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Should families of military personnel who commit suicide receive a sympathy letter?
ustarion
Posts: 20,322 Forum Member
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They don't in America from the President. Or here I believe, from the Prime Minister.
I'm inclined to think that they should.
I'm inclined to think that they should.
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As far as I am concerned there are no heroes, only victims.
It is something I have never thought about. Can you explain further why you think they should?
My first thought would be no, as the suicide would be a personal act and nothing to do with the military.
If one of my employees took their own life I would send a sympathy card to his/her partner or family. What would make the MOD above any of this ? ( silly question, the civilians who deal with such things and behave as though they are more hard done by than serving soldiers )
An employee is an employee , killed in the line of duty or death by natural causes or suicide whilst in employment is worthy of a sympathy card to the relatives, its a sign of respect, to at least the family even if you didn't know or like the employee.
So any government employee, be it teacher, bin man or soldier should have a personal letter of sympathy from the PM to their family if they CHOOSE to top themselves?
Sillyness.
I think that it should be recognised that war and serving in the military is a very, very difficult endeavour. Too difficult for some, which is why they take their lives. I still think their service (however short) should be recognised.
The problem is that writing to suicide victims doesn't look good for politicians, since it opens up a can of worms regarding why the soldiers committed suicide in the first place.
Writing to dead "heroes" will win you lots of brownie points with the electorate. Writing to victims of suicide doesn't.
If it was really about recognizing service then I fully agree with you. They should all have that recognized.
Why shouldn't the families of a car mechanic not receive a sympathy letter?
I didn't say the PM I said in the case of a soldier the MOD their employer.
And no to have your employer send your family a sympathy card when you die is not sillyness its called respect .
As for topping themsleves, what if work pressures drove them to it ?
Anyway, some suicides do get them - those who manifest their suicidalness by jumping in front of enemy guns or tanks, or not retreating when they should, or whatever.
Car mechanics are not often driven to suicide by the stress of the job, nor are they acting on behalf of the country in circumstances not of their making.
But no, they need not recieve a sympathy letter from on high, though doubtless they would from the C.O. and the others in the squad. I cannot think of anyone I would less like to recieve a sympathy letter from than HM Govt.
Yes, I agree with you.