JULENE on fri 16 dec 05
If it was ones choice, we would all give our loved ones and those we care
about the best stair and elevator system possible. One can not do this for
we are all created so differently with abilities for the multitude of paths
set before each of us.
This is a deeply personal issue for me and should be for all artists and
humans. The human condition is that we are all vulnerable at sometimes in
our lives. As compassionate beings we should care about all others in our
human family especially those that need our caring the most and count on
others to do the right things.
In the eighties I lost a very dear friend while she was in a treatment
facility seeking help from those she trusted. Do not use this to believe
that I am taking aim at any in the psychiatric industry, for she herself was
a psychiatric nurse. When I asked her how she could work with this type of
people, she explained to me how there is no difference in people. The people
that she took care of just needed her help at that time of their lives.
Many of you reading this are very much aware of this through your own
experiences or those that you love. I write for those that are not aware of
what the mental health system is like. For the sake of your loved ones,
those you care about and yourself, educate yourself. Listen, believe, and
make your voices heard for those that can no longer speak for themselves
whether you believe them to be genius, saint or sinner. We as humans owe
this debt.
I have found, though one wants to believe it to be untrue, things have not
changed for the better in the last 20 years. Do as others on this list have
written about doing, go into your neighborhoods and speak to your neighbors
and family about their experiences. Find out what is really in place to
help and protect us/ you, if/when this help is needed. If you would not
want to be treated this way or want better for any that you care about (And
who would you not care about. That would be a personal issue for one to
work on.), changes are needed.
If you believe there are others doing this work, who are they? Do they have
the funding, and more importantly, the training needed to do their work? If
you believe you have rights, do you have the money to make sure they are
observed? If you are not able to afford a lawyer, do you really have any
rights? When you or somebody you are responsible for needs help, what is
available? Shouldn't you check it out before it is needed and make these
type of decisions? Why would you not be given the same treatment as is the
standard now if no one works for change? When they come for you, (we all
grow old) will there be somebody capable of caring out your wishes? Is
there are a group of people who should be drugged against their and their
families wishes? Who should be stripped and dehumanized, their rights and
voices taken from them? I do not have the answers only questions.
Julene, watching the snow fall , having silently been working on all the
great input given by so many wonderful artists and contributors to this
list, trying out my voice again.
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