I do not write or speak without a long chunk of time between the time my thoughts occur and the time it hits a screen or becomes sound waves. Speaking without thinking isn't a skill of mine, if anything I'm often told I'm too quiet, or not vocal enough. But that is just who I am. Thinking on my feet is fine for simple decisions, but a weighty matter of any sort be it Bible Study or the latest event that alters the lives of those around the world at a large level takes time. This is no different. In fact what you are about to read is probably one of the longest thought out blog post I've ever written. Part of that is because it is a topic that needs to be addressed with the utmost sensitivity and partly because I don't want to throw out words that could harm those whom have been touched by it in any shape, form, or fashion.
Most of my newsfeed for the past two or three weeks has been centered on Larry Nassar. Should you have no idea who that is he was a team doctor for the USA Olympic Gymnastics team as well as at Michigan State. I use the past tense because he was accused of sexual abuse by more than 150 women and girls. He's been sentenced to between 40-175 years in prison for his crimes. Information is still coming to light on his web of abuse over the past two decades. But this post isn't about him. He doesn't deserve anymore attention. I'll let the media handle that one.
Here's the thing, he isn't the first high profile person to commit these atrocities. 2017 saw several high profile men accused of actions of sexual harassment and abuse. The #MeToo movement was created to allow victims of sexual harassment and abuse to tell the world that they were victims. Women all over the world spoke up, some of them for the first time about painful histories. I've got a problem with that. I've got a problem with the fact that a hundred and fifty women had to sit on a stand and tell the world what was done to them. That problem is the fact that it shouldn't have happened. They should be able to speak up and have those around them believe them. It should never have escalated to the point that it carried on for twenty years so more and more women and young girls could be harmed.
I understand that such an accusation is serious and one made out of spite that is untrue can do irreparable harm to the reputation of the one being accused. What I don't understand is how do we become so jaded that we don't believe our children,wives, and friends when they say someone has hurt them? We tell our children that if anyone hurts them they need to tell an adult! How do we get to the point that they are either too scared to tell us or when they tell us we blow it off? How does someone who this is repeatedly called against continue to work with young ladies and women and nothing be done? It completely baffles me. It also makes me sick to my stomach.
Status and station cannot trump truth. Sure jumping to conclusions is a horrible thing to do but it is far better to err on the side of caution. I think if such things had been done and not swept under the rug there would be far fewer victims of Mr.Nassar and other predators like him. We as people should be open arms to those who are hurting, not judgmental doubters who won't entertain the notion that such things happen, because they do. There is plenty of evil in the world and the only way to fight it is with the hope and love of Christ. But we can't do that if we aren't willing to believe the hurting.
So to all those who sat on a stand and modeled a bravery that few will ever touch I apologize. You live in a place that never should have doubted you. To all those who were brave enough to tell the world #MeToo I hope we move forward to a time where you don't have to tell the world to get closure.
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