Friday 23 December 2011
Thursday 6 October 2011
Major Thesis
The "Major Thesis" is a term I coined, to recognize a 2003 decision by the Supreme Court of Canada, in the case of Starson v. Swayze. Justice John Major, writing for the 6-3 majority, ruled the defendant, Scott Starson, had the right to refuse anti-psychotic medication, which a psychiatrist wanted him to take.
The case centred on an Ontario Appeals Court ruling that Mr. Starson's "capacity" was not judged under legal values but under medical values.
The decision emphasized the right of citizens to self determination, but in his ruling Justice Major wrote that "Psychiatry is not an exact science", and that "capable but dissident interpretations of information are to be expected".
Wikipedia paraphrased this by writing: "The majority also noted that psychiatrists do not always agree on diagnoses (as if to devalue the importance that the court should place on their opinions)".
One could have a field day describing the major split between the corporate-driven medical model (DSM) diagnoses, and those of independent psychiatrists- the "dissident but capable" group, those many professionals in the medical community who question the use of mind altering medications in psychiatry, and warn about the negative consequences they often cause.
In recognition of this brave ruling of the majority on the Supreme Court of Canada, I take it upon myself to point out some of the main "dissident but capable" psychiatrists and authors: Peter Breggin, Joseph Glenmullen, and David Healy.
Each of them has a book with the name Prozac in the title, including Breggin's 'Talking Back to Prozac', Glenmullen's 'Prozac Backlash', and Healy's 'Let Them Eat Prozac', in which one can learn an immense amount of knowledge about psychiatric medications.
Perhaps I'll leave it to my readers to seek out these books if they're interested, for I'll need a very long rest before I venture out on this particular field day.
I may just prefer to take in a little "field work" in the Baseball playoffs instead.
The case centred on an Ontario Appeals Court ruling that Mr. Starson's "capacity" was not judged under legal values but under medical values.
The decision emphasized the right of citizens to self determination, but in his ruling Justice Major wrote that "Psychiatry is not an exact science", and that "capable but dissident interpretations of information are to be expected".
Wikipedia paraphrased this by writing: "The majority also noted that psychiatrists do not always agree on diagnoses (as if to devalue the importance that the court should place on their opinions)".
One could have a field day describing the major split between the corporate-driven medical model (DSM) diagnoses, and those of independent psychiatrists- the "dissident but capable" group, those many professionals in the medical community who question the use of mind altering medications in psychiatry, and warn about the negative consequences they often cause.
In recognition of this brave ruling of the majority on the Supreme Court of Canada, I take it upon myself to point out some of the main "dissident but capable" psychiatrists and authors: Peter Breggin, Joseph Glenmullen, and David Healy.
Each of them has a book with the name Prozac in the title, including Breggin's 'Talking Back to Prozac', Glenmullen's 'Prozac Backlash', and Healy's 'Let Them Eat Prozac', in which one can learn an immense amount of knowledge about psychiatric medications.
Perhaps I'll leave it to my readers to seek out these books if they're interested, for I'll need a very long rest before I venture out on this particular field day.
I may just prefer to take in a little "field work" in the Baseball playoffs instead.
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Zen and the Anatomy of an Epidemic
Zen is mostly seen as 'meditation'. Another interpretation of Zen I've read, calls it a way of looking at an insoluble problem. As my title today I've chosen to combine "Zen" with the title of the extremely important book by Robert Whitaker- "Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America".
Robert Whitaker must qualify as a Zen master for this formidable project, which I am slowly working my way through.
As my opinions will soon emerge as fairly loyal to the Whitaker theses, I want to mention two other books I am reading: "Awakening to Zen" by Roshi Philip Kapleau, and "Zen Therapy" by David Brazier.
Kapleau founded the Rochester Zen Centre in 1966, in upstate New York, after meeting Zen Master DT Suzuki in Japan and undergoing thirteen years of formal training with two of Japan's contemporary Zen masters- Harada Roshi and Yasutani Roshi.
The part of Kapleau's book that most interests me is where he tells us that he received a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, after which he relates how he had to replace his life long antipathy to drugs with acceptance of their new role in his life. In other chapters, Kapleau writes about mind-altering drugs, the artful use of pain in Zen, and sections on 'illness, dying, caregiving and families', and 'On Confronting a Chronic Illness'.
What I gained from Kapleau's book was an appreciation that even someone opposed to the use of drugs had to come to terms with them, and in his case recognize the fact that he had become dependent on pharmaceuticals for his very life. I would be stupid not to acknowledge this possibility arising in my own life. Currently, the two prescription drugs I take are for high blood pressure, and depression.
For the latter I'm trying a milder form of Lithium than the more common Carbonate, called Lithium Orotate. I'm mostly taking this for neuroprotection. I also take a combination of herbs and other neuro-supportive substances such as choline and fish oil. Perhaps the fact that I'm blogging is some evidence of success in my approach to mental health.
The use of these supports is due to a very bad experience with a psychiatric drug, that caused a lot of harm and no good at all. Fortunately I read about alternative medicine constantly, and follow the integrative philosophy of doctors like Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra.
Before I launch into further blog entries with a lot of anti-psychiatry fervour, I assure you I'll try to absorb the message of Kapleau, and other masters and students of Zen.
Robert Whitaker must qualify as a Zen master for this formidable project, which I am slowly working my way through.
As my opinions will soon emerge as fairly loyal to the Whitaker theses, I want to mention two other books I am reading: "Awakening to Zen" by Roshi Philip Kapleau, and "Zen Therapy" by David Brazier.
Kapleau founded the Rochester Zen Centre in 1966, in upstate New York, after meeting Zen Master DT Suzuki in Japan and undergoing thirteen years of formal training with two of Japan's contemporary Zen masters- Harada Roshi and Yasutani Roshi.
The part of Kapleau's book that most interests me is where he tells us that he received a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, after which he relates how he had to replace his life long antipathy to drugs with acceptance of their new role in his life. In other chapters, Kapleau writes about mind-altering drugs, the artful use of pain in Zen, and sections on 'illness, dying, caregiving and families', and 'On Confronting a Chronic Illness'.
What I gained from Kapleau's book was an appreciation that even someone opposed to the use of drugs had to come to terms with them, and in his case recognize the fact that he had become dependent on pharmaceuticals for his very life. I would be stupid not to acknowledge this possibility arising in my own life. Currently, the two prescription drugs I take are for high blood pressure, and depression.
For the latter I'm trying a milder form of Lithium than the more common Carbonate, called Lithium Orotate. I'm mostly taking this for neuroprotection. I also take a combination of herbs and other neuro-supportive substances such as choline and fish oil. Perhaps the fact that I'm blogging is some evidence of success in my approach to mental health.
The use of these supports is due to a very bad experience with a psychiatric drug, that caused a lot of harm and no good at all. Fortunately I read about alternative medicine constantly, and follow the integrative philosophy of doctors like Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra.
Before I launch into further blog entries with a lot of anti-psychiatry fervour, I assure you I'll try to absorb the message of Kapleau, and other masters and students of Zen.
Sunday 2 October 2011
Strange Fate
Yes, I had a fine education. UAlberta, UBC, McGill. Well known universities, sure to enhance my reputation... And, nowadays the humble Canadian college is eager to gain the advantages of university status, which provides me with credit from Emily Carr University (once a mere college), Mount Royal University, once a college, (where Ralph Klein taught Media Arts, ahem...), David Thompson University of the Arts, in Nelson, British Columbia, and, of course Edmonton's pride, Grant MacEwan College, now also bestowed with University status. I studied journalism there, so trust me, I am a well trained journalist...
And, I'm eager to report on some peculiar trends I've noticed. I had the advantage of being the progeny of two University of Alberta professors, both holders of Ph.Ds from Ivy League Universities, Columbia in the case of my father. and Cornell U., where my mother obtained a Ph.D in Linguistics.
So, bear with me, for you see New York is home to these very extraordinary universities, and I spent time there, in Ithaca, where I was enrolled in Fall Creek elementary school in grade one, Boynton Jr. High in grade seven, DeWitt Jr. High in grade seven, and at a Free School called Markles Flats Alternate Jr. High in grade nine. I thank my lucky stars I was exposed to this example of American progressivism.
Today, Charlie Rose speaks of American exceptionalism, which draws scholars from throughout the world to American universities, who often go on to leadership roles in democratic institutions in their home countries. This speaks highly of America's role in the world, and I try to remain sympathetic to this patriotic view, expressed by Rose and most journalists employed by American media outlets.
But I fled Ithaca High School in 1974, to return to Edmonton... Yes it is hard to explain the appeal.
Nowadays I see Edmonton as "The Middle Path" , in Buddhist terms, where I try to avoid the hardships the world throws at me. Ithaca had intellectual stimulation galore, but somehow my Canadian roots drew me back. So I'm the intellectual who calls Edmonton home. There's not a lot of company...
And, I'm eager to report on some peculiar trends I've noticed. I had the advantage of being the progeny of two University of Alberta professors, both holders of Ph.Ds from Ivy League Universities, Columbia in the case of my father. and Cornell U., where my mother obtained a Ph.D in Linguistics.
So, bear with me, for you see New York is home to these very extraordinary universities, and I spent time there, in Ithaca, where I was enrolled in Fall Creek elementary school in grade one, Boynton Jr. High in grade seven, DeWitt Jr. High in grade seven, and at a Free School called Markles Flats Alternate Jr. High in grade nine. I thank my lucky stars I was exposed to this example of American progressivism.
Today, Charlie Rose speaks of American exceptionalism, which draws scholars from throughout the world to American universities, who often go on to leadership roles in democratic institutions in their home countries. This speaks highly of America's role in the world, and I try to remain sympathetic to this patriotic view, expressed by Rose and most journalists employed by American media outlets.
But I fled Ithaca High School in 1974, to return to Edmonton... Yes it is hard to explain the appeal.
Nowadays I see Edmonton as "The Middle Path" , in Buddhist terms, where I try to avoid the hardships the world throws at me. Ithaca had intellectual stimulation galore, but somehow my Canadian roots drew me back. So I'm the intellectual who calls Edmonton home. There's not a lot of company...
Monday 26 September 2011
Twitter mania
Yeah, I just signed up for two twitter feeds, @GlobalRevLive,
and @HongPong, where I am reminded to @OccupyWallSt.
Ah the scent of People Power in the morning...
It smells like... a lot of hungry people waking up in the streets of North American cities, searching for truth... searching for justice..food would be good too...
Previously I mentioned the article by Chris Hedges, 'Why Revolution Must Start In America', published in the July/Aug issue of Adbusters magazine, which says: "Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and former international correspondent for the New York Times. His latest book is 'The World As It Is: Dispatches on the Myth of Human Progress'." Well I am an unabashed fan of Adbusters, and its editor Kalle Lasn. They of course have a video feed of the occupation of Wall St. on their website.
I don't recall seeing a word on this in my local Postmedia publication...
So it's up to us humble bloggers, us community-minded netizens, to speak truth to power!!!
Have a look at the summer edition of Adbusters, the one with both Justin Bieber and Louis Riel on the cover, and go ahead and read such articles as "Will The Revolution Begin In London?", "The Spark That Lights Up Australia" and, "Unleashing Canada's Revolutionary Potential".
Joel Bakan has a new book that made the Edmonton best seller list, called 'Childhood Under Seige'. (Thanks Edmonton Journal. There are some things you do well!). But again, Adbusters is well ahead of the curve, and publishes a letter from a young student that is well worth reading.
To summarize, this student (Ian S.) picked up a copy of Adbusters in the students union. He came across an article on "bipolar disorder", which made him cry. He writes that a few months ago he was diagnosed as "bipolar" after a 45 minute session with a psychiatrist and a printed questionnaire.
Upon this basis, the psychiatrist prescribed three powerful psychotropic drugs, consisting of an anti-anxiety drug, an anti-depressant drug, and an anti-psychotic drug.
After taking the pills for a week, he decides to read up on them, and consults a therapist, who says there were no grounds to diagnose him as "bipolar", and that dangerously little is known about the anti-psychotic drug he took.
The letter writer further states that the therapist confirmed his wariness over the relationship between psychiatrists and the pharmaceutical lobby, and that {they} were at the mental health facility weekly.
After taking the said medications, he attempted suicide four times in five months and nearly flunked out of college. He goes on to curse the pharmaceutical companies, their lobbyists, and the psychiatrists they lobby.
He states that {they} nearly killed him, and reminds us of the death of a little girl after psychiatric treatment (Rebecca Riley?). He concludes, "For doing that to a little girl, they deserve the worst punishment that society can offer.".
I haven't read Joel Bakan's current best selling book, but I believe this distinguished professor of Law at UBC covers this horrifying trend of labelling children and prescribing to them powerful and addicting psychotropic drugs.
On my Twitter feed, I'm following those who try to enact change, for revolution is needed throughout our world. I'm especially concerned about corporate lobbyists bringing death to innocents with their corrupt practices. Adbusters has continuously covered this blight on society, and has a very special term for it: "The Culture Of Death".
and @HongPong, where I am reminded to @OccupyWallSt.
Ah the scent of People Power in the morning...
It smells like... a lot of hungry people waking up in the streets of North American cities, searching for truth... searching for justice..food would be good too...
Previously I mentioned the article by Chris Hedges, 'Why Revolution Must Start In America', published in the July/Aug issue of Adbusters magazine, which says: "Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and former international correspondent for the New York Times. His latest book is 'The World As It Is: Dispatches on the Myth of Human Progress'." Well I am an unabashed fan of Adbusters, and its editor Kalle Lasn. They of course have a video feed of the occupation of Wall St. on their website.
I don't recall seeing a word on this in my local Postmedia publication...
So it's up to us humble bloggers, us community-minded netizens, to speak truth to power!!!
Have a look at the summer edition of Adbusters, the one with both Justin Bieber and Louis Riel on the cover, and go ahead and read such articles as "Will The Revolution Begin In London?", "The Spark That Lights Up Australia" and, "Unleashing Canada's Revolutionary Potential".
Joel Bakan has a new book that made the Edmonton best seller list, called 'Childhood Under Seige'. (Thanks Edmonton Journal. There are some things you do well!). But again, Adbusters is well ahead of the curve, and publishes a letter from a young student that is well worth reading.
To summarize, this student (Ian S.) picked up a copy of Adbusters in the students union. He came across an article on "bipolar disorder", which made him cry. He writes that a few months ago he was diagnosed as "bipolar" after a 45 minute session with a psychiatrist and a printed questionnaire.
Upon this basis, the psychiatrist prescribed three powerful psychotropic drugs, consisting of an anti-anxiety drug, an anti-depressant drug, and an anti-psychotic drug.
After taking the pills for a week, he decides to read up on them, and consults a therapist, who says there were no grounds to diagnose him as "bipolar", and that dangerously little is known about the anti-psychotic drug he took.
The letter writer further states that the therapist confirmed his wariness over the relationship between psychiatrists and the pharmaceutical lobby, and that {they} were at the mental health facility weekly.
After taking the said medications, he attempted suicide four times in five months and nearly flunked out of college. He goes on to curse the pharmaceutical companies, their lobbyists, and the psychiatrists they lobby.
He states that {they} nearly killed him, and reminds us of the death of a little girl after psychiatric treatment (Rebecca Riley?). He concludes, "For doing that to a little girl, they deserve the worst punishment that society can offer.".
I haven't read Joel Bakan's current best selling book, but I believe this distinguished professor of Law at UBC covers this horrifying trend of labelling children and prescribing to them powerful and addicting psychotropic drugs.
On my Twitter feed, I'm following those who try to enact change, for revolution is needed throughout our world. I'm especially concerned about corporate lobbyists bringing death to innocents with their corrupt practices. Adbusters has continuously covered this blight on society, and has a very special term for it: "The Culture Of Death".
Friday 16 September 2011
Yippie!! I've got nine friends on Facebook, and seven tweets on Twitter.
Now I've got the miracle of Blogger to really go to town, for you see,
two of those friends on Facebook are literary editors, and it would be nice if they were to take notice of the ramblings of this wayward buffalo.
I have the advantage of an excellent Liberal Arts education from several Canadian universities, including McGill in Montreal and UBC in Vancouver, culminating in a BA General from the University of Alberta in 1992.
I once typed up a website called The Able Generalist, expounding on the advantages of a generalized education rather than a specialization, for how can one limit oneself to a single talent when one is blessed with several?
This blog replaces that website, and will be the home of the cleverly named 'Abel, Generalist', whose outpouring of art, words, and music await your return visits. Enjoy!
With my major in Art History, minor in English, numerous writing, drawing, painting, and music courses, I'm here to share evidence that you are in the virtual presence of a REAL ARTIST.
I believe I qualify as both an Able Generalist and a Real Artist, so stay tuned, you may just find your heart and spirit engaged. (Comments welcome...)
As for the Alberta Buffalo, well that is another guise I've taken on, for sadly I fell into a void of powerlessness (learned helplessness) and saw myself as one of the millions of Alberta Buffalo driven over the cliff at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a famous Alberta landmark.
The able generalist now faces his greatest challenge, far beyond the hopes of a rewarding literary career, as politics has taken priority over aesthetics. I'll need to reach back to my years as an undergraduate student of political science at McGill University to find a way to survive the forces of evil driving innocent Albertans like me over the cliff.
If only I could fly before I hit the bone bed waiting below...
One can only hope I've escaped this metaphoric fall, as I face the real fall of 2011 in Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta.
Recently I enjoyed a few days in the Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper, which I used as a 'Vision Quest' to figure out how to fly and not fall... I believe I saw many routes forward, including finding a book on the "living thoughts of Machiavelli", by Count Carlo Sforza, for sale at the Jasper Public Library.
I'm studying Machiavelli just like I did 35 years ago at McGill, for as Machiavelli wrote:
"When any evil arises within a republic, or threatens it from without... the more certain remedy is to temporize with it, rather than attempt to extirpate it; for almost invariably, he who attempts to crush it will rather increase its force, and will accelerate the harm apprehended from it."
and, " Prudent men make the best of circumstances in their actions, and, although constrained by necessity to a certain course, make it appear as if done from their own liberality."
Yes power has seriously threatened my artistic nature, so I'm also reading modern theorists on the evils of global capitalism, such as Chris Hedges who has an article entitled 'Why The Revolution Must Start In America' in the Jul/Aug issue of Adbusters, and Joel Bakan, author of The Corporation.
As Los Lobos sang, 'Will the Wolf Survive?'
For further updates on the fate of this Alberta Buffalo, stay tuned.
Now I've got the miracle of Blogger to really go to town, for you see,
two of those friends on Facebook are literary editors, and it would be nice if they were to take notice of the ramblings of this wayward buffalo.
I have the advantage of an excellent Liberal Arts education from several Canadian universities, including McGill in Montreal and UBC in Vancouver, culminating in a BA General from the University of Alberta in 1992.
I once typed up a website called The Able Generalist, expounding on the advantages of a generalized education rather than a specialization, for how can one limit oneself to a single talent when one is blessed with several?
This blog replaces that website, and will be the home of the cleverly named 'Abel, Generalist', whose outpouring of art, words, and music await your return visits. Enjoy!
With my major in Art History, minor in English, numerous writing, drawing, painting, and music courses, I'm here to share evidence that you are in the virtual presence of a REAL ARTIST.
I believe I qualify as both an Able Generalist and a Real Artist, so stay tuned, you may just find your heart and spirit engaged. (Comments welcome...)
As for the Alberta Buffalo, well that is another guise I've taken on, for sadly I fell into a void of powerlessness (learned helplessness) and saw myself as one of the millions of Alberta Buffalo driven over the cliff at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a famous Alberta landmark.
The able generalist now faces his greatest challenge, far beyond the hopes of a rewarding literary career, as politics has taken priority over aesthetics. I'll need to reach back to my years as an undergraduate student of political science at McGill University to find a way to survive the forces of evil driving innocent Albertans like me over the cliff.
If only I could fly before I hit the bone bed waiting below...
One can only hope I've escaped this metaphoric fall, as I face the real fall of 2011 in Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta.
Recently I enjoyed a few days in the Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper, which I used as a 'Vision Quest' to figure out how to fly and not fall... I believe I saw many routes forward, including finding a book on the "living thoughts of Machiavelli", by Count Carlo Sforza, for sale at the Jasper Public Library.
I'm studying Machiavelli just like I did 35 years ago at McGill, for as Machiavelli wrote:
"When any evil arises within a republic, or threatens it from without... the more certain remedy is to temporize with it, rather than attempt to extirpate it; for almost invariably, he who attempts to crush it will rather increase its force, and will accelerate the harm apprehended from it."
and, " Prudent men make the best of circumstances in their actions, and, although constrained by necessity to a certain course, make it appear as if done from their own liberality."
Yes power has seriously threatened my artistic nature, so I'm also reading modern theorists on the evils of global capitalism, such as Chris Hedges who has an article entitled 'Why The Revolution Must Start In America' in the Jul/Aug issue of Adbusters, and Joel Bakan, author of The Corporation.
As Los Lobos sang, 'Will the Wolf Survive?'
For further updates on the fate of this Alberta Buffalo, stay tuned.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)