by Philip Foley
Recently I watched the Matthew Sandusky interview on Oprah. The program content was consistent with how a predator grooms the victim for sexual assault. What struck me the most, however, was that Oprah, herself a victim of sexual assault, with all her power and influence cannot stop this epidemic of sexual violence.
I also reviewed over 100 tweets on the Huffington Post web site that expressed outrage at the degree of sexual violence.
Perhaps social media makes it too easy for us to express our outrage, to get it off our chest. We are now free to continue on with our lives. We did our job. We made a statement. The result is that no solution is ever worked out. This sexual violence epidemic becomes social media entertainment.
Perhaps sexual violence is so personal, so difficult to face, so difficult to explain and understand that we just shut down.
Perhaps the only way to stop this plague on our society is for us, as individuals, to take charge of protecting ourselves.
Perhaps we need to understand and empower ourselves with these basic steps towards that goal.
Recently I watched the Matthew Sandusky interview on Oprah. The program content was consistent with how a predator grooms the victim for sexual assault. What struck me the most, however, was that Oprah, herself a victim of sexual assault, with all her power and influence cannot stop this epidemic of sexual violence.
I also reviewed over 100 tweets on the Huffington Post web site that expressed outrage at the degree of sexual violence.
Perhaps social media makes it too easy for us to express our outrage, to get it off our chest. We are now free to continue on with our lives. We did our job. We made a statement. The result is that no solution is ever worked out. This sexual violence epidemic becomes social media entertainment.
Perhaps sexual violence is so personal, so difficult to face, so difficult to explain and understand that we just shut down.
Perhaps the only way to stop this plague on our society is for us, as individuals, to take charge of protecting ourselves.
Perhaps we need to understand and empower ourselves with these basic steps towards that goal.
- You are your own authority.
- Question Everything. Including social, religious & political authorities
- Learn to listen and respond to your intuition. It is never wrong.
- Learn to be impolite. It must be part of your defense system.
- Nothing is unspeakable.
- Stare truth in the eye and speak it.
- You name abuse. Listen to your body. It will tell you. It is never wrong.
- Stare abuse in the eye and speak it.
- Stare abusers in the eye and name them.
- Use your voice. Use your words.
- BE LOUD. Violence against girls, boys, women and men hides in the silent shadows.
- Know that you are powerful.
- KNOW THAT YOUR VOICE IS POWERFUL. USE IT.
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