A Sad Day

A Sad Day

We live in difficult and discouraging times. It is not a Government for and by the people–it is a government for and by the rich and powerful.  There are no rules of conduct that over-ride political expediency, there are no crimes against women so egregious that they cannot be dismissed or overlooked in the interest of expanding the existing power base.

For a few days there was a glimmer of hope.  Hundreds of Law Professors and a myriad of organizations were vocal in their opposition to Kavanaugh’s confirmation, based upon his overtly partisan and angry demeanor during last week’s hearing.  Even if one draws the sad conclusion that mutiple charges of sexual harrassment and attempted rape are not disqualifying; there were hopes that a man spewing spittle and venom during a SCOTUS confirmation hearing may give our Senators pause.  Today, that glimmer of hope has faded.

The FBI investigation was a sham; neither principle was interviewed, and dozens of witnesses who were clamoring to come forward with pertinent information were ignored.  We have a wide range of justice in this country: if you are white, rich and/or powerful you get the benefit of any doubt–reasonable or otherwise.  Women, Blacks and other marginalized groups are ‘fair game’ for harassment and abuse, knowing that our road to justice is narrow and fraught with more risks to ourselves than to our abusers.

How is it we are not on the streets with pitchforks right now?  The answer is — we have tried.  We have walked the streets, we have picketed, we have blogged, reported about the scandals, written books,  we have called our congressmen, we have made political contributions, we have shouted to the treetops….. and in the end it simply doesn’t matter; At least today, it hasn’t mattered enough.  Today, we bow our heads.  Tomorrow, we pick up the edges of our frayed souls and we try again.

#MeToo v. GOP

#MeToo v. GOP

Will GOP Senators Susan Collins of Maine or Lisa Murkowski from Alaska obediently toe the party line  OR will they take a stand against the Good ‘Ole Boy, Locker-Room Party?  These generally moderate pro-choice legislators were critical in derailing ‘repeal and replace’ of Obama care; and they are now the ‘swing-votes’ for the wildly unpopular SCOTUS nominee, Brett Kavanaugh’s, confirmation.  If they vote ‘no’,  it is possible that other, less brave, moderate senators may follow suit.

The majority of GOP Senators, led by the soulless Mitch McConnell, are determined to muscle this nomination through before mid-terms; have shown themselves to be very comfortable with sexual predators in their midst:  taking a casual ‘wink, wink, boys will be boys,’ attitude that reflects their privileged prep-frat-boy sensibilities.   Many of them appear truly astonished that their silly frat-boyish antics would raise anyone’s ire.  I can imagine the ‘real’ GOP locker room talk: “doesn’t anyone have a sense of humor anymore?  Damn the #MeToo  movement!

McConnell has made it clear that he intends to ram the nomination through, regardless of the outcome of any testimony that he is ‘allowing’ on a ridiculously abbreviated timeline.  He brushes aside reasonable requests for an investigation (as well as requests for release of documents that are ‘normally’ routine for a SCOTUS nominee–but that is another story) in his rush and lust to ram through this blatantly political nominee before the mid-terms.   His stance is akin to a judge deciding to forego any actual testimony or presentation of evidence, so that he/she can hurry up and sentence the defendant.   Civil rights or due process be damned.

I am old enough to remember Anita Hill’s testimony in Clarence Thomas’ nomination hearings.  She had her character assassinated in the most public way possible for coming forward with her story, facing a firing squad of 14 white men who did not take sexual harassment seriously.   Anita and other survivors of sexual abuse completely understand why Professor Ford did not speak up previously–the risks to the victim are enormous.  Professor Ford has already had her life torn apart by her brave decision to step forward. This nomination has become less about Kavanaugh’s qualifications, and more about whether the out-of-touch GOP leadership will believe or care about victims of sexual assault–particularly female victims.  As of this writing, a total of three women have accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct; knowing full-well that their own lives and reputations will be Irrevocably damaged; knowing it is probable that Kavanaugh will be nominated by a ‘jury’ of HIS ‘good old boy peers’, regardless of any testimony or evidence they provide.

Anita Hill was dragged through the mud, her testimony was ignored; and Clarence Thomas has been on the Supreme Court for 26 years.  Let us hope that history does not repeat itself.

#metoo

I was 13. My freshmen science teacher touched me under the guise of ‘tickling’ when we were alone in the classroom.  I didn’t have words for it. I felt weird and bad and ashamed.  This is the first time I’ve told anyone.  It still makes me feel weird.

I haven’t thought of this for years…. but now, the dam of silence is breaking.  This damn dam has protected men who harass and abuse others with impunity for far too long. Like the glass ceiling, there are new cracks, but it is far from shattered.

Our culture has enabled powerful and important men to sexually harass and victimize others without reproach or consequences.  For decades, the women that spoke out were marginalized, ignored, mocked, and retaliated against.  Many women made the difficult choice to suffer in silence, rather than run the very real risk of public humiliation, character assassination and/or career suicide by speaking out.  

Even if she is believed, women victims are/were often blamed: She was too friendly, she wasn’t friendly enough, she was a slut, she was a bitch, she was in the wrong place, she wore the wrong clothes, etc.  In the 9th grade, I didn’t even know that telling someone was an option.

In contrast, entitled perpetrators  often receive no more than a sly wink or a slap on the wrist with comments along the lines of “boys will be boys” or “she was asking for it”; or “it was just locker room talk’. The more famous or rich the pervy perp, the more likely they will avoid consequences for their actions.  As #45 (not MY president) famously stated “When you’re famous, you can do anything”.

But lately, there seems to be a slight shift in the narrative, which I have dubbed the Harvey Weinstein Effect.  (I’m not entirely sure if that should be ‘affect’ or ‘effect’ – there are a couple people on the planet that know the difference – but I am not one of them).  The ultimate fall of Harvey Weinstein has let lose a floodgate of pent up accusations from women who have been empowered and emboldened that they may (now) be taken seriously.

Now that the dam has sprung a leak, the accusations are rushing out — reflecting a tsunami of suffering that has been pent up over the years.  Victims who were previously silenced by the near-certainty of harsh backlash, are now more likely to speak their truth.

It is a start.

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