| They may be home from the war in Iraq, yet they are not home free. Replaying gory scenes of death and destruction, some combat veterans are unable to sleep for more than minutes at a time. Some fight anger and anxiety with alcohol and drugs. Depression is common. Almost all bear invisible scars. Michael Culmer, 25, who manned a 120 mm mortar for the U.S. Army outside Ramadi, survived his tour of duty by becoming numb, feeling no emotion even when his commanding officer took a fatal shrapnel wound to the head. Now back in his hometown of Miami, "I just want to get off meds and feel like the person I was," he said. As more soldiers return from the war zone, some from second tours of duty, mental-health counselors with the Veterans Affairs Department in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties are bracing for a growing tide of men and women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. "Last year at this time we were seeing a trickle of Iraq war vets. Now we're seeing many more," said Joe Griffis, a readjustment therapist at the VA-run Vet Center in Lake Worth. "And it's going to get worse before it gets better." Months after running high-risk supply convoys across the desert, James Nappier of Loxahatchee finds himself on the lookout for roadside bombs while driving the streets of Palm Beach County, tensing at the wheel when a fast-moving vehicle approaches from the rear, just as he did in Iraq. "I'd like to say I'll be the old me again, but I realize I've changed for life," said Nappier, 46, whose Seabees unit, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14, lost seven men. "I feel different from other people." Days past the second anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, some costs of the war are clear. More than 1,500 American service members have been killed, more than 11,000 have been wounded and the nation itself remains deeply divided over whether the war was worth waging. Other, less visible, costs are mounting as well. With some experts estimating that up to 17 percent of those who see duty in Iraq and Afghanistan may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, six of seven VA treatment centers in the United States say they will be unable to serve all those who need treatment, according to the Government Accounting Office study. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has increased the treatment budget by $100 million. In South Florida, both the Miami VA Medical Center, which serves Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties, and the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center in Riviera Beach have applied for federal grants to beef up counseling staffs. "For the next year, we will be able to handle the numbers," said Dr. Maria Llorente, the Miami VA's chief of psychiatry. "But we will feel the pinch." In testimony earlier this month before the House Appropriations Committee, U.S. Army Gen. John P. Abizaid of Central Command warned, "We know that a casualty of war can as much be a psychological patient as a young man or woman that has lost their arm or leg." Counselors at the two South Florida VA hospitals, several satellite clinics and the VA-run Vet Centers in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties have launched aggressive campaigns to reach veterans who need help. "If vets don't come in now, they will come in later when in crisis," said Patrick Murphy, a counselor at the Miami Vet Center who organized a job fair at the center this month that drew 71 people. "We are reaching a lot of guys. But you have to wait them out until they are ready." Indeed, more than 20 years after the American Psychiatric Association defined as post-traumatic stress disorder what in World War II was known as "battle fatigue" or "shell shock," many combat veterans remain reluctant to admit a need for psychological help. "Compared to the time of the Vietnam War, there is more awareness now," said Jerry Troyer, a Vietnam veteran and PTSD program manager at the Riviera Beach VA hospital. "Still, the idea of going for mental-health care while on active duty does not go over well." Yet almost everyone who has served in Iraq -- a combat zone where there are no safe havens -- shows some post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, counselors agree. "Lots of death, lots of issues to handle," said Bobby White, a Vietnam veteran who directs the Fort Lauderdale Vet Center. Not all combat vets seek treatment, of course. Cory Cunningham, 25, who served a year in Iraq with the 124th Infantry Regiment of the Florida National Guard, said he has adjusted to civilian life without counseling. Yet, he added: "I tend to notice vehicles speeding up on me in rear-view mirror. And I tend to be a little more aware of my surroundings." Out of work for several months, Cunningham, of Palm Beach Gardens, said he has volunteered to return to active duty. He is due to leave for Afghanistan next month. Those who do seek help often have no choice. Culmer, who enlisted in the Army just before Sept. 11, 2001, spent months with the 1st Infantry Division, conducting house-to-house searches and firing mortar rounds at the enemy from Camp Junction City outside Ramadi. "I felt like I was starring in my own movie -- invincible, not scared, just numb," he said. But after flying into a rage he directed at follow soldiers, Culmer was relieved of his gunner duties.
By Mike Clary March 28, 2005 Mike Clary can be reached at mwclary@sun-sentinel.com Copyright © 2005, South Florida Sun-Sentinel |
Monday
VA hospitals brace for a wave of post-traumatic stress cases
dao images
  Sound, smell, taste, image, touch, sleep. Can you think without clinging to these forms? A thought without shape is rare, Knowledge of Tao rarer still. Our mind needs to cling to some object in order to function in its usual modes. If you look at your memories, you will find that most are tied to some sensory image. The thought of being in the country brings up a certain fragrance. You “see” relationships in a certain way. We may do math problems, or compose something to say to our companions, but we will still think in numbers and words. Some people make the mistake of rejecting this type of thinking, but we need to use these modes in order to function in the everyday world. When it comes to knowing Tao, thought tied to sensory images is not enough to bring complete realization. Dualistic thinking cannot be used to know Tao. But don’t discard it as long as ordinary functioning in the world is necessary. When one meditates, one must use an aspect of consciousness that does not cling to external forms. This type of consciousness is beyond the senses. Some call these states of mind super consciousness, smadhi, nirvana, or enlightenment. These are mere names. All that matters is getting to these states. Then all labels fall away. images 365 Tao Daily Meditations Deng Ming-Dao ISBN 0-06-250223-9
a reading list of books and interpretations of the Daodejing is available at http://wwww.duckdaotsu.org/dao_books.html for a meditation sent to your email address each day, please write ’subscribe tao’ in the subject line and send to lisbeth at duckdaotsu |
Magnitude 8.2 INDONESIA
Magnitude 8.2 -
NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
2005 March 28 16:09:37 UTC
2005 March 28 16:09:37 UTC
Preliminary Earthquake Report
U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center
World Data Center for Seismology, Denver
U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center
World Data Center for Seismology, Denver
| A great earthquake occurred at 16:09:37 (UTC) on Monday, March 28, 2005. The magnitude 8.2 event has been located in NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA. (This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.) |
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For more information, go to http://neic.usgs.gov/
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The official magnitude for this earthquake is indicated at the top of this page.
This was the best available estimate of the earthquake's size, at the time that this page was created. Other magnitudes associated with web pages linked from here are those determined at various times following the earthquake with different types of seismic data. Although, given the data used, they are legitimate estimates of magnitude, they are not considered the official magnitude.
This was the best available estimate of the earthquake's size, at the time that this page was created. Other magnitudes associated with web pages linked from here are those determined at various times following the earthquake with different types of seismic data. Although, given the data used, they are legitimate estimates of magnitude, they are not considered the official magnitude.
FAQ about Earthquakes | Earthquake Preparedness
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is part of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)
led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Sunday
"WE LOVE OUR TUBES!" Disabled Activists are Demonstrating in Florida.
Schiavo Case: Disability Rights Issue! Let People With Disabilities be Heard!
"WE LOVE OUR TUBES!"
Terri's feeding tube is the central issue. This is the reason she is being killed. Disability activists must express our ridicule for the pathetic response of the nondisabled majority to these simple pieces of latex rubber. This case hinges on the fact that Terri uses a feeding tube, which to disabled people is no big deal — it's just another piece of adaptive equipment.
"Right now the case is settled, people are thrown back on their own beliefs, while "experts" continue to present the story as a misbegotten political intervention in a private matter," said John Kelly of Boston Not Dead Yet, "a tragic medical case in which doctors are united in their certain diagnosis that nothing is going on inside her head , and a tragic family matter in which her "husband" really does want the best for her, which is death. And people agree — and this is absolutely crucial — because THEY THEMSELVES would rather be dead than like Terri Schiavo.
"We have been trained, over and over again, that if we only concealed our differences, tucked that legbag tube — for draining urine — under the pants leg, never talked about incontinence, that we could be (at least partially) accepted," Kelly continued. "But the shame that we are meant to bear keeps us down more effectively than anything that anyone could do to us."
"It's time for the press to talk to the real experts on the Schiavo case - the disability rights movement", declared Diane Coleman, president and founder of Not Dead Yet, leading the disability community's opposition to non-voluntary euthanasia for a decade.
"That's why 26 national disability rights organizations, including groups like Not Dead Yet, independent living centers, DQIA, and others have adopted a position in support of Terri Schiavo's right to continue to receive food and water," affirmed Stephen Drake, research analyst for NDY. "People on the right are killing us slowly with cuts to the budget and Medicaid while the people on the left kill us quickly and call it 'compassion' — either way we end up dead — AND WE OBJECT."
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
NDY-National: Diane Coleman or Stephen Drake
708/209-1500 exts. 11 & 29; 708/420-0539 (cell)
NDY-Boston: John Kelly: 617/536-5140
IN FLORIDA: Disabled Queers in Action: Zan Thornton 678/358-9540
Rochester ADAPT/NDY: Bruce Darling 585/370-6690
Atlanta ADAPT: Zen Garcia 678/770-1125
St. Louis ADAPT/NDY: Michele Steger 314/229-7435
"WE LOVE OUR TUBES!"
Disabled Activists are Demonstrating in Florida.March 25, 2005 — Disability activists are returning to Florida to tell the simple truths about tubes: feeding tubes, breathing tubes, peeing tubes and other tubes we need and love. Disabled people in wheelchairs will demonstrate and explain the realities of everyday life with tubes, confronting society's obvious horror and revulsion with our dignity and disability pride.
Terri's feeding tube is the central issue. This is the reason she is being killed. Disability activists must express our ridicule for the pathetic response of the nondisabled majority to these simple pieces of latex rubber. This case hinges on the fact that Terri uses a feeding tube, which to disabled people is no big deal — it's just another piece of adaptive equipment.
"Right now the case is settled, people are thrown back on their own beliefs, while "experts" continue to present the story as a misbegotten political intervention in a private matter," said John Kelly of Boston Not Dead Yet, "a tragic medical case in which doctors are united in their certain diagnosis that nothing is going on inside her head , and a tragic family matter in which her "husband" really does want the best for her, which is death. And people agree — and this is absolutely crucial — because THEY THEMSELVES would rather be dead than like Terri Schiavo.
"We have been trained, over and over again, that if we only concealed our differences, tucked that legbag tube — for draining urine — under the pants leg, never talked about incontinence, that we could be (at least partially) accepted," Kelly continued. "But the shame that we are meant to bear keeps us down more effectively than anything that anyone could do to us."
"It's time for the press to talk to the real experts on the Schiavo case - the disability rights movement", declared Diane Coleman, president and founder of Not Dead Yet, leading the disability community's opposition to non-voluntary euthanasia for a decade.
"That's why 26 national disability rights organizations, including groups like Not Dead Yet, independent living centers, DQIA, and others have adopted a position in support of Terri Schiavo's right to continue to receive food and water," affirmed Stephen Drake, research analyst for NDY. "People on the right are killing us slowly with cuts to the budget and Medicaid while the people on the left kill us quickly and call it 'compassion' — either way we end up dead — AND WE OBJECT."
Not Dead Yet is a national disability rights organization that leads the disability community's efforts to oppose legalization of assisted suicide, euthanasia and other forms of medical killing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
NDY-National: Diane Coleman or Stephen Drake
708/209-1500 exts. 11 & 29; 708/420-0539 (cell)
NDY-Boston: John Kelly: 617/536-5140
IN FLORIDA: Disabled Queers in Action: Zan Thornton 678/358-9540
Rochester ADAPT/NDY: Bruce Darling 585/370-6690
Atlanta ADAPT: Zen Garcia 678/770-1125
St. Louis ADAPT/NDY: Michele Steger 314/229-7435
FACT: STARVING TO DEATH
Some Facts in This Matter Of Starving Terri Schiavo to Death
by John Kelly
The TV talking heads have the nerve to wail about "a family tragedy." It sure is a tragedy, it's a tragedy for Terri's parents and brother and sister. Why wouldn't it be? They love their daughter, their older sister. They see her inside what outsiders call "an empty shell." She adds meaning to their life. Her death will cause them serious, grievous harm. "Irreparable harm," in other words. Isn't that supposed to be a good reason for an intervention by the Supreme Court? Maybe Terri has to run for president to get some consideration.
As Harriet McBride Johnson emphasized on CNN on Wednesday night, and spelled out in Slate (in the Washington Post as well), Terri is being killed specifically as a disabled person, because of an accommodation she requires to live her life. As Johnson stressed again and again, people with disabilities are accustomed to all sorts of adaptive devices that make our lives run smoother. One of these is a feeding tube, which is a simple rubber tube that gets food and liquid into the stomach. Sort of like a fork or a spoon. Or chopsticks. Or hands.
How, exactly did taking in food and water get reclassified as medical? It sure doesn't seem medical to us. One of my best friends, Connie Panzarino, used a feeding tube for years. Big deal!
Without the reclassification of this length of latex as a medical intervention, Michael Schiavo would not be able to have her killed. So we disabled people conclude that feeding tubes became medical interventions when another justification was needed by the compassionate killers to knock another one of us off.
Television viewers are now allowed discreet glimpses of the rubber offender, which comes right out of her stomach! Amazing, step right up and see it, ladies and gentlemen. Latex tube snaking its way out of a woman's body!
And people talk about letting her die with dignity. What a sick, sick joke that is.
But if people "tolerated" her latex orifice , if killing her this way was off-limits, maybe the compassionate killers could remove the catheter for her urine (how come we have not been told whether she has one?). We could all wait expectantly for her bladder to explode. "Medical experts" could come on CNN and speculate how long it would take for her bladder to blow up , and exactly how the body would be poisoned when it did. I'm sure the American public is very interested in learning how that specific form of death might be different from ketosis, the new word of the week. Maybe the news anchors could blow up balloons on the air to show what the bladder looks like.
I feel a kinship with Terri, because I depend on a tube almost exactly like hers , only mine carries away my urine in a very efficient manner (well, mostly efficient). As I lie in bed at night, hearing that wonderful drip-drop of pee hitting the bottom of the gallon jug that I strive to overflow, I am so glad that I have a suprapubic tube rather than having to stumble out of bed onto a cold tile floor and try to find the bathroom. I love my suprapubic tube. And I bet Terri , or Terri's body if you insist, loves her tube, too. Her body certainly thrives on what comes in through it.
Or maybe the compassionate killers might consider ceasing any care for her bowels. How long, the "medical experts" could speculate, would it take for her colon to perforate? Maybe Las Vegas could take bets.
Disabled people are used to dealing with all these issues, they really are not that big of a deal to us. Hey America, maybe it is time for someone besides disabled people to learn how to "adjust," because the nondisabled majority sure seems to have a serious psychological problem with feeding tubes, catheters, and any whisper of incontinence. What's with throwing in the towel, getting out that gun, and trying to reach the promised land, "death with dignity?" What happened to that good old American optimism?
Americans really think that they are the best people in the world. They don't have a clue that much of the rest of the world is just appalled by us, by the murderous callousness that we call "respecting individual rights."
What a shameful, shameful chapter in American history!
Posted March 25, 2005
John B. Kelly is a Boston-based disability activist working on a Ph.D. in Sociology at Brandeis University. His other stories for Ragged Edge have included Incontinence. Visit his blog at http://www.neighborhoodaccess.org.
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