Caitlin, I’m sure you don’t want to know what I think about all this, although it could be summarized by “I don’t know”, with loads of doubt about both sides of this.
I won’t preach anything, here. I’m really sorry for what you’re going through, and the feeling of powerlessness that is recurring & intensifying, long after your horrific experiences.
Although not as visceral, it’s akin to what some of the Bernie campaign supporters are going through, after hearing the news from Rafael Návar, regarding the Sanders delegates. Poor Fiorella, who was full of hope just months ago, broke down in tears during her reporting of this fiasco. She put in as much work as anyone else, and believed her voice & efforts would make a difference. All for naught.
As you lament at the end here, I don’t now the answer. Maybe it’s just a matter of hoping for a Crash event, and trying to prepare to take advantage of the chaos, somehow.
How do we prepare for the worst? No idea.
Two of my sisters had been raped, in their youths. One of the incidents happened before I was born, and I’m grateful that I never saw her initial trauma.
She took care of us, when we were growing up. Mom did the best she could, but she herself had been traumatized from growing up in foster homes that kept sending her back into the system.
The perpetrator left my sister to die. I don’t know the full story — frankly, it’s too painful to think about — but I think ultimately she decided not to press charges.
She eventually chose a gay lifestyle, and is happily coupled up, retired in AZ.
For my other sister, it happened on a NY subway, early in the morning. They never found the guy.
My impulse here, is to preach about technology that could prevent these things. But maybe that’s a false sense of security, on my part.
There areno words of wisdom to offer, nothing to say that would help. Anything I say would probably piss you off more. I’m just sorry you have to be reminded of how broken & cruel this world is, and the huge role that men are playing in prepetuating it.
I hope you continue giving us your take on the insanity & falsehoods & corruption & inhumanity around us. I hope it doesn’t break you.