Thoughts on Physician Assisted Suicide

Published by on January 18, 2013 | 1 Response

They were twins. Both deaf, both cobblers. They never married, were very close to their families, and they spent their days together. They suffered from other medical conditions such as spinal issues, but the full roster of their illnesses is unknown to me. On December 14th 2012 they chose to use the right of Belgian citizens to voluntarily euthanize themselves…. Read more →

The DSM is a Medical Text, Not a Plot Generator

Published by on January 11, 2013 | Leave a response

I am tired of feeling like every time I see a mental illness article, I need to shield myself from the comments. I am sick with fear every time I hear “mental health registry”. I am undone by the lies media tells in their plotlines, using PTSD, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and therapy as plot points, punch lines and things people… Read more →

PTSD in the Age of Social Media

Published by on January 10, 2013 | 1 Response

I opened my regular news reading to find photos of yet another rape victim. Yet another violation of a woman’s rights. In full color. The imagery stark against my retina. I wonder sometimes if the reason why I cannot get the images of my own trauma out of my head is because every day I have to relive something of… Read more →

LGBT News Bites

Published by on January 9, 2013 | Leave a response

I remember being very little and going to a few meetings of what was called the “Daisy Scouts”. I don’t remember why I stopped going, but I do remember being very uncomfortable with the idea that we had prayer circles. When people returned or refused their Eagle Scout medals I payed attention, recognizing that the Boy Scouts of America were… Read more →

“They’re Trying to Help a Dead Girl”

Published by on January 2, 2013 | Leave a response

The hacking collectivist group Anonymous released a video of the Steubenville football players who took a 16-year-old girl from house to house and sexually assaulted her. They simultaneously posted evidence on twitter, pushing the gang rape into the territory of pure unadulterated public torture. Anonymous released this video on the same day the House of Representatives refused to vote to… Read more →

Dolls for Disabled Children

Published by on January 2, 2013 | Leave a response

I grew up with American Girl dolls. I had a Kirsten (because my heritage is Swedish American) and a Molly – because she had glasses! I loved that I had a doll who had to wear glasses like I did.  It definitely helped me to understand that glasses were a normal part of my image and nothing to be embarrassed… Read more →

Advance Wishes for 2013

Published by on December 31, 2012 | Leave a response

2012 is the year I started Feminist Sonar. Today I have a small writing career beginning, a .com version of this site coming soon, and have been interviewed on Huffpost Live. Next year I hope for even better and more interesting things. So Wednesday we come back with a long piece about mental illness and media representations. We’ll talk about… Read more →

Having Fun Isn’t Always Fun and Games

Published by on December 27, 2012 | Leave a response

I’m always up for sharing the work of those I know on the internet watercooler, and today I’m talking about the piece Lillian Cohen Moore wrote about Cards Against Humanity – a game which I love dearly, but always struggle with in some instances. Cards Against Humanity is billed as Apples to Apples for Horrible People. Sure, we’re all pretty… Read more →

Having Fun Isn’t Always Fun and Games

Published by on December 27, 2012 | Leave a response

I’m always up for sharing the work of those I know on the internet watercooler, and today I’m talking about the piece Lillian Cohen Moore wrote about Cards Against Humanity – a game which I love dearly, but always struggle with in some instances. Cards Against Humanity is billed as Apples to Apples for Horrible People. Sure, we’re all pretty… Read more →

My heart is breaking today. I have no way to stop the pain happening in Connecticut right now. No way to give comfort to those who will need it most.

I remember when it was Columbine I was in school; everyone terrified it might happen to us too.
I remember when it was Virginia Tech. I was in college; the same age as many involved.
Today, all I can say is murdering, no, executing, children seems so far past the pale, that finally perhaps something will be done.  Perhaps people will listen.

Gun control needs to be taken seriously. Children were killed today. Children were murdered in their school. A place they should be safe.

Watching the journalists praise children for having survived, for being tough – this doesn’t happen in America. 8 year olds shouldn’t be praised for their bravery in the face of gunfire. They shouldn’t have to experience that in the first place. This cannot be allowed to stand.

We can no longer give in to sacrificing lives for some kind of liberty. There is no kind of liberty that allows someone to shoot children. We have put off this conversation time and again. After Columbine. After Virginia Tech. After Aurora. The question is not “If not now, when?” No. Now is the time. Now is the time to give future generations a safe country.

I will no longer stand by. Please join me in standing up and saying no.