Booth's Mental health

[Jenny]

(05-18-2015 11:12 AM)Rick Smith Wrote:  Tom & Bill's assessments are well grounded.

I actually agree, Rick. I really do see where they are coming from - I am sure they both have seen plenty of historians blowing off Booth's motives and actions by calling him a nutcase. And I get the feeling that I look about as brainless as the historians I just mentioned. That's something I absolutely do NOT want and that I am not at all trying to imply. Right now I am pretty embarrassed because obviously I have been unsuccessful in trying to get what I mean across clearly.

The entire thing is ALL speculation anyway as I keep admitting.

Mental heath, especially mental illness and disorders, is something I have studied for years (was trying to get my degree in Psychology in college) so I am passionate about it. However I also know that terms like "mental illness" are still highly stigmatized and misunderstood even in this day and age; I know people hear "mental illness," and immediately the image of someone in a straight jacket in a padded room at a mental ward comes into their minds when the true meaning of a "mental illness" is very broad and so much more complicated than just dealing with an utter lunatic as so many still believe.

I am just going to drop the subject for good now.

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(05-18-2015 11:12 AM)Rick Smith Wrote:  It is interesting that many people I know think Booth was insane and or evil because he destroyed Lincoln instead of worshiping him.

Amen to that.