Something is bothering me about President Barack Obama's recent speech in Newtown, Conn. It was certainly genuine and compassionate, but what stood out for me was his use of the term evil I worry that the term may cloud and distort our perspective of mental illness.
The act was indeed evil and mental illness can be a catalyst for evil deeds, but the host of such pathology isn't necessarily intrinsically evil.
I worry we will continue to punish those with mental illness rather than treat them. I worry it is easier to just define someone as evil rather than recognize and provide a hospice for them. I worry we will continue to not take responsibility for the next generation of Adam Lanzas while they are still 12 and 13 years old by not providing mental health placement and treatment for them.
It is, of course, less effort to continue the status quo and place them in prison where their illness festers and continues to develop, or they continue to live at home with parents who may be their first victims.
Maybe I worry too much. I hope so.
JOAN STOREY
Guilderland