wait….she has been going underwater not knowing if she will come back up. 

        Even though she needs help badly, it is still a tragedy that she has to be admitted anywhere “again”.  Why wasn’t she kept in the hospital the last time?  When the last incident happened the media proclaimed that it was a typical California 72-hour watch.  She was released in a day and a half.  Who made that decision?

       I am sure, for her parents or whoever made the decision to make the call this time, for another evaluation it had to have been a hard decision.  How could they not wonder…will she get healthy, will she hate us forever, will she once again cut us out of her life?  These are hard thoughts that thousands of people, everyday, deal with in their own families when a loved one has a mental illness.

       So, people, dont make jokes, don’t make light of her situation.  I think most people are realizing that this isn’t something to make jokes about at Britney’s expense; but at the same time….there are people who will try to make a profit off of selling pictures of her or something. 

       It is hard to value yourself emotionally when everywhere she looks…someone wants to get something from her.  I am sure that and the constant hangers on in her life have only added to her illness …whatever that may be.  And no, none of us have a right to know what that illness is…unless, She, the patient wants people to know once she has time to heal and mend.

       Let us not forget…there are two young children growing up in the middle of this legal and emotional spotlight.  They will live with the reminders of mom and her “breakdowns” just like a very famous Hollywood woman named Marilyn Monroe or Norma Jean, if you will.

      Times have come a long way since those days in the treatment of mental health…but, the stigma of mental health is no better now than it was then.  May God grant healing for all those touched by mental health illnesses.

      

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