ROGER MONROE
Suicide. It’s a word that creates a variety of emotions. The word is even difficult for some to utter, even in private conversations. The subject has been discussed for decades, yet, many avoid accepting it as a reality.
Last year, 49,449 Americans lost their lives to suicide. That’s an increase of 1,266 from 2021. Since 2000, the suicide rate has increased by 40%. Health officials say there’s a suicide every 11 minutes in the United States. It’s among the nine leading cause of death for people ages 10-64 and the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 20-34.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says raising awareness, reducing the stigmas about suicide, and encouraging hope through education and action can reduce suicide. Not talking about it is counter-productive and enhances stigmas. There are those who have strong opinions about revealing a suicide, believing it spares the lives close to the suicide victim. I remember several years ago when a well-known community member died by suicide, one of my co-news anchors refused to mention his name. “It’s hurtful to the family,” he said. On the other hand, every year hundreds participate in the annual “Whitney’s Walk for Life” named in remembrance of 16-year-old suicide victim Whitney Grott. The awareness event is chaired by her mother, Karen Grott.
When a prominent person dies by suicide and the media decides not to provide details, many believe the decision worsens the stigma. Social media becomes “alive” with rumors and comments like, “Did you hear the news?” It’s a tough call for the family and for the media. Many health authorities suggest people should avoid “sweeping the news under the rug.”
You may recall the family of 76-year-old country singer Naomi Judd acknowledged she had killed herself with a gun. What followed was a nationwide discussion of suicide including symptoms and prevention.
MEDIA NOTES: It has to be devastating to readers of the Peoria Journal Star with news the newspaper will be delivered by the postman beginning Nov. 13. Don’t be surprised if many subscribers cancel the paper since the news will be at least a day old, if not more. Heck, I mailed a birthday card to a family member in Champaign on Thursday and she didn’t get it until the following Tuesday.
The news release from the Journal tried its best to say the mail delivery is a good thing because it will be a more consistent experience. Truth is, the newspaper was paying a lot of money for carriers and finding it more difficult to find people who wanted to deliver it early in the morning. And it’s no secret most people turn on the TV and/or the radio for news these days. The electronic media is faster and TV provides video along with the news. Sad to say, many newspapers are dying a slow death, like magazines.
Some viewers of TV news are wondering about an apparent change in reporting. WEEK, as an example, has started their morning newscasts with feature stories. These are stories that have no particular time frame. They can be broadcast next week or next month. Interesting, perhaps, but not time sensitive.
In the morning, people want “hard news.” What happened overnight? Any fires?” Shootings? Bad accidents? Deaths of prominent people? Don’t understand the switch in priorities.
Bad journalistic decision especially at a time when there are ongoing wars in the Middle East and Europe.
MEET ED PARKER: Let me introduce readers to Ed Parker, one of our local heroes. Ed is a Black man who’s one of Mayor Rita Ali’s 100 Role Mentors. He is a Security Resource Officer at Sterling School and also a police officer for the Peoria Park District. Parker is also an outstanding stand-up comedian and holder of so many black and multi-colored belts he could open a leather goods store.
In addition, he’s nationally known as a professional bodyguard. When Willie Nelson came to town, Ed was hired as his bodyguard. Same thing for Roland Martin, who spoke before the local NAACP dinner this year. He has been a bodyguard for people like Oprah Winfrey, Reba McIntire, the late Aretha Franklin, and Patti Labelle, and so many others. Most importantly, Ed Parker is a Christian and he makes no secret about his beliefs and value system.
Married with six children, Ed can handle just about anyone and anything with a positive attitude that avoids confrontation, especially with young people. If the other 99 mentors are anything like Ed, the future is bright for life in Peoria.
GREAT TIMING: A tip of the hat to Peoria County officials. Monday, Oct. 16, was a day to be remembered because in 1854 Abraham Lincoln came to Peoria and delivered a historic anti-slavery message before an adoring evening audience. His political rival, Stephen A. Douglas, a supporter of slavery, had spoken earlier for some three hours, ending at 5 p.m.
A new mural of Abraham Lincoln created by Doug Leunig graces the Peoria County Courthouse.
KANDAS MERRIAM
When it was Lincoln’s turn, according to Milliken University history professor Dr. R. Dan Monroe, Lincoln suggested everyone go home for dinner and come back later for his remarks. And so they did. They returned and listened for three hours and 10 minutes to Lincoln denounce slavery. Almost to the day, 169 years later, Peoria County officials unveiled a new mural of the 16th president on the east side of the Courthouse. The mural was designed by artist Doug Leunig.
Thanks to our son, Dr. Monroe, for detailing Lincoln’s historic remarks on our morning radio show Friday, Oct. 20, on WAZU-FM 90.7.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was for the godly Israelites who wrote the psalms, and that the habit of celebrating the greatness of God yields an endless flow of thankfulness, joy, and zeal.” — J.J. Packer