My 2 Cents on Michael Savage's Moronic Comments About PTSD Sufferers

My gracious co-host Allan Bourdius brought a recent quote from Michael Savage, AKA “conservative fucktard of the week”, to my attention. As someone with PTSD, it really struck a cord with me.

Now, take a deep breath, because I’m going to post the entire quote. Because In context.

“I am so sick and tired of everyone with their complaints about PTSD, depression. Everyone wants their hand held, and a government check. What are you, the only generation that had PTSD? The only generation that’s depressed? I’m sick of it. I can’t take the celebration of weakness and depression.
See, I was raised a little differently. I was raised to fight weakness. I was raised to fight pain. I was raised to fight depression. Not to give into it. Not to cave into it and cry like a little baby in bed. “Boo-hoo-hoo. Boo-hoo-hoo.” Everyone has depression in their life. Everyone has sickness and sadness and disease. And loss of relatives. And loss of career. Everyone has depression in their life. But if the whole nation is told, “boo-hoo-hoo, come and get a medication, come and get treatment, talk about mental illness.” You know what you wind up with? You wind up with Obama in the White House and liars in every phase of the government. That’s what you wind up with. It’s a weak, sick, nation. A weak, sick, broken nation. And you need men like me to save the country. You need men to stand up and say stop crying like a baby over everything. Stand up already. Stop telling me how sick you are and sad you are. Talk about the good things in your life.When have you last heard that? Oh, everyone’s holding their hand. “Oh, welcome toGood Morning America, sir. You almost committed suicide, how interesting. Please tell us your story.” Maybe a young child who’s on the edge can commit suicide. What a country. No wonder we’re being laughed at around the world. No wonder ISIS can defeat our military. Take a look at that. Take a look at that, why people aren’t even getting married anymore to have children. They don’t even have the guts to raise a child. The men are so weak, and so narcissistic, all they want to do is have fun. Bunch of losers. Just go have a brewski and look at the 49ers, you idiot, you. They won’t even get married, won’t have a child, it takes too much of a man to do that. What a country. You’re not a man, you’re a dog. A dog raises babies better than most American men do.” 

People suffering from PTSD are weak, broken, and sick. That’s what Michael Savage says. But treating them? Oh, no no. Don’t do that. We should just tell them to get over it. Like apparently every man and woman did in the past—oh wait, no they didn’t. Studies actually show, for instance, that WWII veterans’ suicide rate is comparable of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. War-related mental disorders have been an issue since war has existed. As my co-host of Roundtable of Extreme Liberty, and friend, Allan Bourdius, pointed out, PTSD has existed under different names ("shellshock", and "soldiers heart", are two examples) in the past, but it has always existed . No previously mentally well human can deal with the situations and witness the things some active duty and veterans have seen, and come out unscathed. It is pure stupidity and naive to say otherwise.

Though Michael Savage did not seem to attack them as ferociously, there are also civilians who have to live everyday with PTSD, too. Witnesses of atrocities like murder or car accidents, and rape victims, etc. How dare he say that they have no right to seek help and to get well.

Micheal Savage basically wants everyone to shut up about mental health altogether—especially the mental health of veterans. We should just shut up and let it fester. No treatment needed, because serious mental breakdowns and suicide are fine and dandy. And we also need to sit and wait for active duty members become as mentally deranged as ISIS. Fight insanity with insanity, or something. We’ll totes win the war that way. No unintended consequences will result from that move. Right?

Dear Mr. Savage,

I have family members, and prior enlisted friends who are near and dear to me, who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I do, but to a lesser extent. With help, those family and friends of mine have come a long way. The help that you don’t want them to get. And without that help, a couple of them can barely function throughout the day. Some of them suffer from hallucinations. Some have serious paranoia. Most suffer from unrelenting nightmares. Some of them have stayed in bed for days, or stayed awake for days, avoiding their PTSD triggers. Something tells me you have never actually gave a damn enough to talk to a veteran or active duty member with PTSD, or maybe you’d realize the error-riddled statement you delivered on October 14^th.  Maybe you would realize that you are actually the narcissistic idiot. To pretend like you are the type of person who will ride in on a white horse to save the nation with your tough guy bullshit is absurd. I'd like to see you go through what these brave men and women have gone through. Shit, I would just like to see if you could have even survived basic military training--let alone an actual deployment to a hostel area.

And to insinuate that United States military members should be tougher like ISIS is beyond moronic. That mentality of yearning for disgusting brutality and thirst for human suffering is something military members signed on to fight against. They did not sign that contract to become equally monstrous. 

Remember that those people you are so desperate to berate took an oath and support(ed) and defend(ed) this nation, as well as the shitballtastic sandwich you’re serving with your First Amendment rights.

Let me be clear, too, Mr. Savage--these people who live with PTSD are not crying "boo-hoo-hoo" or "woes me". In fact, many keep it hidden and do not get help, because they are ashamed. They are ashamed because of the image people like you paint of them. They try to overcome it by themselves, and unfortunately, it does not heal that way. Some barely live their lives because of it, or take their lives, because PTSD clouds their judgement, leaving them feeling that they are a waste of humanity.

You are the coward here, sir. You are the cowardly moron who refuses to realize that these people need mental help and human connection.  

Sincerely,

Weak, Sick, Broken, and Narcisstic Idiot, TarheelKrystle