Shot Dad to Save the Family: Teenage Boy Justified

http://news.yahoo.com/prosecutor-shooting-dad-veteran-justified-162630245.html

A tragic accident happened recently in the family of a veteran who was in services for over 25 years and retired because of the health issues. The court dropped the charged against a 14-year-old who, protecting his family, had to shoot his father to death.

A 44-year-old veteran of Afghan war was suffering the post traumatic stress disorder and supposedly was receiving some kind of medical help. He became abusive and eventually life-threatening towards his family.

When war veterans are coming back to the “civil world” they receive a psychological assistance to help them transitioning. There are many talks and debates on this topic, stating that veterans do not get enough needed help. The horrible accident that happened in the family is unfortunately not the first and only one. Tragedies like that happen quite often: family members, friends, coworkers and just random people can be victims of the mental disorder of veterans. As the latter risk their life to protect their compatriots, doesn’t the society have to provide them with the ultimate, accessible and affordable assistance upon their return from the battlefield? Billions of dollars are spent on the armament and wars, but how come there are always talks about the “deficit” of available services for veterans due to the money shortage? There are lots of veterans students on college campuses. Certain services are available for them. But due to the nature of the place setting (universities) the main focus remains on academics for veterans, thus it should be more aggressive outreach especially for those who just left the active duties. To my mind, those services have to work closely with veterans, their families (as they also have to be acknowledged on how to help their nearest and dearest to adjust to the “normal life”), and work settings (colleges in particular).

Fired for Being too Pretty

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dentist-fired-pretty-irresistible-dentist-employee-acted-legally-court-article-1.1397245

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/02/20/appearance-discrimination/

 

The two articles combines presents a topic that brings something new to the hiring/firing process: nowadays one can be fired for being too pretty, too sexy thus provocative for employers; apparently, the reasons given “it may threaten my marriage” or “i am just trying to prevent the sexual harassment” are legitimate enough for the court to stand by such “employer.”

The 30-year-old dentist assistant who was in the spotlight for being fired by her boss, shares her story. The court didn’t find the dentist, her boss, being guilty. Apparently, the reasons were satisfying enough not to start a case against the sexual discrimination. The owner of the dentistry, who is twice as old as his assistant, said that he found his young employee “irresistibly” attractive and in order to prevent the “ugliness of where it could have led” he, upon his wife approval,decided to let her go. Although, there are lots of shadows in the story (indeed, it could have been his wife idea threatening to divorce him, etc.), what surprised me was the reaction of the court. The man’s honesty definitely wins him some points, but isn’t is somewhat cheesy? I know it might have been an extreme comparison, but if a person comes to the court (police) and confesses that he has a strong desire to kill someone and that’s why it would be for the best of both “parties” not to be placed in one working/living environment, how would this situation be approached? Would that guy be needed to be isolated not just from that particular person who triggers such a “desire” but from everybody and maybe “prescribed” some psychiatrist’s sessions and med? When a 60+ year old says that he can not control his behavior, is he a potential threat to the people who surround him, especially considering that fact that he is a dentist; or does he accept/ decline his clients based on “appearance” too? 

When tragic things happen in our society (and unfortunately, quite often) we complain about the issues not being addressed in a timely manner, but on the opposite side, when we receive signals, we often ignore them.