UPDATED: wish there were lighter news...

This story, too typical and with not the right color victims, would get some national headlines... not because I think we should be reading only bad news, but because the violence that our wars is bringing home needs to be acknowledged -- and a plan must be made to deal with the very real issues.

While everyone is busy making excuses for this man, where are the stories about how the military brass (and the president -- he doesn't get a pass on this one) are ignoring the danger PTSD poses here and abroad?  One or two stories, yes, but we are nailed with the details of how the neighbors are reacting to one man's rampage -- when there are many other soldiers suffering in our midst ... I need to plug this organization's work, again, and wonder how we can't make this national ... how we can apply the lessons they've learned to the way the military is handling PTSD in its ranks and in the public where it discharges the wounded soldiers.

And in other sad news, it turns out bullying is punishable. I guess it remains to be seen the kind of sentence he will get.  I am not sure if this was a hate crime, in the legal-technical sense, but I am sure that some kind of hate is a part of bullying like this.  When we think that it is not just funny to invade someone's privacy, but that it is acceptable to try to share that invasion with others, with the intent of making fun of someone -- that is bullying, plain and simple. 

It is also, stupid, childish and immature behavior.  Some have argued that we should see it that way -- and I am inclined to agree that putting one person (why didn't he take the plea?!) on trial may not be the most effective way of dealing with the issue -- when we are all participating in bullying behavior (some would argue that it is our national way of being. In fact, it is not clear that we want to change anyone's bullying behavior -- but we might be telling people not to be stupid and get caught.

***UPDATE here's danah's reaction to the verdict