[Dixielandjazz] Creativity and Mental Illness

[Hal Vickery]

Correct.  Searching for an explanation for the behavior of a person who
commits a horrendous act does not excuse the act nor diminish sympathy to
the victims.  I've had dealings for over 30 years with a mentally ill person
and know that the bizarre behaviors are a symptom of a disease that is
normally kept under control by use of medication.  

I find it kind of sad that although the phrase "controlling one's inner
demons" is now used mostly metaphorically, there are those who apparently
take it quite literally.  Medical science today recognizes causes of
symptoms (imbalance of very delicately balanced neurochemicals, apparently
often involving a genetic component) and can treat them with medication.
Genetic mutations that might cause such an imbalance have physical causes,
too.

At any rate, to get back to something that actually might belong in this
list, what Rosolino did was despicable.  It was a terrible act, one that
obviously damaged his surviving son's psyche for years, not to mention the
physical damage he did to him.  But it was the act of someone who apparently
had untreated bipolar disorder (judging from the descriptions of his
behavior).  Had he been diagnosed and treated, the tragedy might never have
happened.  But what does any of this have to do with his output as a
musician?

Hal Vickery

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Bob Loomis
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 11:40 AM
To: Hal Vickery
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Creativity and Mental Illness

[Lots of snippage]
   
    -- I don't believe Hal was "feeling sorry for
the perp rather than the victim,"  to paraphrase.
It is possible, particularly if you've had any
dealings over a period of time with a mentally
ill person, to feel sorry for both victim and
perp. 
Bob Loomis
Concord CA

    

 


 
____________________________________________________________________________
________
Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page. 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

_______________________________________________
To unsubscribe or change your e-mail preferences for the Dixieland Jazz
Mailing list, or to find the online archives, please visit:

http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz



Dixielandjazz mailing list
Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com