Suicide...Take Action

We probably all know at least one person who has committed suicide. Whether it has been has been a friend, family member, or someone within your social circle is it has had to touch your life at one time or another...

For me it has crossed throughout my life. I can easily recount at least at least three high school classmates who took their own lives and and an uncle. And these are not the end of the deaths. All are unfortunately unexplained as far as I know. All are equally as tragic and sad.

Last week a newspaper here in Miami, the Miami New Times, published an article called "Legends of the Fall" which recounted the the death of one of my friends by his jumping from his condo balcony, as well as those of fifteen others doing the same. Terry died in January and we have all struggled since then to deal with his death. Why exactly did he do it? Could we have prevented it somehow? He had left a very long letter but it still did not answer all the questions. This invasive article opened wounds which we had all started to heal and opened Terry's death as a showcase to the public. Needless to say those that loved him were very disgusted and angered.

I immediately composed a letter to the editor and the parent corporation. To have such a personal tragedy put on personal display is not acceptable. Being the "fire-starter" I am, I also contacted many of the suicide survivor's groups (locally and nationally) to let them know of the article. They were as appalled as I.

This is what I ask of you...(I know it may be difficult)...please read the "article" in the Miami New Times (http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2009-09-10/news/legends-of-the-fall-suicide-by-jumping-from-miami-condo-buildings/). If you feel as I do and are disgusted by their article please voice your opinion. Now that the issue is off the news stands they have a blog set up at http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2009/09/afsp.php . I urge you all to let your feelings known.


Respectable journalists do not report upon "everyday" suicides so why was this article necessary in such detail? Will they follow up with those that shot themselves, hung themselves, overdosed, or slit their wrists? Doubtful.

Please voice your disgust and pass this post along to your family and friends who may have also been affected by such a tragedy. Publications such as this should not continue to get away with such deplorable practices.

Driven To Distraction

When you get behind the wheel in Miami you are taking your life into your own hands. Miami consistently ranks at the top for worst drivers, worst road rage, and the highest rate of accidents in the nation involving pedestrians. It's a wonder how anyone is able to pass the driving test down here in order to get their license, but somehow the road is chock full of assholes. Those chosen few are apparently smart enough to maneuver a floating pickup truck over open ocean to reach the U.S. but somehow cannot distinguish between red and green.

* * * * *

Since my birthday is late in the summer the majority of my friends had their drivers licences for months by the time I turned sixteen. It changed our lives overnight. No longer did we have to rely on parents or siblings to shuttle us from one location to the next. Living in an almost rural area this was always a hassle for all involved. You could never just pop around the corner to a friends house or to the mall. A trip anywhere always meant a minimum of fifteen minutes of driving each way (this was at 55 mph on two-lane highways on the edge of civilization). We could come and go as we please without incurring the wrath of others for imposing upon their personal time.

Of course there were the usual rules set forth by the parents to follow when in the car: be home on time, no speeding, don't blast the radio. One of the biggies was that we were not to drive "downtown" - downtown meaning into Chicago. With the popularity of Ferris Bueller and the wealth of diversions offered downtown, it was obviously a constant draw for us. Smart-asses that we were we quickly found a way around this dilemma. Chicago is a large city that has a large mass transit system reaching beyond the city's borders, so instead of actually driving into city limits we would park at the closest "el" station outside the city and hitch a ride in. Mission accomplished! Upon arriving home with shopping bags from Water Tower Place we would always be met with an onslaught of accusatory questions, but as we did not break the cardinal rule we always won out in the end.

Along with the ability to drive was the ability to get a job! This meant our own money to spend as we pleased on our road trips. No more begging parents for money to go Six Flags...we could no buy our own season passes and go every weekend if we wanted. Since it was a rural area the choice of jobs was very slim unless you wanted to drive twenty mile to the nearest mall. If you decided to stay close to home there was the Safari Market (with it dusty and decaying stuffed African game animals in the aisles), the two-plex (only $2 on Tuesdays), or the usual choice of fast food service (our three choices were KFC, Pizza Hut & McD's). In the summer you had the additional exciting choices of de-tasselling corn or applying to be a lifeguard at the local Lions Club pool. This was a very coveted job as you had to have a connection to even be considered and it meant you would return to school with an awesome tan.

This was major stepping stone stone in our lives where we felt we were actually growing up and becoming closer to being considered actual adults instead of teenagers. By being handed that drivers license and a set of keys it meant that our elders felt we were responsible enough to be trusted with this major piece of equipment and the Independence it brought. Such a rush it was at sixteen!

These days I would rather walk until my feet are bloody stumps than have to get behind the wheel and deal with the hell that is driving. The biggest distraction we had as teenagers was if the cassette single of "Push It" fell between the seats or if Jamie dropped her Shamrock Shake on the floor. They might as well train drivers today to operate the steering wheel with their knees while only using the peripheral vision of their left eye. With all the gadgets high-jacking the attention of otherwise inept people I would feel more comfortable if vehicles were operated by epileptic chimps on crystal meth.

If only I had the money to hire a nice, responsible teenager to drive me around. He may get some pleasure and excitement out of it...