Delving Deeper – Psychological Aftermath of Violence 

   This last week, the PBS show Frontline had a 1½ hour episode, “The Wounded Platoon,” available online, which highlights the disturbing repercussions to American soldiers returning to Iraq by following the fate of members of one platoon. The first part discusses Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and details how its symptoms can lead to criminal behavior, cocaine use, and other violence (see Quotation of the Week below). Toward the end of the program, the traumas go beyond the death of friends and constant danger. These soldiers were killing, with words that dehumanized the “hajis.”

    For a quicker read on how this theme – killing as a traumatic activity – can be applied across different kinds of socially-approved killing, see this page of explanation, this page on examples from world literature, or this page on personal stories.

   For serious depth, there are two full books. One is Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress: the Psychological Consequences of Killing, which has chapters on combat veterans, executioners, abortion staff, etc. The other is Achieving Peace in the Abortion War, which applies the idea in more detail to abortion staff, along with the social and political dynamics that go with it.

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  CL Gains New Endorser & New Member Group

   The endorser is Dr. P. Jayaraman, Founder and Executive Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhayan, USA (Institute of Indian Culture). He is also a professor and author.

   The new member group is All Our Lives. All Our Lives works for a world free of domination, coercion, and violence in our sexual and reproductive lives. Their mission is to model a woman-centric, non-violent and inclusive approach to issues of health, sexuality, and reproduction.

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Sharing the Message

    For those who would like t-shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, and other items with consistent-life messages, either individually or in bulk for re-sale, we have a collection available for purchase through Café Press.

 

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Quotation of the Week

LeRoy Carhart, M.D, specialist in late-term abortions  

CBS Evening News, Dec. 4, 2009

        "I totally believe in this cause every bit as much as I did believe every morning when I got up in the military that I was doing the right thing.”