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MIKE PIRTLE: Unimaginable events in hard, strained times



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By: MIKE PIRTLE, Post Publisher
Posted: Sunday, November 15, 2009 9:22 am
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Some things we can’t imagine, but others can and do.

Recently we carried online the story of a fairly young (32 years old) man who committed suicide, apparently by pouring gasoline on himself in a dumpster and setting himself on fire.

Several days passed between the discovery of the body and the final determination of suicide.

Although investigators fairly early on had a good idea the death was suicide, they didn’t say so and shouldn’t have. Until they know or feel pretty sure they know, premature disclosure often ends up badly.

But, investigators quickly learned the body carried no trauma marks or similar wounds.

Unless it is postmortem people killed with fire react violently.

Online comments, and plenty of other folk, jumped to the conclusion it had to be murder, leaping from the basis that no one kills themselves with fire.

Well, no one kills their children.

Or takes a couple of handguns and walks along killing fellow students, coworkers or fellow soldiers.

Or pulls a truck full of fuel and fertilizer up to an office building full of civilians, and even a child daycare, and leaves it to blow a gigantic hole right through the middle of it all, sending more than 150 souls skyward.

But someone did. And in the first two instances it has happened many times.

And, the young man did apparently douse himself with gasoline and set himself on fire. A truly sad tragic ending.

Maybe it’s just a memory-overload situation, maybe it’s just instantaneous news coverage, but it seems these deadly tragic incidents are happening more and more.

Unquestionably, hard economic times produce extreme reactions.

We have seen many this year in politics.

Our ongoing political divide, seemingly constantly pushed wider by the extremes on either side that usually appear to be in control, plays a role.

Most likely, our continuing war situation exacerbates the situation.

Hard times, hurt feelings and ultimate sacrifice across a long enough period of time can probably be expected to reap a grim and bitter harvest.

The taste for which hopefully we will never become accustomed.

•••
Most of us can’t do much of anything to prevent those unforeseen personal tragedies, the senseless killing rampages or the losses in our country’s military uniforms.

We can do something, though.

United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties right now is waging its annual campaign to raise funds to help in the operations of some 45 agencies in our community who stretch out a hand to help every day.

Most of us would struggle to help someone deep in depression. But, United Way agencies have the answers.

Most of us don’t know how to respond to violence, most often in our society domestic violence, but United Way agencies can help, can heal and can move forward.

Most of us don’t know how to help families with a soldier, Marine, sailor and aviator in harm’s way, but United Way agencies offer counseling, rent help, childcare and resources to meet needs we can’t imagine.

Separately, we suffer.

We can Live United.

United Way needs our help so its member agencies can help. Do what you can.
•••
You could start next weekend by volunteering for Murfreesboro’s unique replanting of trees destroyed by the Good Friday Tornado along our glorious greenway system.
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Member Opinions:
By: UnionLady1055 on 11/17/09
In 2008 Graham Denton, the chairman of the board of the United Way in Charlotte, N.C., stepped down after an investigation revealed a $2-million retirement package paid to the charity’s former chief executive, Gloria Pace King.

Looks like to me United Way could do a lot better helping people if they didn't give it to the CEO's


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