I M Perfect lady

Having lived behind the scenes of a CSC case, and only as a second party or perhaps a third…I know that what you read in the paper is the tip of the iceburg, that for one person speaking out, there are much more being silent.  

I know that the courts and lawyers have their own agendas, and will work each case to their benefit, heedless to the outcome and what message it sends, and to whom…however, the rest of us too, work each case to either further our cause or to run from our truth by remaining silent.

Each of us sits with a vantage point, and what we do with it, will move our lives or our lives will be used.

When you silently disagree, you are not standing in opposition, but actually with. You are consenting by passive actions.

This passivity is a worker for crime.  It is a helper for the perpetrators…and it sends a signal to the victim, whose side you are on.

If, we are expecting victims to come forth and use their voice, give up the names of their abusers, we as witnesses to their courage, have to be willing to do the same.

What I recall most, what sticks out like a silent scream, is the silence.  The utter and complete silence I had when standing up against my family.  

You receive no cards, saying "congratulations" for turning in a criminal…for lending your voice and your story to help build a case.  Nothing.  No response.

The aloneness seems to permeate this walk…

The voices you do hear are the ones wanting you to be silent.

It is my intention to make some noise, to lend my voice and my journey to be supportive when others make this walk.

Eventually, I did begin to pick up cheerleaders…and each one was the wind beneath my wings.  I would have done it regardless, but it sure helped knowing someone out there wasn't silently supporting my abuser.