Satire appeals to me because I have a rather pronounced and practiced sense of irony. Satire can be the truth in clown face, but then clowns aren't real, are they? Really good satire, as opposed to the cultural ridicule that is so popular at present, examines an ironic element of truth through a lens that is both appealing and morbidly fascinating. It draws us in to examine an argument that would be otherwise left untested, as Chesterton explained, "A man is angry at a libel because it is false, but at a satire because it is true."
The Fortify & Unite Communities to Keep Veterans’ External Threats Secure Act (H.R. 1874) which was introduced on Tuesday, would require military veterans to register with the Department of Homeland Security and periodically “check-in” with a case officer, in addition to going door-to-door in their neighborhood to notify people nearby that they are a powder keg of post traumatic stress, alcoholism, murder, and hate just waiting to blow….Read the whole thing, including the icon notes. For background, don't miss "Veterans with PTSD Linked to Everything That Could Kill Your Children."
For the safety of communities, the FCC would also direct cable providers to block access to violent war content popular among veterans, to include The Military Channel and Lifetime….
However, there’s been some controversy surrounding one part of the bill barring veterans from living within 1,000 feet of bars, gun ranges, or liquor stores, as critics claim this would be unfair to local businesses….
Funny, sort of, thanks. I'll link to it. I still don't understand (and not sure I really believe) the stats about combat veterans killing themselves. Sure, they were screwed, but haven't most combat veterans come away from war with that understanding?
ReplyDeleteAs always, you can do anything with statistics. The vast majority of veterans who commit suicide are males over the age of 55, which matches the civilian cohort. While some may be an extremely delayed reaction to combat stress, it makes about as much sense as the crazed veteran criminal who served as a radar tech in the Air Force in the early 1970s, or the recent example of the former Navy stateside reservist Aviation Electrician who shot up the Washington Navy Yard.
DeleteI deal with mental issues (professionally, not personally, though my wife probably demurs sometimes) and it is typical for mental disorders to manifest themselves in the early 20s, which would match young men who join the military and serve for several years. In other words, they were destined to have a problem anyway; it's just politically convenient to use a logical fallacy to ascribe it to military experience.
Perhaps I should explain for some readers that the "extremely delayed reaction" comment above is sardonic wit.
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