Depression in Guantanamo

I think American society has just lost its mind, and the evidence is in Guantanamo.

A recent New York Times story contained this:

“Hospital officials said that about 5 percent of the inmates were suffering from depression and that they were being treated with antidepressants, typically Zoloft.”

First complaint: Prison is supposed to be depressing. Presumably, these people would not be depressed if they were out in the world, blowing up airliners and killing people. We put these people in prison because terrorism is how they ward off depression.

Happy prisons are not effective prisons, and I don't give a crap about their mental health (although artificially happy prisoners might be more likely to spill the beans, I guess).

Imagine a father saying this: "Junior, I'm disappointed in you. I want you to go to your room. You can watch TV up there, talk on the phone or listen to the stereo. But you can't come down! Got it?"

GITMO is effective because it frightens the hell out of terrorists. They are want to die in flames, see Allah and get their allotment of virgins. They don't want to live a life of boredom in a cell in Cuba.

Second complaint: Why Zoloft? Prozac is available as a generic. It's cheaper. Let's try save some dough here, folks!

- posted by total @ 6/20/2003 06:07:00 AM .