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Homeless: Streets of Santa Barbara
Thursday August 7, 2008
Asked by one voter how, as president, he would ensure energy
independence, McCain said, "It can't be just oil and wind and solar . .
. it's got to be all of them."
Yeah? Do you mean just oil or just wind or just solar....all of them? This is not a sharp mind at work. This man is no more fit to be president of the US than I am. Of course, looking at the last 8 years, that doesn't mean he won't. Neither was Bush.
Are there McCain-isms yet? Okay, okay, in all fairness...
| | Posted by Lulublue at 3:59 PM - | |
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Tuesday August 5, 2008
Monday August 4, 2008
"Mental
illness has long been a great problem in our society. The treatment and
rehabilitation of clients with mental illness are regarded as a heavy
burden for every government. In the People Republic ofsd China, it is
estimated that there are 16 millions of adults with mental illness; 30
millions of adolescents and children with emotional and behavioral
problems and numerous old people with dementia and mental problems
(Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of
Public Security and Disabled Persons Federation, 2002). Apart from
psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation services, the effort of the
family caregivers can never be undermined. In the U.S.A, about 65%
clients with mental illness who are discharged from mental hospitals
returned to their own families (Goldman, 1982; Lefley, 1987). In
Canada, around one to two thirds of persons with schizophrenia live
with their family members (Seeman, 1988). However, in the People’s
Republic of China, over 90% of persons with schizophrenia live with and
are taken cared by their family members (Phillips, 1993; Pearson &
Phillips, 1994). The burden of family caregiving in the People’s
Republic of China is further intensified by its unique social, cultural
and legal contexts. In this paper, the writer discusses the plight of
family caregivers of clients with mental illness in the People’s
Republic of China."
I
found the above while searching for information about the attacker in
the Canada bus murder. As it was such a horrendous crime, and so sad to
see someone so young with his life cut short, I am delving into the
case and the causes.
When Ronald Reagan was governor of
California, I saw the skyrocketing of the mentally ill and homeless
population. The patients were to no longer receive state-funded
treatment. Local churches and facilities were to pick up the slack when
the state facilities were shut down. Today, hundreds of homeless are
seen in parks, the beaches, and in shopping center parking lots asking
for work or food. I can only guess as to the amount of resources going
to deal with these people. Some find their way to a home of their own,
medical treatment, and work. Some find their way to jail or prison.
Some find their way to the Emergency Room several times each week.
China
has a problem with it's immense population. I can't help but wonder why
the bus attacker left China. He came to the west with his wife, only
four years ago. Since arriving he had numerous jobs and observers knew
he was in need of help.
What other countries have this problem? Are their citizens crossing our borders by the hundreds?
What
is society to do about this? Is it right to demand that citizens get
treatment for mental illness if they want to live free in society? Do
they forfeit freedom in refusing treatment, assuming state facilities
are available (other than county jails) to house the patient?
There
are many critical issues facing this world where information and
populations travel at speeds never imagined less than a century ago.
Can society put aside the stigma so mentally ill get treatment? Will
treatment be available?
Or, is being armed the best way to protect yourself?
| | Posted by Lulublue at 12:34 AM - | |
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Friday August 1, 2008
I began the day horrified to hear of the bus murder in Canada. What a horrible thing! There is quite a bit of talk and comment about whether the other passengers did "the right thing" by leaving the bus and not going to help the victim. I guess a lot of people want to feel that they would jump to the aid of a victim, but in real life, it may not be so easy. I personally feel it would depend on the situation. There are some situations that I could simply not turn away from despite the likelihood of getting injured myself.
Human behavior has always fascinated me. The behavior which occurred in the Canadian bus horror is one I find most disgusting but it makes me curious. I have been studying astrological charts of criminals involved in these kinds of crime scenes, too. Quite often abuse and/or psychological dysfunction can be spotted by certain factors in the chart for the birth of the criminal as well as the time of the crime.
I Googled psychology, crime, and Dahmer (from Jeffrey Dahmer, American criminal) and found a great article from Psychology Today about spotting psychopaths. There were a number of links to other topics on the pages of the article, one especially hitting me today - eating disorders. While reading through signs of binge eating symptoms or signs, I read:
Binge-Eating Disorder:
- Eating much more rapidly than normal
- Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
- Eating large amounts of food when not hungry
- Eating alone because of embarrassment cause by how much one is eating
- Marked distress about the binge-eating behavior
- Binge eating occurs, on average, at least 2 days a week for 6 months
- Binge eating not associated with regular use of compensatory behaviors (purging, fasting, excessive exercise)
I could probably admit to a few of those, definitely. In fact, I think the majority of people probably could. From knowledge of 12 step programs, I know that admitting one has a problem is a vital step toward a successful treatment.
Yes, I'm a few pounds overweight but I know that fibromyalgia has a bearing on it, too. It's hard to go for a run when every muscle in your body feels painful. And it's nice being curvier than I was when younger and slender. But I know it's not healthy for anyone to drag around extra pounds. So I guess I'm making a commitment to myself that I'll begin to look more seriously into what emotions seem to cause me to eat. Quite often, when my sons go off with their dad, and I'm left alone, I'll want to eat. I think it's to fill the emptiness or numb out the pain. I also may want to eat if I'm angry or bored.
I am wrapping it up by acknowledging that there are so many suffering souls out there in the world these days, so many victims of thoughtlessness, sharp tongues, insults, bullying, or violence, and by hoping, praying, that comfort and relief can come their way. Not one of us is untouched in some way by another's suffering and pain.
Blessings,
Lulublue
| | Posted by Lulublue at 10:42 PM - | |
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Monday July 28, 2008
We're beginning to hear the nasty ads from the Rovian GOP about Barack Obama's NOT visiting some of the troops. He would also be getting sh*t if he had visited every single one! Then it would have been using the troops for politics or some such nonsense.
The press did make a huge deal about Obama's travels of the past week. It was quite a trip. McCain, as I heard, visited someplace with cheese (wasn't Reagan touting his cheese and catsup giveaway some years ago?) but then he finally had a 40 minute meeting with the Dalai Lama. Wow! That's a major thing, if you ask me.
I am reading a book entitled, 'Destructive Emotions' written by Daniel Goleman (author of 'Emotional Intelligence'). The book is the dialogue of a 5-day meeting between scientists, psychologists, Buddhists, and the Dalai Lama. It is fascinating! The life story of each of these unique scholars is a story in itself. It is an exploration of why we get to the point that our more challenging emotions turn to such a harmful and destructive end and how we can work to change this useless remnant of our ancient past. I tend to agree with the idea that if we can identify the very first 'tingle' of anger, greed, hatred, or resentment, we can control ourselves to prevent a violent conclusion. Part of it is learning to identify it while it's still small enough to control. Learning to positively express any harmful emotions also plays a big part.
The Dalai Lama earns respect from scientists by being quite a scientist himself. Anyway, the book is one I highly recommend. As usual, the political landscape stays about the same.
| | Posted by Lulublue at 2:06 PM - | |
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