Tag Archives: empathy

Carry On, Winter Soldiers

Another winter soldier from the days of the Wisconsin Uprising passed away today. Carl was still a young man and his entire short life was spent working hard to make this world a better place. I didn’t know him well, … Continue reading

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Trans Position

Every day, every single day, a different right-wing politician introduces yet another bill in yet another state (or federally) that will in some way take away the rights or dignity of transgender people and make life harder for a group … Continue reading

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Emotional Distancing

Apparently I did not know how much fear, stress, and anxiety had built up within me over the last year, but apparently it was there all along. Not only was I socially distancing, but I was also emotionally distancing. While … Continue reading

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Virus of the Soul

Sitting at home reading about tens of thousands of people in my country dying of Covid-19 is hard enough. Knowing that countless more will die in the coming months is even more difficult. But reading about ignorant and hateful acts … Continue reading

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Yes, This Is Who We Are

  Aside from the ubiquitous thoughts and prayers, the refusal to consider any kind of gun control at all because it’s always too soon to talk about it, and the flags once again lowered to half-staff, there is another thing … Continue reading

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Profiles in Cowardice

On Friday, the remaining holdouts on the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation announced their intentions in the vote that is scheduled for Saturday. For those who are survivors of sexual assault, the likely vote of 51 to 49 to confirm–unless something major … Continue reading

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Paths to Healing Keynote Speech

At this year’s Paths to Healing conference on male survivors of child sex assault I was the keynote speaker. This is the text of the speech I delivered today. Good morning. I’d like to start by thanking Chris Taylor, who … Continue reading

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Will they know

When they dig up these bones what will they find on the skeleton of my life? Will they be able to read the hieroglyphics on my skull and the petroglyphs of my soul etched in the decaying calcium before them? … Continue reading

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Forgive the Shooter

On Sunday evening in the small Wisconsin town of Menasha a man apparently distraught over a recent breakup and argument with his former fiancée took two guns with him on his bike and went for a ride. On the middle … Continue reading

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To Mom on Your 90th Birthday

You were born in 1925. February 19, 1925 and you came into this world as the youngest of nine children. And now, it is 2015. It is nine decades later. It is ninety years later and you are still smiling and … Continue reading

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Through the Darkness Lightly

After 24 years of sobriety my days of heavy drinking seem like a distant blur and somewhat unreal in certain ways. I spent about eleven years of my life in a pretty much constant drunken haze, self-medicating, hiding, creating masks. … Continue reading

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Dark Secrets

About eight months ago I set up a new Facebook page in response to the Penn State child abuse scandal. It was intended as a place to show support with the survivors there and survivors worldwide and as a clearinghouse … Continue reading

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