Traumatic effect of trauma
The alleged shooter at Fort Hood is a psychiatrist who has treated soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Through that experience, the doctor had become very familiar with the horrors of war in a most personal way, albeit vicariously through the sufferings of his patients. It has been reported that he was extremely anxious about his upcoming deployment to a war zone, and as yet, no motive for his alleged violence has been identified.
Is it possible that vicariously experiencing the traumas of war induced a kind of trauma that triggered a violent response to the news of impending deployment, possibly to face those same horrors of war first hand? If so, then PTSD may not be limited to those who directly suffer trauma, but perhaps can be induced in those who treat them.
Regardless, the Fort Hood shootings witness to the human costs of violence, most of which are painfully all too obvious, and perhaps some that are harder to see.
David Wright
ASU Faculty
Thanking Mitchell
I would like to publicly thank Rep. Harry Mitchell for his “yes” vote on the House health care bill.
Congressman Mitchell has shown his caring approach to help make his city, district, state and country a better place for everyone. This approach to teaching, serving as mayor of Tempe, state legislator and U.S. congressman has clearly shown that he is a man who has selflessly represented us well.
Bravo Congressman Mitchell.
Betty Bartholomew
Reader
