Boy Sent Home For Drawing Of Crucifixion

By GottaLaff

Yes, everything must have the worst possible connotation, especially when it comes to religion and/or race. This poor kid:

A Taunton father is furious his eight-year-old son was sent home from school and required to undergo a psychological evaluation after he drew a stick-figure picture of a crucifixion.

It started on December 2, when the boy's second-grade teacher at the Maxham Elementary School asked the class to sketch something that reminded them of Christmas.

The boy, who has special educational needs, had recently gone with his family to see the Christmas display at the LaSalette shrine, a Christian retreat in Attleboro.

He drew what appeared to be a crucified Jesus Christ with X's covering his eyes to signify that he had died on the cross.

He then told the teacher that the person he drew on the cross was himself.

The teacher was concerned it might be a sign of violence and she contacted school officials.

And yes, race was brought up as a factor:

"As soon as he said that that was him on this cross (sleeping) – red flag! She ran with it! Touchdown! I got 'em. I'm gonna have him evaluated, there's something wrong with this minority kid. We gotta get in his mind."

"I'm sick of using the race card, but being a black man, I feel that I'm racially discriminated, me and my child."

Read the rest here. Then go hit a pillow.

H/t: Terry Travers

Army suicides up fifth straight year

Just awful. I'm surprised so many that haven't deployed commit suicide.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army is reporting the fifth straight year of increased suicides among active duty and reserve components of the service branch.

The Defense Department report published Friday, said the 147 suicides through November exceeds last year's number of 127 and is the most since 1980 when the Army began keeping count.

Walter Morales, Army suicide prevention program manager, said suicides do not occur only among soldiers who have served multiple deployments. More than a third who have taken their own lives were never deployed, he said in a statement released Thursday.

"We conduct an exhaustive review of every suicide within the Army," said Brig. Gen. Colleen McGuire, director of the Army's Suicide Prevention Task Force. "What we have learned is that there is no single or simple answer to preventing suicide. This tells us that we must continue to take a holistic approach to identifying and helping soldiers and families with issues such as behavioral health problems, substance abuse, and relationship failures."

Arianna Huffington Suggests RNC Chairman Michael Steele Needs a Therapist

G-d bless Arianna. I think that's the least of what he needs... Vid via FDL.