Suicides?

As you know by now, Faithful Reader, three detainees at Gitmo killed themselves recently: Manei al-Otaibi, Yasser al-Zahrani, and Ali Abdullah Ahmed. May God have mercy on their souls.

You know what I want to know? How many suicides are there in Iranian or Saudi Arabian or Indonesian prisons every year? Or in French or German or Spanish prisons? Or how many suicides are there in American prisons every year?

Actually, in state jails and prisons in the USA, there were 59 suicides in 2003.

Now, if I were a reporter instead of Your Humble, Faithful Blogster, I think I'd be doing research into the questions I asked above and writing about suicides in prisons here and around the world.

I think I'd consider that perspective and context.

Indeed, were a Democrat in the White House, I think that's exactly what the intrepid mainstream reporters would be doing. Don't you?

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 06/13/06 06:45:55 PM
Categorized as Media.

"Night of Spring"

Random Poetry List XLVI

   Slow, horses, slow,
As through the wood we go—
   We would count the stars in heaven,
   Hear the grasses grow:

   Watch the cloudlets few
Dappling the deep blue,
   In our open palms outspread
   Catch the blessed dew.

   Slow, horses, slow,
As through the wood we go—
   We would see fair Dian rise
   With her huntress bow:

   We would hear the breeze
Ruffling the dim trees,
   Hear its sweet love-ditty set
   To endless harmonies.

   Slow, horses, slow,
As through the wood we go—
   All the beauty of the night
   We would learn and know!

Thomas Westwood (1814-1888)

Originally e-mailed on Wednesday, June 13, 2001 @ 9:02 PM.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 06/13/06 05:44:54 PM
Categorized as Literary & Random Poetry List.

"The Tragedy Of The Lost"

By Sigmund, Carl and Alfred @ Sigmund, Carl & Alfred:

A few days ago, we commented on the effects aimlessness can have on nation. We want to further that discussion, on a more intimate level.

Society and culture are now evolving at breakneck speed. Most of us can't really master one technology before a newer one comes along to replace it. Media and entertainment come at us with lightning speed and just as soon as we settle into our couched to watch our favorite characters on our favorite drama, the series is cancelled and replaced with a new and more 'cutting edge' kind of entertainment.

More and more, we are not afforded the time necessary that would allow ourselves the time to develop a real meaningfulness to our lives. We are living in a media centric and depersonalized society, with carefully packaged ideas served up as a replacement for our necessary character development. Trends have come to determine and influence values and morality. Aimlessness and emptiness is inevitable when we are not expected to be responsible to determine our own futures.....

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 06/13/06 05:37:28 PM
Categorized as More Than Blogworthy.