A Rascist, Delusional Nation Ponders "Mental Illness"
"Ol Triple Six", as Governor of the state of California, played a pivotal role in the de-institutionalization of the mentally ill in this country. His motives were varied:
http://www.pendari.com/dmh/books/funding_publicmental_health/files/dmh_funding.pdf. Check out these sites to see how he carried out his convictions on this matter through his Presidential tenure.
Now, post-Newtown, the nation is embroiled in a "discussion" of how to treat and/or educate mentally ill children. At nearly the same time "the Guv'na" was acting out in California, I was engaged, with my brothers, in rescuing my sister and her five children; who were trapped in a welfare tenement in Far Rockaway, NY. She was suffering from ovarian cancer and we had to find treatment for her and homes for her children. Her husband had "split-the-scene".
She died within months after we got them out of New York. My wife and I adopted two of her five children. The younger one, aged 4, was discovered to have severe "psychological" problems. What ensued over the following 2 years was: indescribable agony for my entire family; unbelievable, unethical, and incompetent "assistance"; and astronomical medical bills. The process destroyed our marriage, and threatened the welfare of all of our children. Thanks to all things not seen, we were able to get that child the treatment he needed, and he is now the head of his own family and doing well.
I am convinced that we were extremely lucky and no one could repeat our path to success for the troubled child. This country stigmatizes the mentally ill and adds them to the heap of other variously categorized people assigned to wretched status. Children of color who are also mentally or psychologically challenged are left to their own devices to survive. Many of them are also given easy access to guns. We have ignored this condition for decades. Because Newtown was high class, white, far removed from large city ghettos, and epitomized the desires of all citizens for a "safe environment"; the shootings there in December, 2012, has rocked this nation to its very soul!
We're now in a period of "serious finger-pointing" as we struggle in denial with what we can no longer ignore.
Stay Vigilant! Get Involved!
Copyright © 2013: Williams LLC
All Rights Reserved: Williams LLC
No comments:
Post a Comment