Lauren Nelson is an advocate and aspiring ally focused on intersectional justice. When she's not gabbing on social media or chasing after her precocious seven year old, you'll find her researching and writing extensively on the subjects of politics, policy, culture, neurodiversity, and faith for The Friendly Atheist and Rethink the Rant.
Reason has prevailed and the Ten Commandments monument at the Oklahoma State Capitol has been taken down! Removed in the dark of night, likely in an attempt to avoid a public scene, the patently unconstitutional display of religion is finally gone. Twitter conservatives have responded predictably, of course, but Sen. Ted Cruz clearly saw this as a campaign opportunity. Read more
It doesn’t matter that the motivation for the Oregon shooting was probably about mental illness and subscription to violent ideologies. It doesn’t matter that the latest survivor statements indicate that the shooter was not targeting Christians exclusively. No, none of this matters to those up in arms over the media’s coverage of and the public response to last week’s tragedy. Read more
The nation is still grappling with the events that transpired in Oregon last week. As we process the carnage, many reactions have been a rerun of the discourse seen after the other 294 mass shootings across the nation this year. Progressives cry out for better gun control (including, in this case, the shooter’s father). Conservatives have a collective freak out about the government coming for their guns. And politicians, uneasy with the rhetorical war surrounding them, err on the side of caution and point the finger at mental illness. But despite their best efforts to keep post-tragedy focus on mental illness, it’s not always the case. In fact, studies suggest that, most of the time, it’s not. As Dr. Jeffrey Swanson, a professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine, explained last year: A 2001 study looked specifically at 34 adolescent mass murderers, all male. 70 percent were described as a loner. 61.5 percent had problems with substance abuse. 48 percent had preoccupations with weapons; 43.5 percent had been victims of bullying. Only 23 percent had a documented psychiatric history of any kind — which means three out of four did not. Studies like this frequently fall on deaf ears. It doesn’t matter that only 3-5% of individuals living with mental illness will ever participate in any kind of violent act. It doesn’t matter that the mentally ill are far more likely to be victims of violence than they are to be perpetrators. In the wake of a shooting, the age-old, inappropriate fear of the mentally ill is reinforced by linking them with incidents of mass violence. We decide political convenience is more important than the dangerous stigma it produces. John Oliver had a scathing critique of this shameful trend last night, where he artfully highlighted the sordid history of mental health care in the U.S., the woeful state of those services today, and the solutions that could address the problems if only we’d allocate the resources to them. He called on the politicians so eager to point the finger at mental illness after a mass shooting to put their money where their mouth is and actually do something about the problem they so frequently lament. Read more
Knowing the often devastating impacts of bipolar disorder on the lives of those affected, it can be particularly irritating when related clinical terms get used as a term of phrase. Calling the weather “bipolar” or busy Mondays “manic” trivializes very real and often very frightening experiences. It’s also, frankly, pretty lazy; there are plenty of other creative ways to make similar points. Even so, I found myself laughing at the appropriateness of naming a cult “Teen Mania.” Why was it so easy to accept the application of the word here? Well, to understand that, you need to understand what mania actually is. The “high” stage of bipolar disorder, manic episodes are sustained periods of time marked by increased energy, grandiose thinking, delusions, and self-destructive behavior. If left untreated, mania can damage relationships, ruin finances, and lead to trouble with the law. When you break down the tawdry history of Teen Mania, it’s almost frightening how well the bipolar-derived moniker fits. Read more
Pope Francis is doing some good things with his influence. He’s called for greater tolerance. He’s advocated for action on climate change. He’s pushed the Church to focus more on helping those suffering in poverty. In an unprecedented and inspirational speech before Congress last week, he called for an end to the death penalty, action on the refugee crisis in the Middle East, environmental protections, progress on issues relating to social justice, advocacy for workers rights, and an end to the arms trade, all while holding up progressive champions of human rights throughout history. Wonderful. Fantastic. Love it. If he can influence members of the Church to embrace more progressive ideals personally, I’m excited. But before we put the Pope on a pedestal, it’s time for a reality check. Read more
