Article 1, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Article/ Link: Police: Disabled victimized by theft scheme
By Maryclaire Dale and Patrick Walters
Published: October 12, 2011; Accessed: October 17, 2011

Summary: In Philadelphia on Saturday October 15th, Police arrested three adults after Turgut Gozleveli found four mentally disabled adults, all malnourished and weak. Philadelphia police also believe this is part of a mass scheme involving the stealing of Social Security disability checks from the weak and disabled. The four victims, which included three men and a woman, had the mental capacity of a 10-year old and some even had physical disabilities. They were found locked in a basement with one of them chained to the boiler that reeked of urine with only a glass of orange juice. Detectives have launched an investigation on this scheme after finding identity cards and other documents at the apartment of the three convicted adults. Among the arrested was Linda Ann Weston, who is accused of being the leader of the schemed and who was convicted of a murder in 1981. The four victims have been handed over to social security agencies after being treated at hospitals.

Response: Many people out there in the world are always trying to manipulate the lesser minded. They try to take advantage of the weaker and disabled ones. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a group of patients in a mental hospital discover a little taste of freedom with the help of McMurphy. The article talks about how mentally disabled adults were locked away and treated horribly so that a group of people could reap the benefits offered by the government. Both take advantage of the lesser minded, but for completely different reasons. In the book, the Combine is trying to make these men fit into society and live a life, while it seems today people have just taken advantage of others solely for their own benefit. The real intentions and capabilities of humans are always surprising as they can bring destruction or growth. Why bring suffering into the lives of others?

Vocabulary:
Elicit
1. "Since the arrest, police have slowly and patiently been trying to elicit information from the captives."
2. Definition: verb. to call forth or draw out (as information or a response)
    Origin: Latin elicitus, past participle of elicere, from e- + lacere to allure
               First known use: 1605          (Merriam-Webster)
3. Teachers are always trying to elicit a response of interest from students in class.

Victimize
1. "How long, how much money the scheme  brought in, how the disabled were deceived and how many people in all were victimized are still unclear, investigators said."
2. Definition: verb. to make a victim of; to subject to deception or fraud
    Origin: Latin victima
     First known use: 1830          (Merriam-Webster)
3. Some students are victimized to cheat on a test.

Prey
1. "'Talk about preying on the weak and weary.' Evers said."
2. Definition: verb. to commit violence or robbery or fraud
    Origin: Latin praedari, from preada. Middle English, from Anglo-French preier
    First known use: 14th century          (Merriam-Webster)