Fort Hood Shooting and PTSD

Several days ago, there was yet another shooting at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. This shooting killed four people, including the shooter, and injured sixteen others. In 2011, Ivan Lopez, the shooter, spent four months in Iraq. When he came back to the United States, he self-diagnosed a traumatic brain injury, but this isn’t the sole cause of his shooting. Lopez was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but people should not be too fast as to blame this for the shooting. Lopez sought out help for this disorder, but like many others he did not receive the proper help. He didn’t get help because people don’t know what to do with this problem, which needs to change. Although the cure for this disorder is not known, we shouldn’t blame it because that places a stigma that everyone with PTSD will commit shootings and this pushes them away from seeking out help.

Something needs to change to prevent these shootings. We need to do more for the soldiers that come back with PTSD. We can’t send them back into the world if they are seeking help; they need to be listened to and given advice. Another thing that needs to change is the fact that the officials at Fort Hood had to call the police so that this man could be stopped. I understand that not everyone at the base needs a weapon, but it doesn’t make sense that a soldier should have to call the police for something serious that is happening on the base.

Keith Hansen

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/3/fort-hood-shootingmentalhealthptsd.html

Russia May Be Looking For a New World War

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/3/2/ukrainian-mobilizesforwarcallsupallmilitaryreserves.html
In the past month, Russia has been in the news for many things. First, it was the Olympics in Sochi, but now they have sent their military into Ukrainian territory. Ukraine has also been in the news recently because last week there was a revolt and an over throw of the government. Now that the older, pro-Russia regime is out, a new pro-West is in. This is the cause of Vladimir Putin's decision to send his military toward Ukraine. Many native Ukrainians have fled to Russia because that is their homeland, but those who remain want to have major changes in the way things are run. President Obama called Putin and talked to him about the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and how this small move could turn into something much worse. Although the U.S. is not an ally of Ukraine, they will more than likely send support to Ukraine and it's people if this does escalate to a war.


I think that Russia is looking for more than a headline in the news. I think that they want to start a new World War. The United States and several European powers have told Putin that if this continues there will be no way that the U.S. can help Russia. I don't think that Russia will listen to them though. I believe that this will continue and someone will fire the first shot and soon we will have a war on our hands. I don't think think it will turn into the next World War, but it will more than likely get thousands of people killed and result in the destruction of multiple countries. That is what ambition can do to you, if you see something that you want, like a better Ukraine, you will do anything to get.

Chief Keith's Life

I was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1998 and have lived there ever since. I went to Our Lady of Lourdes for 10 years and graduated with First Honors and was selected to the Omaha Rotary Honor Roll. I got a small scholarship to go to Prep and I plan on graduating in 2016. My younger sister stills goes to Lourdes and my older brother is finishing his senior year at Central High School. When I’m not at school or studying I love to be outside. Fishing and hiking are my favorite things to do. I am also planning on taking Hunter’s Safety so that I can go deer and duck hunting with my dad and uncle. Walking my dog, Hank, and riding my bike are two of my favorite things to do to relax. While I ride my bike I always listen to music, especially the Beatles and Credence Clearwater Revival. Those are my two favorite bands and are part of my favorite genre of music, Rock. When I’m not outside, I like to read and watch TV. My favorite book is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. My favorite TV show is “The Simpsons” and I love to watch basketball, baseball, and football. My favorite teams are the Nebraska Cornhuskers, the Boston Red Sox, and the Detroit Lions. After I graduate, I plan to attend the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where I can study either business or Wildlife and Land Conservation. Depending, on what I decide to major in I want to be a Fish and Game Warden or a Credit Analyst. Hopefully I can move up to Minnesota and live on a lake. That would be my ultimate dream and one day I hope it will come true. One other thing I hope to achieve is to get my pilot’s license so that I can fly around the United States and Canada. Until the next time we meet.