To be or not to be

Here’s Hamlet’s monologue about suicide from the mouth of a veteran. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered veterans have served in silence, in every rank, in every American conflict. And although she served as an openly gay woman, she returned home from her tours to a democracy she believed dearly in, only to find her fellow “patriots” attacking and murdering queer people.
My great uncle Dennis landed in Normandy on D Day plus 7 and made it to Berlin. He spent two years in a mental institution post-war, as did my great-grandmother who survived the Blitz. My first boyfriend lived through two wars in Beirut and I’ve known many people who’ve survived wars as “civilians”, as well as soldiers. The effects of this “son of hell” are devastating, and for generations afterwards. And what are, and have been for generations, the effects of hate on the LGBTQ+ community?
Today is “PTSD Awareness Day”. Do we need more awareness of PTSD right now? I’m not sure the world has witnessed so clearly the depths of human despair more acutely than in these past eight and a half months since World War 2.
About 135 Americans killed themselves today. In 2023, over 50,000 Americans killed themselves. It is the 11th highest cause of death in the US. 80% of suicide deaths in the U.S. are men. The U.S. surgeon general calls mental health the “defining health crisis of our time.” A disproportionately higher amount of these victims will be veterans, and an even higher amount, disproportionately, will be queer, as well as queer veterans.
What on earth can we do? BE AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE. First within yourself, and then with others. From this place only beautiful human things can come. I’m nowhere near winning at this state of affairs, but my God I shall keep trying before I “shuffle off this mortal coil”. Thank you @seeseven #veteransuicide #hamlet #williamshakespeare #notallwoundsarevisible #ptsdawareness

[@jessicalocke9943]

Heartbreaking, but so needed to be spoken of. Nice touch with the fake tattoo. Always a pleasure!

[@talis_tai]

Fucking gorgeous ! Such power, pure embodiment of the role ❤