The Most Famous and Notorious Insane Asylums in History {Asylum}

Feb 6th 2010 12:55PM Dear Mr. Taylor,
In your quest for literary embellishment and sensationalism, you have chosen to include an undeserving group of individuals among the worst case scenario inmates of mental institutions as evidenced in the following extraction from your article below.

Topeka State Hospital
In 1913, the Kansas legislature deemed that habitual criminals, idiots, (epileptics), imbeciles and the insane could be subject to castration.

The group to which I refer is of course "epileptics". In your statement the group comes directly between idiots and imbeciles. It also lumps them together with habitual criminals and the insane. I take personal offense to this type of reporting since epileptics are very much a functioning part of society and have worked diligently for many years to dispel the myths which surround their malady. Furthermore, I believe that every time an article is written in this manner it erases their many years of hard work. My daughter is an epileptic and has three degrees from the University of Georgia and continues to be a highly functioning member of society. She is neither an imbecile, idiot, habitual criminal or insane.
Mr. Taylor, may I suggest that in future reporting you carefully reflect upon how your article portrays a large demographic to readers since a majority of readers may be uneducated about a particular subject upon which you write. Written words and opinions are powerful tools which should be used wisely and upon reflection.
You may consider me.........
Highly offended,
Marion