Angry

  There are times when I'm angry about things. I'm not always pleased with the way things are in the world. Everything can be so unfair, so hurtful and I feel marginalized. People are just mean. So I write my little essays about that stuff and what I feel the real issue should be. I offer advice and my opinion. Occasionally I wish ill will on others. I know, it's all very disturbing. Still, through it all I have yet to write a manifesto! Well, nothing that is currently recognized as a manifesto anyway. Should I run afoul of the law, or commit some dastardly deed, then whatever I have written would be immediately called a manifesto. Isn't that a strange thing? It is to me. I wonder why the media choses to place such weight on the ramblings and ravings of the mentally disturbed. And you have to be mentally disturbed to do what those folks have done. In some cases that has been the heart of the defense, not mentally competent. Yet, they've written a manifesto.

  Merriam Webster defines a manifesto as, "a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer." I have to say that is exactly what I've been doing for the last fourteen years or so with this blog. I have shared my views, examined my motives, and declared my intentions, repeatedly. That's reassuring because it is proof of one thing, I'm not nuts. If I were they would be manifestos, not blogs. The only difference being I haven't acted on any of my "motivations." I wonder what does motivate those people to act like that, but then I remember, they're nuts. Are they competent? I'd say they are, regardless of any professional saying otherwise. We are all a little nuts. Don't think so? Spend about fifteen minutes reading Facebook posts, you'll be as convinced as I am. Some folks just ain't right.

  I have a problem with the not mentally competent defense. When someone writes about it beforehand, plans it all out and executes that plan, they're competent enough to stand trial. They are also competent enough to receive the same sentence as someone that didn't write about it first. Yeah, that doesn't excuse you from responsibility. There is much talk about "mental health" here in America today. With no real way to measure that, I'm left doubtful. When people choose to do things that were contrary to the normal and expected behaviors they were called, nuts. Yeah, that's the way that worked. If you committed a crime you might be criminally insane but you were still insane. The World Health Organization defines mental health as "mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well." Well every one of us experiences some sort of mental crisis several times a day. Usually we just call that being pissed off. We act out and do stupid things to others. But, we shouldn't be held mentally competent for any of that, should we? Not if you wrote a manifesto you shouldn't.

 This morning, for example, I'm angry listening to them talk about the guy that shot another man in the back. He had a mental health crisis and isn't competent to stand trial. Others have established a "go fund me" account for his legal fees, to validate that defense. I could tell you who I think are donating their money to that nut job, but then it might be misconstrued as a manifesto, should I offend anyone. Let's just say the ones donating have mental issues! I'd keep a close eye on them if I were the FBI. They aren't right. The man shot another man in the back, in cold blood, on a city street and is a criminal. He planned it out and followed through on his plan. That is competent enough for me. I don't care how mad you were, whether your back hurt, or you couldn't "perform" the way you think you should, you are guilty as charged. I have the cure for all of that! Unfortunately the law currently doesn't provide that cure in New York and the cure is on hold in Pa. I'm angry about that, it's a mental health crisis! No it isn't, I'm just pissed off. And isn't that a funny little expression? I'd be far more upset if I was pissed on. Might write a manifesto after that!