Please, Stop Calling It the 'Newtown Massacre'

By now, you've heard of Newtown, Connecticut. "It's a sweet place, with a $2 movie theater, a two-hour Labor Day parade, and an old-fashioned general store," writes resident MaryAnn Murtha in the Washington Post. Right now, of course, it's also dealing with a terrible tragedy, and many people wonder what they can do to help. "Well, here's my answer: For the sake of the victims, their families, Sandy Hook and Newtown, call the shooting 12/14." Murtha cringes whenever some TV pundit calls it simply "Newtown."

"Our friends in Columbine know. Our friends in Aurora know. … Having your town’s name synonymous with an evil act does not aid the healing process; in fact, it adds to the pain and casts shadows." So just as we refer to "9/11" rather than the "World Trade Center Attack," we should refer to this tragedy as 12/14. Not only did the shooting occur on that date, but 12 plus 14 equal the number of lives lost that day. "12/14. Think it. Say it. Help Newtown heal." Read the full column here. (More Newtown, Connecticut stories.)