Simmer Down so says the Editor

The following is a letter a friend, Cynthia Wadsworth, sent to our local paper:


Dear Editor,

Response to Simmer Down

Politicizing a Tragedy
Mr. Adamson is politicizing a horrible, senseless tragedy. This is the far left blaming the far right. Has the liberal left become so desperate that they must engage in shameful finger pointing at the conservative right? The finger pointing was immediate and it was totally irresponsible and Mr. Adamson is engaging in this finger pointing.
Jared Loughner, the shooter, had shown a tendency toward mental illness for years. His friend stated that he engaged Senator Giffords in a previous public meeting 3 years ago, by asking her a question that made no sense. He was known for rambling outbursts in math class and in the school library. His you tube video showed very little connections in his thoughts. He showed signs of paranoia. He admits to drug use. He failed an exam to join the Army because of his drug use. Does this explain his violent behavior? Perhaps the combination of drugs and mental illness will be to blame; we do not have that answer. It certainly does not excuse his behavior. It does not appear that he ever had an evaluation by a mental health professional even though his mental instability had been questioned by many who knew him.
What is missed is that in his ramblings posted on the internet and in some of his writings, is that he never mentions current political issues. He does not mention the vitriol that we have had crammed down our throats the last few days. There is no mention of the health care debate, or gun control issues. In my opinion he was so far out of touch with reality that he was not aware of these issues. His target could have been anyone from any political party. He just had access to Giffords over the last several years based on location. Had he lived in Alaska, it could have been Sarah Palin if he had access to her and was able to engage her in his ramblings. It could have been any politician in any state. Jared Loughner happened to live in Arizona.
We should question, instead, how this man fell through the cracks. We should question what is wrong with our mental health system when someone has had symptoms for years and no one pushed for this young man to get help as a teenager or young adult? He was dismissed by the college he attended and told not to return until he had received a mental health evaluation. He did not get one.
The words “simmer down” I have never heard used by grandparents or parents. I have only heard it used on Saturday Night Live. This is not the time to “simmer down.” Locally, some of us are having our property rights taken away by the town of West Jefferson without our permission. We must speak up or we will continue to lose our rights. I am sure “simmer down” is what many on the far left want those of us who are outspoken to do. I am sure that was the message given to us by the West Jefferson town aldermen in June when they paraded the police officers out the back door and then in the front door of town hall at the ETJ meeting. They wanted to be sure we “simmer down now” quoting the Saturday Night live version.
Giffords is outspoken and a trailblazer and I hope that she is able to recover from this senseless violence. We need more just like her. She would not want us to “simmer down.” I am also a traumatic brain injury survivor, and it is a long, long road to recovery and that road may have to be measured in years. Recovery is possible and I will pray that she is blessed with skilled caregivers and a loving family. This was a horrible tragedy and we must recognize it as such.

Cynthia Hardy Wadsworth RNC, BSN, CNNP
Neonatal Practitioner
West Jefferson, NC