Today I talked to my first war veteran, and started off by mentioning my birthday is on Remembrance Day.
Then, after some small talk, I got to the point, and we spent a moment discussing the Russell Williams case while staying focused on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Because Williams plead guilty rather than subject his family and his victims' family to the prospect of a lengthy trial, we will never know what precipitated his complete psychotic break which might have occurred sometime between his last deployment in Afghanistan and when he murdered his lover.
Instead, he will eventually be put in the same prison in which the Ken of the "Ken & Barbie" serial killers has resided for the past 15 years or so.
You'll remember the ire that Ontario victims of the crime had unleashed when Karla Homolka was released early from jail for good behavior and complete rehabiliation.
Why do I mention Homolka in the same breath as Russell WIlliams? Because both people may have suffered PTSD and other disorders of the mind prior to their short reign of terror in Ontario.
Now for the good news: not all psychotic breaks are permanent. Indeed, with time and a determined plan for recovery, it is possible to overcome whatever behavior and mental negativities may arise because of that temporary psychotic break.
That Williams shows remorse shows that he has regrets. Yet I feel Ottawa owes war veterans more support especially with regard to mental illness to prevent future tragedies to our veterans.
War is hell; please give peace a chance by supporting our veterans for Remembrance Day. Lest we forget...
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