Is the death of Aaron Douglas.....

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roustabout

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Is the death of Aaron Douglas.....

« on: May 14, 2011, 10:50:10 AM »

......that big of a tragedy? Out of respect for the main thread, I'll put this over here in no mans land. I know many of you will find my remarks insensative. But as my Papaw used to say. No matter how flat you pat a pancake, it always has two sides.

First. I would never wish the pain of losing a child on anyone. I am sure the Douglas family is grieving, and there is nothing any of us can say or do to change that. I do not delight in the death of anyone.

But, working with inner city youth, I can tell you that this is common. And quite frankly no one (for the most part) gives a rip about any of them. The death of a young person is always tragic, but 18-25 year old men die from similar situations all the time, right here in our own backyard. But because this guy played football, all of the sudden, his death is worthy of our interest? Why is Douglas' death any more unfortunate than anyone elses?

Let us not forget that this guy had just pled to a DUI. I live in that county, and I have a 10 year old daughter. There is zero question that not only had this kid put his own life in jeapordy more than once, but he also put others at risk with his actions. He also had issues with violent behavior towards women. Now, none of those things means he had it coming. Not anymore than the fact he was a decorated athlete makes his death more noteworthy. But it seems too me, as with many athletes that trouble is swept under the rug, and a blind eye turned. I do know that he had many priveleges afforded to him. Upperclass upbringing. Full ride scholorships.

I don't know his parents, and I'm sure they are decent people. And no question they are hurting right now. But based on what I know, the last thing he needed to be doing was playing college football. There were a lot of issues surrounding this kid's life, for a long time. And yet, because of his football skills, he just seemed to shuffled through the process.


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plumbervol

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Re: Is the death of Aaron Douglas.....

« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2011, 08:20:18 AM »

I met his parents a couple of time due to some mutual friends. They seemed to be a nice family and lets face it I have seen many "good" families endure this same situation. A few years back in the 70's we as a community(Catholic) went through a few year period where it seemed that kids his age were dropping like flies. All came from good families and were upper middle class kids, one was a prominent surgeon son. All died of drug related reasons from car wrecks to flat out overdoses. I know Lee Smith's momma and nobody is beter than her but she had to endure some of the same problems before Lee got his crap together.

As for inner city youth and drug problems nobody overlooks it, but the reality is that it takes MONEY to rehab and they have very little.

I know of a 52 year old that was fired from his job of 20 years because of drug related problems. He needed rehab but the company sent him to EAP and he never made the meetings they require. It was my opinion they did not want to pay their part of the rehab via health care coverage.... In this recession and with a high unemployment rate this is only going to get worse.


« Last Edit: August 22, 2011, 08:47:00 AM by plumbervol »	Logged

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It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one's life and find at the end that one has no more to offer by way of advice than "try to be a little kinder".

roustabout

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Re: Is the death of Aaron Douglas.....

« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2011, 05:24:52 PM »

Quote

As for inner city youth and drug problems nobody overlooks it, but the reality is that it takes MONEY to rehab and they have very little.

Sorry PV, I haven't checked in.

Rehab can be expensive. It can also be,.........drum roll......FREEEEEE!!!!!

I had a friend in his mid 40s. He was in all kinds of legal trouble and facing jail time. The judge gave him the option of going to teen challenge, which is a faith based intensive 14 month rehab. He did. It worked. Cost? Zero $$.

Most of these expensive programs are bull crap. They don't work. A month here, a few weeks. Then some meetings. Forget it.


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Grace is the biggest no brainer in the history of the world.

"FWIW, my own opinion is that if the baby is capable of surviving outside the womb, an abortion should not be allowed." FL on 3/4/2004

plumbervol

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Re: Is the death of Aaron Douglas.....

« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2011, 05:35:41 AM »

I am not much on 12 step programs without the use of a facility or a commitment to ease them into the meetings. AA and NA are free you can go to Cedar Bluff and have almost around the clock meetings. Emerald Ave NA meets a couple of times a day. If you are not MADE to GO and then buy into it it is not useless IMO

They have the kids group over at Baum Street Penisula they get sentenced there and never leave in patient care it seems. Many are out of state. They bus them out to meetings and have to be good boys and girls etc or they never get out.


« Last Edit: November 28, 2011, 10:06:00 AM by plumbervol »	Logged

Gustoly

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Re: Is the death of Aaron Douglas.....

« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2011, 12:38:06 AM »

I really feel for parents who have to bury their children. What a tragedy Aaron's death was.


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tenn_smoothie

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Re: Is the death of Aaron Douglas.....

« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2011, 06:30:52 PM »

here we go with the "inner city youth."

anyone who has some degree of fame, whether through athletics or entertainment or, possibly politics, will be a news story if they are involved in a tragic story, death, overdose, legal trouble, whatever.

that goes for middle class whites, middle class blacks and inner city youth. there are athletes who grew up in poverty who, after becoming famous, get into trouble of some kind. it is almost always a big story and people always talk about what a terrible tragedy it is.

likewise, lots of people who have no degree of fame, who are members of all races and come from all kinds of socio-economic backgrounds have tragic episodes in life and the general public doesn't know the difference.

It has nothing to do with anyone not caring about the poor black kids who live in a housing project. give it a break.


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