Nothing amusing about war games In response...

Nothing amusing about war games

In response to “Wars rage in the Back Bay,” April 22:

So boys will be boys, huh? Why stop there? Why not throw in a

six-pack of beer? They’re not 21 yet but hey, details, details.

We live in an area that has beautiful weather year round and we’re

miles from beaches, bike paths and nature trails. How sad that so

many parents think their only options to keep their kids active is

either a $2,000 video game or a $200 pretend AK-47.

With the recent, tragic death of a police officer allegedly at the

hands of a 16-year-old boy, don’t you think law enforcement officials

will, rightfully so, be on a heightened alert for youths with guns?

It’s only a matter of time before there is an accident, followed by

public outrage and finger-pointing.

There is a reason you have to be 18 to purchase these weapons;

they should not be in the hands of children.

ELAINE JOHNSON

Newport Beach

Forum columnist misses the mark

We read with interest the Community Commentary article written by

Maxine Cohen on April 16. She described her encounter with a

cellphone user at a car wash during which she confronted him

“heavy-handedly,” by her own admission, and then went on to

hypothesize about the reason for his behavior.

We would like to propose an alternative point of view. As mental

health professionals, it is expected that we hold ourselves to a high

standard in both our professional and personal lives. We attempt to

evaluate situations and people with compassion and on the basis of

health, not pathology. We look for opportunities of healing, not

blaming, and use our professional training for promoting growth, not

speculation that diminishes another individual.

There are many possible reasons for the cellphone user’s behavior,

besides narcissism. It is understandable that the situation Cohen

described could result in annoyance and perhaps frustration. It is

also quite clear that cellphone etiquette can be a problem.

We, however, are focusing on the public commentary made by another

mental-health professional. Thoughtful evaluation first, rather than

presuming through the veil of professional knowledge, could have led

to a very different outcome for Cohen, the cellphone user and the

subsequent newspaper commentary.

We invite your readers and columnists to promote compassion and

thoughtfulness in their assessments of situations and people to make

our daily lives, and this world, better.

ERIK J. ABELL

and GAIL SIMPSON

Costa Mesa

* ERIK J. ABELL is a licensed psychologist and GAIL SIMPSON is a

licensed clinical social worker.