I have no respect for anyone who would kill himself. If you're a feeble, weak-minded person to begin with, I don't have time for you. At Harvard University yesterday Governor Ventura was asked about his remarks, that suicide was for the feeble, weak-minded. To me it's something that doesn't have to happen if people take a positive attitude on life like I do. Today the Surgeon General, David Satcher, gave a very eloquent speech.
Today is the ninth annual National Depression Screening Day.
He pointed out that suicide was the ninth leading cause of mortality in the United States, responsible for 31,000 deaths. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for children ages 10 to 14. I want to respond to these remarks by Governor Ventura, because I have devoted so much of my work as a Senator in the mental health area, with Senator Domenici, my colleague from New Mexico, who is a Republican, and Senator Reid from Nevada. First of all, let me acknowledge the work of Al and Mary Kluesner. The Kluesners are wonderful people.