The murder-suicide of seven members of the Lupoe family in Wilmington is a tragic reminder of what despair can lead to in troubled times such as our current economic crisis. This is a wake-up call for all of us to do everything we can to avoid such tragedies in the future.
Ervin Lupoe and his wife were both recently fired from one of Kaiser Permanente’s medical centers. It is difficult to fathom how losing his job could lead him to murder his family, but it is clear that under such dire economic circumstances some individuals do desperate and senseless things. This can be prevented.
First, we must recognize that we are experiencing an economic crisis whose magnitude is still unknown. Every day, thousands of job cuts are announced by companies who, at other times, were pillars of stability. These layoff decisions have nothing to do with a worker’s performance or value, but rather are the result of economic forces and financial calculations.
The loss of a job is a blow to one’s self-esteem and sense of security, creating stress and uncertainty about the future. Even so, the laid-off person is not alone, although he or she may feel so. Their situation is not beyond repair. While this is of little consolation, it is a perspective worth taking into account.
Short-term assistance and aid can be located in this newspaper and other sources. These include help lines for people suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. These self-destructive impulses are the reflection of mental anguish that prevents individuals from seeing a way out of their current problems. Help must be sought.
Unemployment will continue to rise, according to analysts, and anxiety about the present and future will persist in American homes. Remember, though, there are places to turn and economic cycles, even ones as profound as this, come and go. Let’s keep the Wilmington tragedy from happening again.
The murder-suicide of seven members of the Lupoe family in Wilmington is a tragic reminder of what despair can lead to in troubled times such as our current economic crisis. This is a wake-up call for all of us to do everything we can to avoid such tragedies in the future.
Ervin Lupoe and his wife were both recently fired from one of Kaiser Permanente’s medical centers. It is difficult to fathom how losing his job could lead him to murder his family, but it is clear that under such dire economic circumstances some individuals do desperate and senseless things. This can be prevented.
First, we must recognize that we are experiencing an economic crisis whose magnitude is still unknown. Every day, thousands of job cuts are announced by companies who, at other times, were pillars of stability. These layoff decisions have nothing to do with a worker’s performance or value, but rather are the result of economic forces and financial calculations.
The loss of a job is a blow to one’s self-esteem and sense of security, creating stress and uncertainty about the future. Even so, the laid-off person is not alone, although he or she may feel so. Their situation is not beyond repair. While this is of little consolation, it is a perspective worth taking into account.
Short-term assistance and aid can be located in this newspaper and other sources. These include help lines for people suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. These self-destructive impulses are the reflection of mental anguish that prevents individuals from seeing a way out of their current problems. Help must be sought.
