BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

In 1995, when my Atypical M.S. became symptomatic I learned more about the disability process in the U.S. than I ever wanted to know. I had to fight for my benefits with little energy or support. I had to fight for a diagnosis and to prove empirically what my body was screaming to me. To this day, I am fighting for E.R.I.S.A. reform and disability fairness against one of the biggest lobbies in Washington, the Health Insurance Lobby - which has a stranglehood on the benefits & welfare of too many people in the U.S. who paid their premiums in good faith. In light of the murder of my beloved counselor, Kathryn Faughey, I remain undeterred - and in fact, reinvigorated. Those of you who still work, go ask for a copy of your policy from your Benefits Office. No, not the copy of the sanitized handbook they give you - a copy of the ACTUAL policy signed between your employer and their insurer. Don't stop asking until you get it - you are entitled by law to see it. Now ask yourse...

Instability, Chaos, Violence Born of Unstable, Irresponsible, and Dangerous Leaders In light of current events I felt these to articles went together... like peas in an 'article' pod. And one of the most profound quotes I have read recently is in the second article. It refers to physical wounds but I know for a fact it applies to mental & emotional wounds as well: Your body forms a cocoon, so it will always be part of you, but it won't hurt. Yes, whatever has happened to us and to them - will always be a part of all of us. by Christopher Brauchli Blessings are upon the head of the just; but violence Covereth the mouth of the wicked. -The Proverbs In his April 21 radio address to the nation (inspired by the violence at Virginia Tech earlier in the week) George Bush announced that he has directed federal officials to conduct a national inquiry into how to prevent violence by dangerously unstable people. It is a worthy endeavor. The news from Darfur (as well as...

THE BIG QUESTION: WHY WAS CHO FREE? Now comes news that a court in 2005 found Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung-Hui to be "mentally ill" and an "imminent danger to others" - but then let him go. Anyone who doubts that the court's diagnosis was correct need only reference the video diatribe Cho mailed to NBC news, which aired the clip last night. That Cho was free is an outrage. But it's not exactly news that American courts regularly elevate abstract personal rights above those of the public. Certainly, many questions remain in the the Virginia Tech massacre. But it's not too soon to wonder why in hell Cho was left to wander freely after that sort of a court finding - and numerous other warnings as well. Were authorities so concerned with Cho's rights that they declined not only to commit him to a secure hospital, but even allowed him to stay in school? Most perplexing: How on earth was Cho able legally to purchase a gun, given his history ...

IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE VIRGINIA TECH TRAGEDY This week, like many people, I have been following the aftermath of the Virginia Tech tragedy. This evoked a lot of strong emotions & reactions in a lot of people. Some good, some bad - yet all we can do is pray. Pray for the families, students & administration left behind and pray for the souls of the senselessly murdered. There's been a lot of talk and a lot of hindsight. I for one, am getting sick of the woulda, coulda, shoulda talkers. I do hope this incident shines a light on the need for mental health care in this country to be taken more seriously. For the insurance industry to start paying to treat the brain and its disorders, and for the mental illness to come out of the dark, unspeakable shadows and the stigma of depression, schizophrenia and other disorders to be lifted so that sufferers wanting help get it. That said, was there anything we could have done to prevent this? The U.S. learned on 9/11 it isn't im...

IS GUN CONTROL THE ANSWER? First it was hate speech. Imus took the rap and Sharpton, Limbaugh, Coulter and Jackson continue to get a pass. The "guns" in their cases are their mouths and the "bullets" their words. Then its the Virginia Tech massacre. I know what it is to be a depressed college student but I didn't go and get a gun. Despite a father that was in law enforcement and an NRA member as well as guns in our home, it never occurred to me to do something like that. I have a carry permit but I wouldn't think of turning a gun on others in a fit of rage or hate. The issue of gun control in the U.S. comes up time and again. Columbine, Waco and now VA Tech. NYC has very strict gun control laws yet there have been shootings within blocks of me. Anger is rampant. Some is justified, most isn't (in my opinion). I don't know what the answer here is. I'd welcome all input. And prayers for our world and the families of those who were kille...

NOT A GOOD DAY FOR HUMANITY This has not been a great day. It started out with minor annoyance - my child's bus didn't show up and it was getting on to the time where class would start. So I drove her and a little boy from the same bus stop (who goes to kindergarten at the same school) in. The roads near me were intermittently flooded but I made it. Listening to the news on the way home I was glad that, so far, the flooding hadn't effected myself or my neighbors personally. Typically selfish New Yorker. I opened my door to a TOTALLY DARK HOME. Yes, NO ELECTRICITY. I checked my junction boxes... nothing. So I took my flashlight and called Con Ed - who seemed to be clueless other than "we are working on it." I decided not to vent at a poor Customer Service rep. I told them that they should alert the radio media to area outages at least and was as polite as I could muster. I had been in bed most of the weekend with Viocodin and heating pads. My M.S. has ...