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Dartmouth teenager Rehtaeh Parsons’ attempted suicide and death drew international outrage, eventually galvanizing public and political action against cyberbullying and sexual assault. She would have been 19 this December. Her mother, Leah Parsons, has shared some of Rehtaeh’s writing and art. The paintings were made in her “darkest moments,” Leah Parsons says, “as she struggled to find her way back.” —editor
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How I got my name!
September 13, 2007
I wonder if my mom travelled to Africa in a canoe trying to find a great name for me. I wonder if she battled the Loch Ness monster. I wonder if she had to fight Captain Jack Sparrow! I wonder when she got there what happened. Maybe she had to find a talking ancient tiger and he would tell her my name, or maybe she just made me name up when she was 12. That’s what she told me. I don’t believe her though. I like my story better! 🙂
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Top 10 list of things I would change if I were Prime Minister!
February 5, 2007
No drugs/smoking/drinking
TIME MACHINE!
Every country is free
No more slavery
Stop global warming
No hunting
A cure for cancer
No war!
No child abuse
No animal abuse!
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Journal Entry #4
September 26, 2011
My favourite part of the year is learning new things. I really enjoy my visual arts class and English. I love making new friends and meeting new people. High school, for me, means learning to drive, making money, turning 16 and planning for the rest of my life. I am very much looking forward to the rest of high school.
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The “colossal failure” of Nova Scotia’s Cyber-Safety Act
This article appears in Nov 20-26, 2014.
What is the purpose of this?
So great to hear Rehtaeh’s voice. Bittersweet to read her hopes and wishes knowing how she was senselessly robbed of them by 3 boys who don’t know the difference between “fun” and “assault”
A really beautiful response to such a tragic event. So many incredibly hateful decisions made over the course of this story, but hopefully we learn a couple things as a society. Mr. Meaty obviously doesn’t read the news or have any feelings. Sit down.
I’m sure Mr.Meaty knows exactly what this is about. Some people are just assholes.
Such a sad ending to such a beautiful soul. We must remember her and never let her be forgotten. Rehtaeh Parsons is her name. Soar high with the angels sweet girl, you were too good for this cruel world. Our society needs to change. The victims need to be heard, not the perps.
Has no one looked at my profile?
I think this whole situation is a travesty to begin with. Then we make it worse by clouding the facts with emotion and falsehoods.
When do we take personal responsibility for our actions and choices? Can I say that because of (fill-in-the-blank), I write unpopular text and therefore shouldn’t be held accountable for being outrageous?
I dare say none of you would agree with that yet you’ll apply that logic to this situation…
Hate away. I like that…
This is just such a horribly sad story. I knew Rehtaeh, as a child. She was turing into a lovely and interesting girl..it is a tragedy, that this poor girl, had to die so young, and that her family and friends, suffer and will continue to do so.
Mr. Meaty please shut up. You are so disrespecting. Just let her rest in peace and go and spread your hate somewhere else. I hope you never ever have to loose a beloved one…
Thanks to the Coast for publishing her name and honouring a beautiful spirit. So many of us are grateful. In her death she has catalyzed enormous awareness. May it catapult society out of neanderthal attitudes and actions that caused her death.
I’ve lost many loved ones Heike dear.
I am not spreading hatred but suggesting a different way of looking at the situation. Yes, that is not a popular stance to take, but someone has to start the difficult process of becoming a victimless society.
That is, we no longer look at ourselves as victims. As a victim I have no power over those who victimize(d) me. I become a thing rather than a human.
And we must realize that we have some control over our lot in Life and our decisions. We choose to learn lessons either through personal experience or through the poor choices of others.
When we find ourselves in unbecoming situations must accept that we chose to do something (or chose NOT to do something) that put us here. We then must take responsibility for our choices and actions.
Worst, we criminalize situations where education and support should be the resolution. We don’t want to ask ourselves where WE went wrong in the counsel of our children. They are not inherently evil; they are a reflection of us and our capacity to raise them. And when they fail (as we failed them), we insist on prosecuting them to the fullest capacity of the law rather than persecuting ourselves.
Mods, can we ban this asshole? Regardless of the intent of the article, how is there anything wrong with having some insight into who she really was, especially in the wake of the media ban, and since all of the focus seems to be on the trial and the perpetrators. Self-righteous prick.
I cannot understand how adults (I assume you are all adults) can be so hypocritical and narrow minded. Everybody has the right to voice their personal opinion, and just because it may differ from your own, that doesn’t make it invalid or wrong. Perhaps this is not the appropriate place for such posts…but the name calling is ridiculous, juvenile, and goes against your very argument. How can you demand justice for Rehtaeh and then turn around and ‘bully’ somebody else? Honestly people, have a little class.
smthee: Yes, they can ban me but WHY? Because of a difference of opinion? That’s neither a good-enough nor sound reason.
There is NOTHING wrong with having some insight into who she really was.
If all of the focus seems to be on the trial and the perpetrators, there is a reason for that. You may not like that’s the way it is, but that’s the way it is.
I am not being a self-righteous prick; I am expressing an option that you don’t like-simply that. May I suggest you follow my previous suggestion of taking the emotion away from the issue and reflecting on it that way. I’m certain you will be surprised by your revelations.
lilmiss: Where is the “appropriate place” to debate this issue? Would that be the “Daffodils and Tulips” discussion board? Maybe the “Pepsi vs. Coke” discussion board?
I think discussions on an issue should be held on their respective boards. After all, I find it extremely difficult to buy jeans at Sobeys…