My column today profiles Lt. Col. David Johnson and the difficulties Iraq vets have in transitioning back to civilian life. Many of them, like Johnson, have faced endless delays and frustration in trying to get help for mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Regardless of how Americans feel about the war, we should all agree on this: Our returning vets and their families deserve our best care and support.
Here’s a recent Washington Post story that also reveals the bureaucratic obstacles facing wounded vets.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Ready for a war we can win? Nicholas D. Kristof of the New York Times reported on former President Jimmy Carter’s efforts to combat river blindness in Ethopia (a video is on the Times’ Web site). The disease affects 17.7 million people worldwide and is caused by a microscopic worm transmitted to humans by small black flies that live near fast-moving streams. It causes unbearable itching and eye lesions. Usually, a once-a-year dose of an inexpensive drug called Ivermectin is adequate to prevent the disease.
Millions of people’s lives can be greatly improved, peaceably, at relatively low cost. Doing more to fight this war could do much to improve the U.S. image around the world.
Posted by Patrice Hein
In a legislative session unusually rich with proposed solutions to nonexistent problems, this one stands out: a bill to subject teachers and others to criminal penalties for “knowingly, intentionally, willfully or recklessly” displaying or disseminating obscene materials in K-12 schools. Under current law, state Rep. Lance Kinzer (in photo), R-Olathe, said, “Materials illegally sold at a porn shop would be legal if displayed in a kindergarten class.”
Raising the obvious question: Who has been displaying porn in Kansas kindergarten classrooms? Kinzer couldn’t cite an example of the problem for his colleagues. Yet House Bill 2200 passed out of the Federal and State Affairs Committee this week.
Do lawmakers really think so little of the state’s educators?
Posted by Rhonda Holman
After the Kansas Supreme Court’s dismissal last week of his case against Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller, former Attorney General Phill Kline issued a short statement suggesting that current Attorney General Paul Morrison is corrupt. Kline then released a long response to pro-life supporters in which he outlined the substance of his case.
He alleged that “Tiller performed the abortions based on a diagnosis that the mother would otherwise suffer severe depression, single episode depression, anxiety disorder or, in other cases, adjustment disorder if the abortion was not performed.” Kline said Kansas law allows late-term abortions only if the mental health issue for the mother is substantial and irreversible, and he contends that these conditions don’t qualify.
Kline has previously argued that the law allows for no mental health exception, even though former Gov. Bill Graves, the state Supreme Court and a Kansas Board of Healing Arts ruling all have said otherwise. Morrison’s office is still reviewing the cases to determine whether any crimes did, in fact, take place.
Kline ended his response with this exhortation to the pro-life community: “Do not lose hope. Deception has always been a part of this issue, and each step we take to reveal the truth is a positive step. We must keep moving forward, and there are a lot of things yet to be done that are consistent with the law, our responsibilities and the truth. Stand firm!”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
U.S. children ranked 20th out of 21 industrialized nations in well-being according to a UNICEF report. Only Britain had a lower ranking, with the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark topping the list.
The well-being of children was determined by scores in six categories: material well-being, health and safety, education, peer and family relationships, behaviors and risks, and young people’s own subjective sense of well-being.
The United States scored the lowest in health and safety, based on infant mortality rates, low birth weights, immunization rates, and death from injuries and accidents. Other factors that led to the low score included the percentage of children who eat breakfast, are overweight, used drugs, smoke cigarettes or were sexually active.
Posted by Patrice Hein
Royalty only fights wars in the movies these days, so it’s remarkable that Britain’s 22-year-old Prince Harry — aka Troop Commander Wales — will go to Iraq with his Blues and Royals regiment in May or June. Harry famously had said on his 21st birthday that there was no way he would go through military academy “and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country.” What Harry will face in unstable Iraq will be entirely different from that experienced by the last British royal to serve in wartime — Harry’s uncle, Prince Andrew, who flew helicopters in the 1982 Falklands War against Argentina.
Posted by Rhonda Holman