Mental illness is a disease
The National Alliance on Mental Illness would like to thank the more than 800 people who flooded the UC Ballroom to view the 23 organizations that brought their resources on mental illness and hear Patty Duke discuss her successful life while living with bipolar disorder (Missoulian, Oct. 11).
How exhilarating it was to view such an accomplished star who has walked the path of mental illness with all the difficulties it brings, and hear her wisdom and empathy for all the stories that were shared. It was so exciting to see people courageously tell their life's journey, despite the stigma they have faced in the past. So often they stated that these illnesses evoked little support from the people around them. If a person is in a leg cast, or is sitting in a wheelchair, it evokes a certain amount of concern. But when you state that you have a mental illness, you usually receive a blank stare and a quick retreat. Society needs to be educated to the truth that has been stated on the NAMI billboard on Broadway: “Mental illness is a brain disease, not a character defect.”
Change is happening, as we see the Parity Act being passed, giving equal insurance coverage to all illnesses, including the mentally ill. More research of the brain and development of new medications are occurring.
Thank you to St. Patrick Hospital for paying for the ballroom and a big thank-you to Missoula for coming out and supporting the needs of those dealing with mental illness. It was a wonderful evening shared by all!
Dorothy Salmonson, president, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Missoula
Thanks for fixing railroad crossing
Kudos to Montana Rail Link for the great job fixing the railroad crossing at Madison and Spruce streets. As a longtime Rattlesnake resident, I find it's now a pleasure to cross those tracks.
Claude A. Huguet, Missoula
Rattlesnake residents grateful for fix
Thanks so much to the railroad and the city for a great job in smoothing out the railroad crossing at the east end of Spruce Street last week. For those of us traveling the west side of the Rattlesnake, we thank you and our cars thank you.
For so many years, people have bounced over that crossing holding their teeth together so their fillings didn't jar loose. And, the poor cars were taking such a beating we didn't know if the wheels would come off before we got home.
At any rate, it just goes to show good things do happen once in a while if you wait long enough. Thanks again to the workers who did such a fine job of smoothing out a bumpy problem.
Dean and Sis Robertson, Missoula
Good work done in timely manner
I'd like to send a thank-you to the folks at Montana Rail Link. They recently upgraded and repaved the rail crossing where East Spruce Street meets Greenough Drive. The work was done in a timely and professional manner, with the final product making for a very smooth crossing. Those of us who live on the west side of the Rattlesnake greatly appreciate the effort by MRL.
Pat Corrick, Missoula
Saint Obama, ruler of androids
June 7, 2010. I am very happy. It's my birthday and we're in the 17th month of President Obama's administration.
We all have health coverage now and it's free. He figured it out for us.
We lounge in hammocks and coolers of chilled beer and pop are brought to us by indentured servants. Oh, don't worry. They are very well treated and after a year of joyful service, they will themselves be citizens and fellow millionaires.
The climate is perfectly regulated now, as is everything else. Summer and winter are moderate, the extremes have been eliminated.
There is no longer any greed. Bankers and CEOs, for example, happily volunteer their time doing those mundane tasks which necessity demands.
Ah, here comes a garbage truck. I mean a Sanitation Organizing Unit. The driver gives a cheery wave from his gold-plated cab and adjusts the silk handkerchief in his suit jacket. He is very happy, too. His 12-hour-a-week job pays better than the annual minimum wage of $250,000 and he never dirties his hands - robots handle the dirty work.
And in the Oval Office, where President Obama is, Obama consults with the pope about his future canonization, a trickle of tear descends the president's cheek.
He cries, “The robots, the robots, how can I make life better for them.”
Ed Chaberek, Superior
Obama would aid American Dream
Living in America entitles me to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But in order to pursue my happiness I need the government's help.
All I need are the basics, like food, shelter, medical care, education and an income. If George Bush can spend gazillions of dollars killing people, why can't citizens of this country get a little help? Rich people have more than they need. Some don't even know how much they have and won't miss the little I need to take from them. The rich get richer and I get poorer. Poor people outnumber rich people so we can force them to do what we want. This is a democracy, you know. We won't take all their money, just what we need to get by. We'll be fair. That's where the government can help.
I just can't go and take stuff from rich people without being arrested. The government can do it for me by taxing the fat cats and sending me my share. I'm voting for Barack Obama because he has promised to raise the taxes on the rich and cut mine. He has promised to make health care and college educations more affordable. I may even get some help with a mortgage. Three out of five ain't bad for a start, but I'm hoping once he and the progressives get in office their food and income programs will provide me the security I need to be happy and the change this country needs.
Richard Winters, Missoula
ACORN story is overblown
We hear a lot about ACORN in the news. I don't see what all the fuss is about.
As I see it, no laws were broken unless a person tries to vote more than once, and even then it would be the voter - not the person getting them to register - who would be breaking the law.
Maybe someone out there can explain how ACORN got to be big news.
Richard Moore, Missoula
Make changes for future generations
Bertrand Russell once wrote that “one must care about a world one will never see.”
As politicians debate our energy future in these uncertain economic times, their decisions will greatly affect that world we will never see. Let us not, in desperation, move toward nuclear power in an attempt to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels, although this is a laudable and, ultimately, necessary goal. The resultant radioactive waste would be toxic and geologically long-lived.
Further, may we choose, here in Montana, to leave our coal in the ground until such time as “safe” or “clean” coal technology has been proven to be scientifically and economically sound.
Let us become “carbon neutral” and carefully choose our future as a generous gift to our children, our grandchildren and that world we will never see.
Jeanine Walker, Missoula
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