To the Editor:

February 4, 2013

To the Editor:

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER SUBMITTED The Daily Southerner Mon Feb 04, 2013, 05:39 PM EST

ROCKY MOUNT — To the Editor:

After Christmas, and after picking up a friend at his house near Hartford, Conn., we were bogged down in holiday traffic. We decided to get off onto Highway, 6 which parallels 84, and goes through Newtown. We saw the many shrines to those tragically killed there and could feel the pain in that beautiful New England village. Apparently, not many citizens from Newtown escaped the tragedy. I thought about the many mothers and fathers, sisters, brothers and extended family members who would feel the effects of that day forever. I also thought about Adam Lanza and what he needed that day in order not to kill his mother, students, teachers, and himself.

I also listened to talk show hosts and listeners as they espoused their views on gun laws, mental illness, commitment, and other related topics.

One talk show host clearly said, “the problem is not guns, it’s the mentally ill we need to deal with.” I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder since 1986, and after each shooting that involves a diagnosed person; the rhetoric “ramps up.” This time it is stronger and more accusatory toward those of us living with mental illness.

“The premise that we can predict or prevent violent acts is unsupported. Even in the case of severe mental illnesses, there is no special knowledge or ability to predict future behavior. The fact is, people with mental health conditions are no more likely to be violent than is the general population.” (Dr. Wayne Lindstrom, MHA). “ The truth is that nobody is able to predict behavior on the individual level. Psychologists and psychiatrists may be able to predict relative risks for groups, but that breaks down when we start looking at an individual person.” (Norman Hoffman, Phd.)

Actually, those with mental illness are 11 times more likely to be the recipient of violence than to commit violence. So, the next suggestion by many is that we need to commit more individuals with mental illness into locked wards and to force people into treatment. We can no longer go around locking up people because they act strangely, talk to themselves, or have a mental illness. This is also financially impossible in our current environment. States have tried this. (Illinois lowered its standards to allow the commitment of virtually every person with schizophrenia an bipolar disorder.) There are not enough beds, and do we want to return to the world in which those with mentally illnesses are peering out of state institution windows for a lifetime?

Rather than committing large groups of people and forcing people into treatment, it would be more humane and cost effective to dedicate adequate resources toward prevention, early intervention, and recovery oriented services that have positive outcomes. We need to treat people as people and not label them solely based on their diagnosis. This is not about normalizing mental illness any more than normalizing cancer. We need to humanize this dire situation, so that those living with a mental illness and their family members don’t become the scapegoats for every shooting in America.

Mike Weaver

Executive Director

Tar River Mental Health Association

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Letters to the Editor

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
To the Editor;
What are you (ECC) thinking?
ECC teaching how to drink wine? Which is alcohol. ECC Foundation selling alcoholic drinks. Children will be there looking and learning. They are good music bands for a good cause, leave the alcohol out and all of its side effects.
What are you thinking?
Wonder how long before it will be taught in Public Schools. Would it not be better for everyone to teach abstinence?
What about it Mother's Against Drunk Driving? What do you think?
What are we thinking?
Carlton Adkins
Tarboro

June 5, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
TO THE EDITOR:
Thank you for your article in the Wednesday paper announcing the "Pops On The Common" on June 6. We now have Vidant Edgecombe Hospital as a major sponsor as well as KanBan Logistics. Vidant will have free health screenings available and Thorne Drugs will have free ice water. Bring your lawn chair and picnic and enjoy this under-the-stars concert.
Ronnie Ellis
V.P. - Edgecombe County Board of Directors for NC Symphony

May 20, 2013
"Princeville Cemetery Cleanup Volunteer Meeting Scheduled for Saturday"
To the Editor:
This is just a reminder to those interested and concerned with our previous announcement that we are on schedule for Saturday for our Princeville Cemetery Cleanup Volunteer Meeting.

May 15, 2013
Relay co-chairs thank residents of Edgecombe County
To the Editor:
As co-chairs of this year’s American Cancer Society Relay For Life committee, we would like to thank residents of Edgecombe County for their generosity and support. Thirty-eight teams participated in this year’s event and raised more than $132,000 to help the Society’s fight for every birthday, threatened by every cancer, here and throughout the world.

May 13, 2013
To the Editor:
To the Editor:
If the flags in Tarboro are not flying at half-staff, then they should be as a true patriot, hero, and Christian has died.

March 4, 2013
To The Editor:
Your coverage on the gun control debate was fair and accurate and I have fought against gun control my whole life. The sad thing is this time the American public is haunted by the ghosts of 20 innocent children and the claims by the proponents for assault weapons is making all gun owners look callous and uncaring.

February 18, 2013
To The Editor:
To the Editor:
America works when Americans work.

February 11, 2013
To The Editor:
To the Editor:
Wrong, wrong, wrong this was just malicious.

February 11, 2013
To The Editor:
To the Editor:
One of the things I love most about returning home to my beloved Tarboro is escaping the grueling crush of northern Virginia and nasty Washington politics.

February 11, 2013
To the Editor:
To the Editor:
What has Clark Jenkins done? He has served his town, his county, and his state for five consecutive terms in the North Carolina Senate. He has led a life of service to his business, his church, and his family. He has been a friend and a partner with me and my family for over 50 years.

February 6, 2013
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