I have noticed recently that many persons will agree with you if you talk in general terms like: the war in Afghanistan is wrong; Marquette should not teach war; do not discriminate against young adult African males. But when you make these statements personal people do not want to hear them: the war in Afghanistan kills innocent people; Marquette teaches values contrary to its own values; taking down a basketball court without reason hurts young adults. Principles are okay if they are not personal.
Recently I wrote a letter to the editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel criticizing two county politicians who I believe have decimated the mental health system in Milwaukee County and caused great harm to those with brain diseases.
Both politicians won in yesterday’s primary election and today the letter appeared in today’s editorial section of the newspaper. I was careful not to attack any one and worried that sentences like “The House of Corrections house has become a house of horrors for persons with mental illnesses” would keep the article out of the paper but that was not to be. But these statements were not edited out. What was edited out of the letter was the personalization of the general statements. Here is the letter; words in bold were edited out.
Dear Editor,
I admire Sheriff Clarke’s effort to build a suicide barrier on the Hoan Bridge and County Executive Walker’s effort to build a new Behavior Health Center. However, as a father of a suicide victim and a friend to a young man who also suffers depression, I suggest they first look at the institutions they now run, the Milwaukee County Jail, the House of Correction and the Behavior health center.
The greatest horrors my son and friend suffered were at these institutions. The county jail puts persons with brain diseases into isolation padded and lighted cells. The cutbacks at the Behavior Health Center by County Executive Walker has meant the lost of good doctors, nurses, treatment services. The House of Corrections house has become a house of horrors for persons with mental illnesses.
My friend once was taken to the Behavior Health Center after a cry for help. After he had been stabilized with the correct medication he was taken to the House of Correction on a probation violation. The first thing they did was to take away his new medications and replace them with ones that increased his suffering. He was out of it for months and could only sit on his bed and suffer. Cutbacks by Sheriff Clark on food, drink and medication only made matters worse for this young man and others who are poor and suffer similar illnesses.
Sheriff Clark and Executive Walker ideas for spending money on building might be of a good intention but the money would be better spent on correcting the conditions they have created at these three largest institutions in the county for persons with brain diseases.
Be general and edit out the personal?
I am going to take a few days off to spend some time with a Catholic Worker Midwest gathering. The Diary of Worm will be back, hopefully rested and inspired on Sunday.
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