A Blue Zones Walk was held in Mason City on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011.
Walkers congregated at the Music Man Square at noon and were asked to wear blue. There was a 1K and a 2K walk to choose from. Mayor Eric Bookmeyer and At-Large City Councilman Alex Kuhn both took part to show support.
Well over 100 people participated in the walk on this chilly day. Walkers were sent off with a number from the Mason City High School marching band and the Mason City Blue Zones owl mascot. Some carried Blue Zones signs.
The walk started at Music Man Square and went through Southbridge Mall and through the downtown area. The 2K walkers headed up to 3rd Street while the 1K walkers turned east on State Street to head back to Music Man Square.
The walk was to show support for Mason City being designated a Blue Zone Community.
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“Sorry to hear that, but under Libertarian rules, his suicide is his own choice, and people have no right to stop it.”
Sir, every life is worth saving. Such thinking goes against the very grain of human existence. Indeed, being human demands we look out for each other.
I am not sure where you got that tripe Peter, but no civilized society can survive believing as you do.
It is fitting in this season, that I remind you Peter of the words of Charles Dickens:
“If they would rather die,’ said Scrooge, ‘they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”!
“ ‘If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race,’ returned the Ghost, ‘will find him here. What then. If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”!
“’Man,’ said the Ghost, ‘if man you be in heart, not adamant, forbear that wicked cant until you have discovered What the surplus is, and Where it is. Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die?”.
Libertarianism indeed.
“Let us celebrate freedom by honoring people’s choice. Let us install this sense of personal responsibility and choice in our children, so they know that even when they are in their darkest hours, that liberty will ring true and free. Let us convey we love them so much we will not interfere with the choice they have made. Try in earnest to convince them to stay with us and see their problems through we will-yes, but stop them against their will altogether, through imprisonment and forced medications-no.”
–Peter L
canto 17 freedom to commit suicide
Peter, I would put everyone under the same umbrella, if, and only if there was clinical proof they needed help, were a threat to themselves or surroundings, or refused to care for themselves. An evaluation of behaviors could easily justify the need.
And do not confuse the need for the criminal justice system, with the need for psychological help. They may often co-mingle, but they are separate and distinct. And the use of each is totally dependant on the individual case at hand.
And your comment about the poor bearing the brunt. Not true. Rich, famous and poor all face emotional and psychological problems, it is how they cope.
It brings to mind a man who I had met many years ago. In his region, he was well recognized, and had a track record several decades long for his work and leadership. He accomplished more than you or I could ever dream of.
Then all of a sudden, one day, he took his life. Had we known then, what we know today, he would have been protected from acting as he did. Including forced medication if his particular case called for it. But it never outwardly manifested itself.
So don’t play that class garbage with me Peter, you will not win.
Sorry to hear that, but under Libertarian rules, his suicide is his own choice, and people have no right to stop it. I realize how difficult it would be for people to accept such a policy, as our first inclination is to want to help and save…but really in the long run, the policy is better for the health of the Union. The health of all of us relies on freedom.
Observer I would love to have a psychiatric debate with you. You mentioned in a former comment that in order to file a lawsuit their “needs to be an adverse behavior”. This is the crux of the debate: Disagreement with diagnosis and treatment. No where else is found in medicine the provision to be able to force medical treatment upon you except in psychiatry. It’s the loophole, and opening to human rights abuse. I contend that loophole needs to be closed, and treatment for one’s “mind” or brain should not be paid respect to nor discriminated against separate from any other body part. One cannot have the liberty to refuse treatment for one’s heart, but not their brain.
And I ask you Observer: Should a stupid person be able to drug and incarcerate a smarter one for whatever inferior reasons the stupid one has? Should we tolerate a society where the stupid gang up on the smart…albeit weak?
The reason Peter, is that your body, by it’s self cannot reason, cannot force action against yourself or society.
The mind Peter, is that part of the body that makes cognisant choices. It is the part which is supposed to reason, balance the needs of self versus the rules of society. In other words, applies restraint where it is due.
When a persons mind cannot regulate their behavior in an appropriate way, there becomes potential for harm, to self or others. No grey area! If you cannot control yourself, society demands it be done for you. Pure and simple.
“When a persons mind cannot regulate their behavior in an appropriate way, there becomes potential for harm, to self or others. No grey area! If you cannot control yourself, society demands it be done for you. Pure and simple.”
Okay, then under that logic, anyone who causes harm should be subjected to psychiatric treatment. Wall Street addicts who have abused the financial system should be treated in mental hospitals. Politicians who have abused public monies…mental hospitals. If you are going to institute such a policy Observer…you better blanket EVERYONE and apply it in such a way. People who are violent, will no longer get jail time, but will get jail plus injections of Haldol and Prolixin. They seem to be selective in how they apply the use of psychiatric force don’t they? If it interferes with jail/prison culture….they won’t use it.
Face it: Psychiatry is applied to the weakest links in any given population. It encourages conformity over individuality and is a deep violation of individual liberties. Stop picking on the loners, and go after the Prom Queens and Kings is what I say….because if you dig deep enough and pick at them long enough…you’ll find neurosis and shortcomings in EVERYONE.
Who is being naive Peter? I surely do not get anything reliable from a phony TV show such as “Cops”. That you would even base a comment upon such tripe, is laughable.
The question of involuntary treatment is a legal one, hardly political. There are specific laws governing it’s criteria, and use. A provider usually has clinical cause for immediate care (usually 48 to 72 hours depending upon the state). Longer involuntary requires a court’s approval, usually as a result of a hearing showing cause.
That is law Peter, not politics. Turn off your TV and put down your pipe.
Doesn’t the world seem so perfect down on paper? Sure there are rules put in place, but that doesn’t seem to stop people in positions of authority from abusing people in weakened states. Look, the facts are the facts. I was stricken by a chronic and debilitating illness approximately 18 months ago. I postponed going to the emergency room for 5 days, trying to deal with it myself, but eventually because of fear of the unknown and difficulty breathing and walking…I went in. It must have been an hour and half later, and they had called Dr. Azham that Pakistani doctor into my room and he was flanked by 2 security guards. They were trying to turn my medical condition into a psychiatric one, and commit me to 5 East. I couldn’t believe it. I got dressed, put my shoes on, and walked out the emergency exit door triggering the alarm, when they left the room, after I realized what was happening and temporarily capitulated to their requests. (Cool Hand Luke anyone?) This just happened less than 1.5 years ago. Before that, in the year 2000, I had drank bad egg nog and became sickened, going into the emergency room, and ended up forced drugged with Haldol (which blacked me out) by a fat ugly red headed nurse on the 5 East ward. They are supposed to be a hospital for chrissakes…not a penitentiary…yet they forget their place in this world. My mission is to remind them.
Basically, Observer. You just don’t know the truth of what is going on, because you have no experience with the issue, nor have been the victim of its abuse. Most people don’t know what’s going on, until it’s too late to do anything about it. Mercy doesn’t do this to well people…only sick ones. The heavy psychiatric cards don’t get played until you are unable to defend yourself for whatever reason.
Ultimately t’s representative of the piss-poor level of exorbitant cost health care that is out there. They certainly charge your insurance company big money, but they do next to nothing to really help you get better. Okay, I have a complicated disease…but that doesn’t mean you can lump me into the psychiatric ward and drug me until I’m too weak to resist. I sure wish authoritarianism and health care would divorce once and for all. I’d like to see a health care system that actually tries to diagnose and get to the bottom of diseases and ill health. I’ve had no choice but to live with my condition. It’s really strange being sick and not knowing the name of what afflicts you. And please…don’t anyone come back with some snide comment like you’re nuts or off your rocker. My immune system is damaged and I have clear physical symptoms which lab tests confirm. I’m definitely sick with something…but $180,000 charged to blue cross blue shield later…I know not what it is. What does that tell you about the state of health care? Their solution? Drug me and place me into a psyche ward to shut me up, rather than roll up their sleeves and do their jobs.
…and as far as not getting anything reliable from the tv show “Cops”. There’s NO BETTER way than to get evidence of police interference and impropriety. The video medium shows you clearly what goes on. Today I saw a Las Vegas cop spy on and then interfere with a man and woman as they were embracing and kissing on the Strip. There was absolutely no grounds for the cop to interfere with them, yet he did…and verbally berated them, cuffed and detained them, and gave them the equivalent of a moral tongue lashing. Since when is it the police’s job to conduct themselves in such a way? This isn’t a middle-school dance. This is America, and we have presumptive freedoms. Watching Cops is a disgusting expose’ into the moment by moment violations that occur in this increasingly militarized police state.
Peter, (or is it Anonymous?) In order to file a lawsuit, you must first need behavior that falls adverse to the law. Thus far, you have described nothing like that.
Again I point out, we can only get one side of the story here.
I told you…it’s a political issue, not a legal one. Technically, yes it should be a legal issue, but judges and lawyers have chosen not to deal with the issue…therefore making it political. While watching episodes of Cops, I’ve witnessed several instances of cops overstepping their authority and interfering without probable cause in people’s lives. You cannot pretend that overstepping of authority isn’t something that happens. So if it happens so often openly on Cops episodes…why are you having a difficult time extending that to closed hospital wards and nursing homes? You need to get in touch with reality Observer. Because your Pollyanna view of authorities and government is incredibly naive’. In this country, there are rules to follow concerning human rights and personal liberties.
Peter, that is your person vendetta, and not the prevailing opinion. Again, you want punishment for people, in this case doctors, who followed the law. Laws seem only applicable when they suit your desires, such as is the case with your pot.
If as you say, crimes were committed, I suggest you call the State and have an investigation instituted on your behalf. Then let them stand trial in a court of law.
My feelings however, are that the only reason you bring it up here, is that those doctors cannot legally or ethically respond.
Now, who is abusing whom? Right!
My point of bringing it up is to remind people of the past while they embrace the exciting progressive healthy future. You can’t follow the dark ages for decades, suddenly snap out of it, and then say OH we want to live like Oregon or California now. You have to make the injustices of the past right first. Like 9/11…NEVER FORGET. It’s not just a bunch of stock traders and lawyers who get all the attention and sympathies of the world. It’s everyday people right here in River City. The Weisenthal Center doesn’t let up on Nazi war criminals and neither will I let up on those bunch of human rights oppressing pill and syringe pushing animals. STEP UP TO THE PLATE. Stop trying to sweep everything under the rug. This is also why I attacked that joke of a Human Rights Commission…because there were human rights violations going on for years, and no one did anything about it. Bunch of ignorant mother******s. If I could personally ring their necks I would. They took advantage of me when I was in a weakened position. I never thought I would have to fear the system itself…but they proved that correct. Insult to injury. And they are going to pay.
The first thing that needs to be done is the Human Rights Commission needs to make a strong committment to the people of Mason City that they will enforce NO MEANS NO policies when it comes to involuntary psychiatric committals, and forced druggings. These happen in nursing homes as well. Not just on psyche wards. Mercy needs a good stiff ass whooping to let them know patients rights come first…and that short of being violent and out of control…forcing medications on patients WILL NEVER OCCUR. What goes in your body is your business. Retroactive lawsuits, as well, and of course all the doctors mentioned, along with some new ones…like Dr. Azham, will be driven from the community with a good swift boot to the ass.
…and as far as calling Des Moines for help. It’s a political issue, not a legal one. Laws are on the books that explicitly state a person must be “a danger to one’s self or others” but they never follow those rules and do what they want regardless. Under Libertarian rules, the “danger to one’s self” would be stricken. It’s all very simple to understand people. I don’t know why so many of you have a hard time getting it. It’s basic Liberty 101. That I need to sit here and spell out basic human rights libertarian principles, shows just how far back into the dark ages society has become.
Dr Larsen lives in boise, id now
Peter…say GOOD NIGHT Peter!!!
After having to do my own research to find out what “Blue Zone” is. I can say that I wholeheartedly agree. Health and fitness are the way to go. But here’s the thing. You may have forgotten this. Not too long ago, here in Mason City with the support of the Mental Health Center of North Iowa, Mercy Hospital, and North Iowa Clinic, 4 local psychiatrists were irresponsibly and dangerously drugging people against their will with support of court orders and local law enforcement enforcement. Do you remember these guys Mason City? Dr. Mark Lassise…Dr. Dale Armstrong…Dr.Jeffrey Jackson…Dr,. Ron Larson. They didn’t mention anything to their patients about longevity, proper diet, rest, meditation, or exercise. No. They simply drugged them out of their minds with powerful, toxic, unproven, pharmaceutical medications. This is Mason City’s legacy, This is the kind of heritage we have. One of depravity, ignorance, corruption, abuse.
I’m glad that times are changing and people want to live good lives…but it won’t be happening until you deal with the past. These men are still at-large and have gone unpunished for their crimes. Except one…who died in Costa Rica several years back.