http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/books/edward-o-wilsons-new-book-social-conquest-of-earth.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120409
Minimize intensive care at end-of-life
Here's a relatively short TED talk about not dying in intensive care:
Death in South Africa
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17289794
Self-immolations of Tibetan Monks
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/world/asia/in-self-immolations-signs-of-new-turmoil-in-tibet.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120323
positive side of traumatic experience
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/magazine/post-traumatic-stresss-surprisingly-positive-flip-side.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120325
Search for Kony
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17498382
Soldier kills 16 in Afghanistan, 12 Mar 12
http://www.npr.org/2012/03/12/148456123/afghan-shooting-leaves-many-unanswered-questions?ps=rs
op-ed 20 March: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/opinion/brooks-when-the-good-do-bad.html
more info on solider: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/robert_bales/index.html
Decisions Doctors Make about Dying March 2012
Oregon & dying
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=148466780
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/08/148236468/oregon-emphasizes-choices-at-lifes-end
I think this is a very sad situation. I can only imagine the pressure and how strong minded soldiers have to be. We may never know the true reason of why this soldier did what he did, but no matter the excuse I think we can all agree it is wrong. What is more scary to me is that this type of situation can happen here, too. Essentially we would have no control over someone breaking into our homes and killing us. But at the same time, we can not live in fear becuase then we wouldnt be living. This soldier will have a punishment for what he did, and it is our job to learn from this situation so it does not happen again. Otherwise, more innoncent people could get her and those 16 people died in vain.
ReplyDeleteI think the tone of the situation described in this article represents a severe chemical imbalance. While PTSD and other disorders understandably result from brave tours overseas in soldiers fighting for America, this is a bit farfetched to be considered a related symptom. Obviously, the initial question would be, "What was he thinking?" or more professionally, "What was his motive?" Playing the devil's advocate and assuming the situation is as innocent on the part of the Afghans as it is being described, why would this killer have cited innocent people? Despite all the trouble Afghanistan has wreaked on America, why would the American soldier have committed so horrific an act just as peace is beginning to emerge? While well beyond 16 people die on a daily basis, such a murder will undoubtedly present a recurrence of political conflict. Hopefully, the Afghans don't mistake one American's acts as intentional animosity on the part of Americans.
ReplyDeleteWhen I initially read the news title that stated a U.S. Soldier snapped and killed 16 Afghans, I found it to be horrifying and hard to process. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt because I’m sure there is much more to the story that we will never know. Of course he very well may have just snapped and there may have been no basis for his actions; we will never know for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly the stories like this that remind us we are at war and our soldiers have been through some life changing and gruesome events. As the soldiers begin coming home, many of them may be severely harmed psychologically, and we owe it to them to ensure they receive the help they need. I am by no means justifying or excusing his actions but rather withholding passing judgment on a person and event for which I know very little about.
How sad that one poor decision, most likely ungrounded and influenced by uncontrollable chemical imbalances, has ruined the trust that the US has finally begun to build in Afghanistan. It is amazing for me to reflect on how one man can affect so many others in such a deep way. I am a firm believer that we should be very cautious in every action that we take, as we influence others by every decision we make. I think this incidence goes to show that one person, in a bout of anger, can change the lives of so many individuals in one heated moment. We need to be so careful about every action that we take, because not only are we creating a reflection of ourself, but are continually influencing those around us.
ReplyDeleteThe news regarding the soldier in Afghanistan is completely tragic. The decisions that some people make are often influenced by outside forces, but his decision could have been made soley by himself. Being a part of the forces, most people are accustomed to seeing death and it may not affect them the same way after seeing multiples of humans dying all in the same setting, but who knows?
ReplyDeleteWith all our time spent in Afghanistan, hopefully this act does not completely destroy all the good that has been done.
Of some similar fashion, the new releases on the Trayvon Martin story out of Florida is another example of people murdering for what could be said as "unknown reasons". However, in this instance, with this information released it looks more like a hate crime and an act of racial injustice. All in all, murder affects the good and the bad and is a tragic situation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/us/justice-department-opens-inquiry-in-killing-of-trayvon-martin.html
The case of the Rutgers student was also mentioned in class and with the new topic of suicide I thought that this link to the story would be helpful to those who haven't heard about it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/nyregion/defendant-guilty-in-rutgers-case.html
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/26/2715797/trayvon-martins-death-galvanizes.html
ReplyDeleteA month later, and the Trayvon Martin case is bigger than ever. What do you think this case and the country's response reveals about human nature? What are your views on the proper punishment for the man who killed Trayvon?
I am very impressed by the nation's response to end racial profiling from people of all races. Be sure to check out the million hoodies on Facebook. What a tribute to a young boy who suffered such an unexpected, unexplainable death.
http://www.alipac.us/f9/blacks-set-thirteen-year-old-kansas-boy-set-fire-being-white-253629/
ReplyDeleteWhile the Trayvon Martin case is devastating and unfortunate, I believe that this case is getting more publicity because it was a black boy that was killed. This has been turned into a black vs white thing yet again, even though this man that shot Trayvon was half white and half Hispanic. Meanwhile, in the article above, a white boy was burned by two black kids because of his skin color, yet this didnt turn into a major news story. Also, black on black crime isnt as publicized as this case. Just seems like a double standard to me is all.