Words Can Heal or Harm
Twice recently I heard: “the schools in a nearby city have placed kitty litter boxes in bathrooms for children who self-identify as cats.” In disbelief I asked both parties, “Did you see these litter boxes in the school for yourself?” Each time the answer was no, yet they assured me it was true, and this group of children identified themselves as “furries.”
This narrative inferred that the introduction of kitty litter boxes was connected to schools protecting and including kids of all sexual orientation and gender identities. Both conversations ended with folks telling me how sad it is seeing the downfall of our public school system (one person adding – no wonder people do not want to send their children there.)
Dismayed by the reach of this misinformation and the tarnishing of our public schools I began researching. This urban myth is so pervasive Wikipedia has dedicated a page to exploring it origin, falsehood, and timeline with over 66 references:
“The litter boxes in schools hoax is an urban myth in North America that has been promoted by various conservative and far-right[1][2] media outlets and personalities,[3][4][5] stating that some schools were providing litter boxes in bathrooms to students who identified as cats or furries, in response to several school districts enacting protections for transgender students.[6][7] Many news outlets have debunked the claims as false.[8] “ Wikipedia.
Also disturbing is seeing decent people believing and further spreading untrue narratives that can divide, disparage, and harm. These noble citizens – caught in the sticky web of social media and false narratives – care deeply about their world.
However, this wired world we live in urgently needs us to practice discernment, and to speak from integrity for the well-being of all. It is our responsibility as caring human beings to ask good questions, fact check from multiple, unbiased, reliable sources, and question if our words are helping to heal or to harm.
To use President Abraham Lincoln’s closing plea from his inaugural address - wishing to avoid a civil war - Let us call upon “the better angels of our nature.”
