re: #369 Citizen K

They just ensured that Dr. Ford relived her trauma for nothing. Worse than nothing, she’s become the posterchild for ‘lying slut’ for a vast swath of America the same way Trayvon Martin was the posterchild for ‘criminal thug’ for the crime of walking back from a convenience store in his father’s neighborhood.

They’ve ensured that this country, by law, will not only treat sexual assault and rape victims like they don’t matter, but sent the message that ‘you speak up, you will be destroyed because you need to be put in your place’. It’s a reminder that they hold all the power, and they will hold all the power in perpetuity, and to fight back simply will make them stronger because they will always be the ones believed, not you, not ever.

It’s beating victims back into the shadows, forever.

I see it a bit differently.

What Dr. Ford did was allow thousands, millions of us to tell our own stories of sexual assault. She caused us to dedicate ourselves to engaging in our democracy, especially voting. This all allowed men who were not aware of what we go through to see it. That dedicated them too. We also got to find the truth the assholes in our society are trying to bury. She ripped a scab off, a tremendous scab.

She won. She told her story openly and honestly and inspired a movement that will last way past Kavanaugh and it will impact so much more than one Supreme Court justice. It will impact Congressional races and maybe a presidential one.

It’s a lot bigger than Kavanaugh.