This article is about suicide, unemployment, the media and mental health, mainly…but it also is about the media’s coverage -and lack of coverage, of a serious illness. I have also included resources below for those in need of someone to talk to…
First, however, I would like to make an apology and an explanation for a poorly and insensitive post I wrote a few days ago about a young banker whom has killed himself.When I came across an article written in the RT regarding the 14th banker dead due to suicide, (and you can read the post that sparked my previous post here)
I went into a frenzy of rage for many reasons. It took my wonderful father in law, however, to make me rethink what I wrote (you can check out his wonderful blog by clicking HERE).
In my last rant, I didn’t even make the point I wanted to make. I simply read the article and went into a blind rage -and I directed it in the wrong direction, carelessly, and worse, thoughtlessly. I truly and sincerely apologize for that. In this post, I would like to correct what I wrote, but also write what I was trying to say, now that I am level headed and have thought about what I said. Continue reading #Suicide Among the Unemployed vs Bankers & Mental Illness Education→
Too often people ask me why I am so outraged when cops use excessive force or kill (yes, seriously asked this more than once) when they have, “such stress and work such a dangerous job!”– My response to that is one of two things. First, police don’t have the most “dangerous job” you can read my research article on that HERE. Secondly, when you go to become a police officer you know the job is going to be a little stressful at times and probably will make you nervous. Based on that common sense my logic is, it’s your own fault -not the victims fault- if you commit a crime against them because you are nervous. So, if you are jumpy and trigger happy, why the hell are you a cop? If you are, it is your OWN fault. Of course you are stressed- IT’S HOW YOU HANDLE THE STRESS THAT MATTERS!
As I prove with FACTS below, believe it or not, there are some cops who aren’t power hungry, who don’t go out and beat, harass and kill for the sake of it. Additionally, there are police officers in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, who can arrest a person who actually is armed without killing or shooting him!
So why are the vast majority of American cops allowed to behave like animals when it is very obvious another way is possible? Even if there were no cops who understood this non-violent concept, there is no justification for violent behavior we see going on, especially in America.
The correct, morally just and humane way of patrolling is to do so non-violently and if you do behave violently you should be held to a higher standard than the rest of society. You’ve made an oath to society, one which currently you spit on. But that oath you made to serve and protect should mean if you do anything less, you are punished for your actions.
To serve and protect…; no where does it say to abuse and kill. Yet that is what too many American cops do, and what is worse… they usually get away with their crimes, sometimes they are even REWARDED…
I’m not in shock by all the horrors occurring by the police against innocent, undeserving people. I’ve worked in this field far too long to be surprised by anything like that, however, it still causes massive outrage and anger. It also has led me to wonder, if anti’s are so “pro-life” (which they aren’t but, IF) why are they fighting not only against women’s rights but ignoring the death being inflicted upon innocent PEOPLE- children are included in this. Children, not fetuses. An infant being abused matters, a child killed or beaten by police matters- but a woman going and making a choice of whether to remain pregnant or not, is (should be) no one’s concern other than her own!
(And oh yes, kids are killed in America by cops- it happens TOO OFTEN. Go through my blog or click here and simply scroll down,click next, look through them…And look at how many of the articles are about kids under 17 years old. Sadly, tragically, these are NOT even a fraction of all the murders and beatings happening not only to adults but to children as well.)
Adults matter just as much- and the frequency in which people are being beaten and killed by the cops -innocent people; unarmed people.
This post is really no different from any other post I write; it’s all about judgmental people, and hoping that within my battle, you will find a reminder or anything positive (I hope this so much) to help you know you’re a) not alone and b) not anywhere near what they want you to think you are. You are a strong being, a strong soul that has survived things they could never understand. The strong one here is you; not the ones who make fun or try to make those who are already down feel even worse.
Be proud of who you are… I am still working on that myself to be honest… But in regards to my mental health, childhood and scars from years of self-injury, I am NOT ashamed.
In Oregon, an 11 year old girl with a severe form of Autism and unable to respond or communicate verbally was tasered by police. A man by the name of Adam Bednar noticed the child walking nude down the highway Saturday. He drove along beside her in an attempt to protect her as he phoned the cops who are supposed to be trained in working with emergencies and children.
Though the cops make the claim that it was necessary to move her to stop her from danger, but was she in danger? From witness reports it sounds unlikely, and besides there are other ways to move a child than give them a volt of electricity known to kill grown men. As for danger, witnesses Bednar state she wasn’t even walking towards the road, anyhow.
this photo…. touches my soul….to say the least… the artist has inspired me to go work on my own art, as opposed to being trapped in the current turmoil of my own mind…. saying thank you to him is not enough….
Photo taken by contributor Elijah Weerts, a 20-year-old photography student. People have always seen him as the outgoing, fun to be around, positive kid all through his life. He wasn’t ever “allowed” to be sad or at least he felt that he had to be the person who made everyone feel better. He thought that if he showed that he was sad that he was letting people down. Elijah has been a photography major for the past four semesters of college, and every time he does self-portraits people seem to respond to them very emotionally. Whether it be happy, uncomfortable, or sad, people are drawn to them. Photography allows him to show how he is feeling without having to say anything. It lets all of him be shown in a way people can somehow relate to and that’s what he gets passionate about. He wants people to feel something when they see his images…
Video 2 From Yours Truly. Just gonna copy and paste what I wrote on youtube… Point of this video: regardless of abortion or if a person is simply suicidal; it is never something to take lightly… Such as one anti-choice/anti-life Christian suggested to me today.
+ (sorry for how the video ends so abruptly, I pressed the wrong button… lmao)
*** I didn’t plan on making a second video but I am outraged at the fact that a person (which means, “PEOPLE”) can think that suicide is not an immediate threat to a person’s life. Once more, this is a bit of a personal video-blog/rant and it is NOT just for people who are considering abortion nor is it saying suicide is the only reason an abortion is right. It is NONE of those things.
What I am trying to say in this is, how dare a person, regardless of abortion beliefs, Continue reading Second I’ve Posted Today – Suicide Not Serious to the Anti-“Choice”…?→
Bit of my abortion, my beliefs and stuff like that…. Also a reminder that anti-choicers have no idea what real life is or is like so… why bother talking to them? Unless, as I note, they are so insane they make you laugh 🙂
Apologies for the lack of posts lately… I am currently working on two big projects and a few side projects for this website and in the process of creating external resources….but more on that late…
Once more, a post regarding the homeless being treated less than they deserve… In sum, the homeless people of Detroit, MI, have suffered abuse at the hands of many; including cops. Detroit officers apparently have a sick habit of taking what money the homeless individual does have, or, a very tragic habit of forcing homeless people into vans, driving them away from the area which they were in, then dropping them off somewhere random. This too often tends to be in new, unfamiliar areas where they were abandon without assistance or help in the unfamiliar location.
This is a photographer I truly admire, and a series I think every one should see. The photographer’s name is Jenn Ackerman and in 2008 she spent months in the Kentucky State Reformatory photographing and thus documenting the on going epidemic of mentally ill inmates, and the neglect of treatment/attention.
I could rant on and on about this, but the photo’s speak volumes more than I could ever say. If a soul can view these photos and understand what is going on yet still not have a desire to help not only these men, but any and all mentally ill person, with just as much passion as they would any ailment you can see under a microscope, they are a person I have no desire to know. Mental illness needs attention and help, understanding and care; not heartless punishment. What’s more, these photo’s are not isolated to this one prison. Sadly, in its entirety, the American prison population is made up of 1 in 6 inmates suffering with a mental illness(es).
I will end this with that, and a couple of photos from her series. After these is the link to her work and website where you can learn more.(click to enlarge)
“An inmate on max assault status and a 23-hour lock down talks to himself in his cell. The max assault status is issued to inmates who have assaulted officers or treatment staff. The inmates have been known to throw a mixture of feces and urine, spit, hit, kick, punch or cut.”
“Keith Bouchard salutes to the building before entering. Often reverting back to his time in the military, Bouchard will salute people and objects and march in place for more than an hour.”
In Florida back in 2008 an unarmed, non-violent young man whom suffered with Bipolar was shot to death by the police. Adam Phillips had been living with his mom that year as he waited for a spot to open up for him at the Drug Abuse Foundation. Yes, he was also a drug addict: one seeking help but put on the back burner like too many people.
Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, it is a stigma society clings to. People fear the unknown and the unseen. But just because one can’t see a mental illness does not make it any less deadly or severe than physical disease, or ones that can be seen under a microscope.
One would think cops should be trained to deal with people who have mental illness, especially those who are suicidal, paranoid, delusional, manic, etc. But too many cases show they have no understanding of the human brain. Such as in this case. Phillips was Biploar and addicted to drugs, it sounds like he was going through a bit of a manic episode, and for this, he is killed. Here is what happened that night, as found in the research I have read.
My Words & Random Videos Exposing TRUE History & Facts, Current News and Info Mainly Relating to Amerikkkan Racism & the Government, Especially Police & the Black Community… RBG…MakaveliTrained
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