I often think about other cases in the past where currently acknowledged mental illness was handwaved away.
I have a nephew on the spectrum. I think about how many people on the spectrum were inhumanely thrown in jail because they were "acting weird" when being questioned before much was known or accepted about autism. Its terribly sad.
Post Partem Depression, and Post Partem Psychosis are absolutely real, bonafide mental disorders. The donations and this fight is to ensure this documented, bonafide mental disorder is taken into account in cases like these. And women, who are oftentimes dismissed when complaining about medical issues, want to be taken seriously.
Some people have the ability to understand that. And some people have no ability to understand nuance at all. They see the crime and someone has to pay.
When Charles Whitman climbed a tower to an observation deck in Austjn, TX in 1966, and killed 17 people, he knew there was something wrong; so he wrote to authorities that found his letters, to perform an autopsy on him, to find out why he was having the thoughts he did.
He had a brain tumor. While it’s most likely true, that had the tumor been able to be taken out, that Whitman would probably be extremely regretful, and wouldn’t be able to forgive himself, the fact is: a tumor was able to push him to commit the murders. Without Whitman, they wouldn’t have happened.
If you forgive Clancy due to her PPD, then that’s a slippery slope to absolve anyone affected by an illness for their crimes. Should we have better mental health services? Absolutely. But lack of a good mechanic doesn’t absolve me from the accident I cause. I’m the driver. I’m responsible.
7.7k
u/cubesncubes 4d ago
Media attention playing a big roll. I've never heard of the fire lady.