Monday, September 24, 2018

How to love #MeToo too much

I recently brought up the observation that either victims were coming out about sexual assault disproportionally more frequently during elections or hearings, or at the least the media was making it seem that way. When I suggested that the optics were bad...BAM...I got called names, I got called an enemy of the movement...my intelligence and empathy were put in question, I was accused of blaming the victim.
    I started trying to clarify my position...I told them I believed the victims and I believe every case should be taken seriously, I want them to get all the support and investigations they were owed, and that I am not demanding that they come out only under certain circumstances...just that we not create a culture in which they think they only get support when their accuser is a powerful person is in the public eye. My point was optics are a fact...even for the victims, and they have to weigh and be mindful of those factors. I pointed out that victims are NOT being well-served by coming out at these times, they are thrust into the public eye, with death threats, their families being harassed, etc. And yes, I even suggested that if it continues this way, it could become a political tool that is used with untruthful accusations. I also pointed out that by not allowing anyone to question the motivation...they are actually running cover for those who want to use the victim for political gain. The screaming and insults continued.
    Now at this point, you probably have an opinion of whether you agree or disagree with me.  Now if you are one of those who disagrees with me, and you think I deserved to be screamed at, insulted, and called an enemy...I want you to ask yourself some important questions...are you changing minds...are you creating an atmosphere that is making it easier for people to support victims or are you poisoning it? Are you even making it safer for victims? I'm a completely fallible ape, I'm not trying to pump myself up...but I will say I do activism to protect women and their rights and the policies and candidates I support provide a strong record of this, to the best of my discernment I objectively treat women respectfully in my daily life, I call out misogyny...if I am the enemy...your criteria are bizarre. These experiences have made me not want to touch the topic, I have to chant the mantra "the victims are separate from the SJWs, the victims are separate from the SJWs." I understand people are passionate...but consider that being the loudest and the angriest...does not mean you are the most EFFECTIVE...and may even hurt your cause.

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