Son of Oregon Sen. Smith (R) Takes Own Life

[West Coast Democrat]

WASHINGTON - The 21-year-old son of Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith committed suicide at his home in Utah, the senator's office said Tuesday.

Garrett Smith died Monday, according to a statement released by Sen. Smith's office.

more....
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=8&u=/ap/20030909/ap_on_go_co/senator_s_son

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. How very sad

[ibegurpard]

2. How sad

Anyone who hasn't dealt with depression has no idea how debilitating it can be. My condolences to his family.

[jeter]

3. This is horrible

Jesus.

[0rganism]

4. That's really sad.

I may not be Gordo's biggest fan, but today I feel real sympathy for what he and his family must be going through.

[flamingyouth]

5. Horrible news

My heart goes out to this young man's family and friends.

[Drifter]

6. Unfortunately suicide does not ...

discriminate based on wealth or status.

Truly Sad. My heart breaks for anyone who looses a child.

Drifter

[pruner]

7. unfortunately?

so you think it'd be a good thing if suicide discriminated based on wealth/status?

if so, which class(es) would you like to see suicide affect?

[sangh0]

8. I'll answer that

if so, which class(es) would you like to see suicide affect?

None. And if ANY group manages to immunize itself, I'll be happy for it. UNFORTUNATELY, no one is immune. (Is that better?)

[West Coast Democrat]

9. I doubt that's what he meant

I think he just meant that suicide and depression are prevalent no matter your wealth or status.

[MoonAndSun]

11. pruner, I think you misunderstood what the poster was trying to say,

our hearfelt sympathies go out to the Smith family, and something like this affects every family, no matter what the wealth or status.

[Drifter]

28. Whoa there ...

my point was that a being the son/daughter of a politician/rich/etc does not exempt someone from the problems that can cause a person to take their own life.

Perhaps the use of the word unfortunately (or even fortunately) was not the right choice words. My use of the word unfortunately was intended to express my sorrow that anyone (no matter their background) can get to the point where the only way out is to commit suicide.

Please do not read that as I "WISH" these problems would plague only a certain class of people. That was not my intent.

Cheers
Drifter

On Edit: Thanks to the other folks who responded, with the correct interpretation of my post. After reading it, I do see where it could be misunderstood. I posted my "clarification", before reading the other replies. Thanks to all.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[Robin Hood]

13. That's probably about right.

Not to mention the oppressive nature of the mormon religion.

[Pastiche423]

15. Gordo is a mormon?

My sympathies to the family and safe journey to Garrett.

[Robin Hood]

18. Yes he is, here's his bio.

http://yahoo.capwiz.com/y/bio/?id=489

[NewJerseyDem]

48. Yeah

He actually comes from the powerful western Mormon family of the Udalls. He is the only republican Udall that has served in Congress. But, he is a cousin of Congressman Mark Udall and Congressman Tom Udall along with 2002 congressional candidate Steve Udall, former congressman and Interior secretary Stewart Udall and former congressman Mo Udall of Arizona. Parts of the family don't seem to be particularly religious since Mark Udall claims to have no religious affiliation and Gordon Smith is so moderate on many social issues which is surprising considering his mormon faith.

[West Coast Democrat]

16. I've heard that Mormons have a high suicide rate

because the religion is very demanding and oppressive. I don't have the stats on that though.

[MaryBear]

25. It works well for some

and can be a comfort and guide for their lives. For those whose lifestyle choices are outside the norms of the group, it can contribute difficulty.

We do not know what prompted this death.

Certainly, harsh words are uncalled for. We can only offer sympathy to his friends and family.

[barbaraann]

34. I don't know about Mormons, but Utah has a serious problem

with teenage suicide. Teen suicide rates have tripled in 30 years.

Here is one link but you can Google for more:

http://web.ksl.com/dump/news/cc/nov99/young1.htm

[Zhade]

51. As a 1/3rd-Cherokee bisexual pro-marijuana anti-Bush ex-Mormon, I concur.

And when I learned that the Mormon churches in Nazi Germany had swastikas in them, I knew I'd made the right call on leaving.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[piece sine]

26. Where is your heart?!

be gentle on your own soul. You can compete in the political marketplace of ideas without turning into a flaming ball of hate.

besides....lots of people outside of DU cruise this site and are a starting to make an issue out in the media of the hateful things they find here. I can see see your comments thrown right back at us. Don't give Rush or his crew any more fodder! If your comments offend other progressives, can you IMAGINE what the wingers would and could do with it.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

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[diplomats]

12. That's very sad

I had a cousin who killed himself in his late 20s.

[ikojo]

17. Having lost a brother to suicide in July 2001

I can honestly say I would not wish this even on the Bush family. At some time this young man, like my brother, cried out for help but his cry was not heeded. Too often in the United States we think all you have to do is pick yourself up, well some don't even possess the physical or mental strength to do that.

I still cry if I think of my brother too long or hear a song by Led Zepplin (his fave group) that I knew he loved.

I hope his family is able to find comfort at this most sad time.



:-(

[Changenow]

23. I am very sorry for your loss.

You should consider that if “his cry was heeded” the outcome may have been no different. Blame the disease, not yourself. There is only an illusion of control for the depressed person; they can no more will the illness away than someone can will themselves a cure from cancer.

[DakotaDemocrat]

42. Still reeling from my own brother's suicide

How my parents, who still live in the same house where they found their oldest son dead in his bedroom New Year's Day morning in 1993, can go on with their lives is truly awesome.

One cannot imagine the number of "What if I..." statements that go through a family of suicide victim. A part of many people has died along with this young person.

Prayers to his family.

[cally]

54. I hope you are finding

some peace after your brother's suicide. My sympathy, empathy, and prayers are with you. I also have suicide in my family and you never fully recover.

Welcome to DU.

[aquart]

60. Sometimes they can't cry out.

The depression makes a bell jar (a perfect image) around them and they can't break the seal. WON'T break it, for fear of contaminating those they love. And the hectoring voice says to stop impeding the world and get out of its way.

[Changenow]

19. Depression is a disease which is too often fatal

If the kid had cancer would you blame his father? How about diabetes? Your comment betrays a real ignorance of the physical causes of mental illness.

[bleedingheart]

21. how sad...

no family should have to go through this kind of trauma.

[AWD]

22. My thoughts are with Senator Smith and his loved ones

The most tragic thing a man can face is to outlive his children.

Peace with you, Senator.

[salin]

24. Tragic

heartfelt prayers for the family, friends and community. 'Suicide is Painless' - is so NOT true. It rips those left behind apart.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[hadrons]

36. Thousands of families have now had to deal with the death of a loved one .

due to Smith's help ... I'm not saying that I didn't feel bad for the kid (innocent victim), but I can't feel sorry for his dad

[Stuckinthebush]

37. Wow

I don't know what to say to that.

[JNelson6563]

41. shameful

attitude.

I feel sorry for anyone who suffers such a loss. I guess that makes me human over partisan.

Julie the Human

[NewJerseyDem]

47. Well that is stupid

That is just outrageous. I too don't know how to respond to such an unbelievably stupid and cruel statement. His son died and I'm sure he is extremely upset because of that and that is completely seperate from the war. It is just so insenisitive to say that.

[Rose Siding]

29. Rest in Peace, Garrett

And condolences to your family.

[TheYellowDog]

31. How sad

Gordon Smith must be going through hell right now, and Gordon Smith is one of the most tolerant Republicans in the Senate, too, standing up for gays and the environment. I'm sure his son was the same way. My heart breaks for his family.

[TheYellowDog]

35. And in regards to some of the sick posts on here

about how we shouldn't feel sorry for Gordon Smith, I have this to say:

Do you really want to sink to the level of the Repugs in regards to their lying attacks about Wellstone's memorial service? We are better than that.

[Stuckinthebush]

38. There are always a couple of bad apples in the group

The best thing to do is marginalize inappropriate behavior.

I think the vast majority on this board are heart broken at the news that anyone's child decided that suicide was the best answer. This is not a D/R issue and DUers know it.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

55. sick posters.... have to be hired disruptors to make DU look bad

this is so sad...i am so sorry for the loss of their beloved son

[Sean Reynolds]

39. There is no hiding the fact Mormon Utahns have a high suicide rate.

Often they must meet standards no one could ever reach. The result of their failure often sends them into a dark depression, and subsequently taking their life. It's a sad state of affairs here because a few of my friends have killed themselves over the years.

My heart goes out to the Smith family.

[AntiCoup2K4]

43. Why is that?

Why the high suicide rate? Do they feel like they don't measure up to the standards of being a "future god", as Mormonism teaches that you can become

(As man is, God once was. As God is, man will be.)

And while this is just a guess, if the Smiths were descendents of Joseph Smith himself, wouldn't that place even more pressure on the kid to uphold great great great grand-Prophet's ideals?

Suicide in any case is tragic. Suicide because you think you disappointed God would be doubly so. :-(

[kainah]

57. the religion does impose enormous pressures to "succeed"

and that success can be hard to obtain and/or sustain. I've also seen recently that UT now has the highest rate of bankruptcies. Almost certainly, the pressure to show your status through material acquisitions is contributing to that.

Wyoming also has a high rate of suicide. We also have a large Mormon population. But I think another factor in the high suicide rates of both states must also be attributed, at least in part, to the harsh climate & the familiar "cabin fever" syndrome associated with it.

I hope the Smiths, including Garrett, can find some peace. Suicide leaves so much unsettled in its wake. It's very, very sad.

[ikojo]

44. IF the suicide rates among Mormons is higher than average

it would be interesting to know how many of those who take their lives are gay? My brother was gay and couldn't come to accept his homosexuality at all. No matter how many times I told him I loved him and it didn't matter to me that he was gay. I even told him we could go scope guys together but HE couldn't accept HIMSELF so how could he accept a message of love?

Are there gay organizations that could provide a breakdown of gay suicides by religious groups?

The Mormon faith is less than tolerant of gays so it would stand to reason that many gay Mormons would struggle with this issue and their faith.

[AntiCoup2K4]

46. Gay Mormons & Suicide

http://www.affirmation.org/suicidalbehavior.htm

[leftofthedial]

40. what a shame

condolences to the family

[David Zephyr]

45. There is a Disproportionate Number of Suicides by Young Mormon Men

I can speak to 11 cases of suicide by young Morman males under 25 years in age. In one case, my old neighborhood, the boy was gay.

I wonder if this is a quiet epidimic?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

56. equally as many suicides among Jehovahs Witnesses

i know of three from my rural community in the past 4/5 years :7

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

49. Regrets to the Smith family. A sad tragedy that should not be visited

on anyone... And thank you to the mods for keeping this a clean thread that makes me proud to be a DU'er.

[buff2]

50. Oh no..........

That is HORRIBLE news. The worst thing in the world is losing a loved one....and one of your kids? My heart goes out to the Senator and his family.

[qanda]

52. My prayers are with the Smith family...

May God grant them peace in this terrible time.

[concord]

53. How sad

:(

[jsw_81]

58. How awful

:(

[Vadem]

59. So sad! Suicide is not the answer! The family left behind

suffers so much. I'm very sorry for Sen. Gordon and his family and wish them peace in this horrible time.

[peacetalksforall]

61. I don't think anyone can find answers by examining sociology and

religion only. The answer to depression is more biological and chemical. Allopathic medical doctors and their pharmacuetical partners don't have the answer by clinging to legal and damaging hard drug prescriptions and making a bundle after the person become semi-functioning. We need recognition that every person's chemistry is different. Five expensive and legal hard drug remedies for everyone is not going to do it. Learning what is required to feed the brain and body naturally and pre-emptively is preferable, imo.

[SteveG]

62. I can only offer the family my condolences

I lost a son when he was 25(to Leukemia), the Smiths have my deepest sympathy and condolences. They, the parents, are living their worst nightmare - if you've not been there, you really cannot begin to understand what this family is going thru, you can just imagine - believe me the reality is far worse than what you imagine.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

63. kick