Hmm.
No doubt in my mind at all that program vets need the help and support of non vets for a number of reasons.
First, let me tell you I was both shocked and thoroughly pissed off by Titsch's response to you, Melissa. I understand what he took exception to, but he just didn't handle it well.
I don't agree with your basing your trust in people on whether or not they were in a program. I think it's a mistake. I do get that it's easier to get to know someone w/ similar life experience. But just because someone's been through a program doesn't make them trustworthy
and vica versa.
But that works against us, too. We're all biased one way or another. For every one of us, the story is complicated by family issues, trouble with the law or school and other complications. But coming from someone like Titsch (or Arnold Trebach or some other folks who haven't been there) that's not an issue.
Here's what Titsch has got that we haven't. He's a legal eagle
without a horse in this race, aside from common concern for his fellow man. There's no confusion over whether he's just pissed at his parents or ex or a failure in life who can't get over blaming others for his mistakes. It's simply not an issue, he's reporting what he sees as an objective, outside observer. That's golden!
He's got a skill set that most of us lack. I joke around a lot about jaberwocks and such. But the truth is there are some good ones and there is an art to practicing law. Titsch is not a lawyer, but a legal assistant. That means he's up to his eyeballs in jaberwocky every day and surrounded by jaberwocks. He knows the language and culture and can translate our grievances into language they can understand. That's golden too!
And he has been working on this since around June. Just search on his name and you'll find nearly 30 forums where he posted his original essay. After that, he used his language skills and understanding of the legal system to get in touch with the right person inside the Embassey and to convey the importance of the situation in terms that seem to have gotten the lady's attention. I can't remember her name, but if you look through recent posts, he states it just before he gets all pissed off and vanishes.
But there's this primal flaw. If anybody is going to get all bent out of shape and take their ball and go home just because some 18yo stranger on the net says she doesn't trust them, well there's nothing I can do to help that. It's going to happen again and again and again. Anyone who can't take that kind of thing and let it roll off is just not going to be able to get anything done in our weird little social circle. We're a strident and truculant and highly skeptical bunch.
He that will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not, is a slave.
--William Drummond (1585-1640)
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Ginger Warbis ~ Antigen
American drug war P.O.W.
10/80 - 10/82
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