I found this article to be most disturbing. Are our troops coming come as homicidal maniacs? Shooting, stabbing, and even setting people on fire? Scary thing, don't you think?
Did the report make any attempt to compare this to similar crimes committed by men of similar socio-economic conditions in the same age group nationwide during the same period?
Do you automatically assume the veterans are committing more or fewer of these crimes?
The only comparison seems to be with active duty military personnel prior to the current conflicts. To that extent, the information may be worthwhile in identifying a problem.
Posts: 7929 | Location: in the backwoods of North Carolina | Registered: 06-07-02
Good point, Fuse. While the problem has existed since at least the Korean War, it may be that the necessary (to fill quotas) lowering of standards has drawn more people who perhaps shouldn't be allowed near a weapon (unless, of course, it is pointed at them).
Posts: 17300 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
This seems highly unlikely.Is it suggested that these men acquired some mental illness during their service? DG what's the evidence from the Korean War?
Must say that the figures don't seem very high or atypical. A third of the cases were 'domestics'. Most homicides are domestics.You get a domestic argument or an unhappy marriage, 'something snaps' and there's a homicide.These killers are not 'homicidal maniacs'. Others are only death by driving.
121 homicides in the number of men and women involved and of the age group involved, doesn't seem a lot (in the USA ). How many homicides are there in that demographic among the non-military?
No doubt they made the same rationalizations during the Vietnam War.
Personally, though, I don't buy it.
The face of War has a certain way of changing a man. I recently went to visit a friend of mine who joined the Marines and was assigned in Haiti for a time. I was amazed as I observed this soldier who used to be the most fun loving and friendly guy, now transformed into a real-life G.I. Joe. This kid who I grew up with, whom I used to know as someone who would never hurt a fly, now proudly showed off his gun collection to me as though they were his sole pride and joy. He went to some length in telling me about his horrific exploits across the seas, and then invited me out to the shooting range with him. To which I respectfully declined.
Now, I suppose you would say that is just yet another commonality, and could happen to anyone, whether they'd joined the service and gone to War or not. And, once again, I would have to say that I simply don't buy it.
Sorry, but a poorly written three page paper by a college sophomore isn't really likely to shed much light on a subject, unless one find this illuminating:
Stress is not uncommon among humans as it can be caused by something as simple as gridlock or an argument.
Posts: 17300 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
Originally posted by FredPuli: 121 homicides in the number of men and women involved and of the age group involved, doesn't seem a lot (in the USA ). How many homicides are there in that demographic among the non-military?
Originally posted by DorianGreyed: Sorry, but a poorly written three page paper by a college sophomore isn't really likely to shed much light on a subject, unless one find this illuminating:
Stress is not uncommon among humans as it can be caused by something as simple as gridlock or an argument.
If you don't like that one, DG, there are millions more out there. Just Google "war post traumatic stress disorder" and take your pick.
Although the term for this disorder has changed over time with every war (commonly referred to as "shell shock"), the symptoms and the psychological after-effects remain the same. It is real.
Originally posted by Valor D: [Although the term for this disorder has changed over time with every war (commonly referred to as "shell shock"), the symptoms and the psychological after-effects remain the same. It is real.
Valor D, Post traumatic stress disorder is very real, but because a person suffers from PTSD, that doesn't make them a homicidal maniac. The diagnostic symptoms for PTSD are:
A. Exposure to a traumatic event B. Persistent reexperience C. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma D. Persistent symptoms of increased arousal (e.g. difficulty falling or staying asleep or hypervigilance) E. Duration of symptoms more than 1 month F. Significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
None of the above suggest a prerequisite for being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder is that the sufferer commits, or even threatens homicide. Further, it is not only those in the armed forces that can suffer from this disorder, but anyone that witnesses a traumatic event.
You must ask yourself: why did the NY Times publish the story? What is "military" was replaced with an ethnic or religious group? Are critics correct that the NY Times? has an anti-military bias?
Quite frankly, I find the paper to be a little on the sensational side.
Posts: 7929 | Location: in the backwoods of North Carolina | Registered: 06-07-02
Originally posted by coldfuse: Are critics correct that the NY Times? has an anti-military bias?
Quite frankly, I find the paper to be a little on the sensational side.
Journalists aren't very good at maths or statistics and given the opportunity of a headline like "Gun crime horror! Up 50% in a year" will not explain there were two crimes in one year and three the next, in a population of millions.
It's not that the NYT is anti-military.It is pro-military but anti this administration. This story fits in well with the line that the administration sends troops to war but forgets them and neglects them when they come back.The NYT would say that if they are not sleeping rough and homeless then they are not being treated for the stress of war, a war made worse, longer and more stressful by the incompetence of the President and his advisers and generals.
). How many homicides are there in that demographic among the non-military?
