Hoping that victims will find “closure” in the Penn State sex abuse scandal is wrong. Using the concept of closure helps those responsible for the harm; it doesn’t help victims. What does “closure for victims” really mean when used in these political and criminal cases? Jerry Sandusky, former assistant football coach at Penn State University, is facing multiple sexual assault… Read More
Heaven’s Rain: A Story of Murder and Forgiveness
“Nothing could have prepared 16-year-old Brooks Douglass for the future that lay before him. Brooks grew up in a loving family in a rural home near Oklahoma City. His father, Richard Douglass, was pastor of Putnam City Baptist Church, which housed over 3,000 members in its congregation. Brooks’ mother, Marilyn, devoted her time to her children, which in addition to… Read More
Selling Cremation Jewelry
Longing to remember a loved one and to keep that person’s spirit and memories close is nothing new. For generations we have been finding ways to memorialize people. The idea is that if you carry someone in your heart and memory, then you can retain part of the bond you had in life. There are many ways people learn to… Read More
Is Freeze-Drying Your Pet Good Grief Advice?
What would you say if someone told you that you’d never have to quit holding and petting your pet even after it dies? That is the pitch one business is selling. In the past decade, the pet grief industry has been thriving. The marketing of pet death care services and products target individuals’ grief over the loss of a cherished… Read More
Do we need closure for 9/11 attacks?
The first major 9/11 public memorial was dedicated in front of the Pentagon on September 11, 2008. The day after the memorial opened, The Washington Post ran a story titled “A long-awaited opening, bringing closure to many.” After the death of Osama bin Laden in May of this year, headlines around the nation proclaimed that we could now have closure…. Read More
No Room for 9/11 Survivors
Many people are anticipating the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The National September 11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero in New York City, though not fully completed, will have a grand opening on September 11, 2011. There will be a somber, poignant memorial service to remember the tragedy that happened on September 11, 2001. However, the invitation list for this… Read More
Making Money from the 9/11 Attacks
As we get closer to September 11, we will hear more about the 9/11 attacks. The tenth anniversary of this tragedy will be remembered differently depending on your own connection to the events. If you lost a loved one in the attacks, your grief and memories will be more difficult than what most may experience. Some people will solemnly reflect… Read More
Hire Someone to Visit a Grave
Advertising in a local newspaper, she offers her service: visiting your loved one’s grave. Terry Marotta-Lopriore earns extra money by visiting strangers’ graves to pay respects, take flowers, say prayers, or clean the grave. She then sends a picture to her client as proof of her visit. Terry has shed light on a growing problem for people who live far… Read More
