In a time of such marvelous inventions coming out, I am appalled by how many are designed to protect women from assault. Now don’t misunderstand. I am not saying women should be raped. I am not saying that the inventions are bad. I merely am appalled by the need for such items. I am a survivor. So I taught my children personal space and responsibility. I taught my son to respect women. I taught my daughter that her body is hers, and no one has the right to touch her without her permission. Yet, I know that there are people out there who would anyway. It kills me to know that someday she will not be safe. I am allowed the sadness that the world is not a safe place. I asked her what she would do if someone tried to grab her, tried to force her to do things against her will, and my beautiful twelve year old girl said ” I will kick him in the leg, then the nuts and I will scream! ” While crass, it feels good to know she won’t be a easy target. She doesn’t separate. If it’s someone she knows who tries to force her to do things or a stranger. Her body is hers. And I have made sure she knew it. I cannot help wondering if more children of both genders were taught that concept how the statistics of sexual assault and abuse would be? After all abusers seduce. They convince the child that even though the child is not comfortable with what is being done, that it is something the abuser is allowed to do. I mourn the need for the devices to “prevent ” sexual assault because I believe that if as children we are taught not to do or allow certain behavior… well as adults it wouldn’t happen. At least not as often. The ones who did at that point would be seen as deviants. They would then be treated as the criminals that they are.
Month: June 2016
Yep, this one got me giggling.. All too true.
Sunday Songs
In light of the tragic and brutal attack on the Orlando night club, The Pulse (NYT ARTICLEHere), my Second Sunday song post to my blog is Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”
From Wikipedia, Marvin Gaye
What happened in Orlando is a sobering reminder that we as a species still have a long way to go in our evolution.
“What’s Going On” was released just a few months after my 4th birthday, but you better believe I knew this song by heart.
As part of the soundtrack of my life, Mr. Gaye’s hit was played (on original vinyl) in my grandparent’s home with such frequency they had to keep a stock of needles to play it on the record player that thumped out all kinds of music, from Motown hits to Classic Country to Rock ‘n Roll.
So, enjoy this segment and light a candle for all who…
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Honesty Is Brave
Poetry normality
I am a poet. My children to my pride have shown themselves capable of great pieces. Now I should mention that I have not always felt good about my poetry. I have so often been told how depressing it was that I took it to heart. However, I wrote because it was how I healed. As an abuse survivor, I learned that I needed an outlet for the poison that was forced into my soul. Or I would not ever be whole. So I wrote to heal. I wrote for the love of poetry. So I would never be as good as Emily Dickinson or Edgar Allen Poe. I wrote because it was part of me. I did not force anyone to read what I had written. So if it was depressing…. that was fine. I could accept that. Then I was talking to a social worker. I mentioned that my poetry was considered depressing. Though I think she was being sarcastic, she said something that got me thinking. She asked “Isn’t all poetry?” There are various types of poetry that express different emotions. Discounting sad poetry is basically like saying that feeling sad is unacceptable. Poetry should be able to have a nice range of emotions. It is after all an expression of the poets heart in word form. Then someone else I care about said that his beautiful poetry was so sad. My response “Poetry is often sad. I’m told mine are depressing. Just because they are sad doesn’t have to deny their beauty.” Not every poet can write greeting card poetry or love poems. And abusing the poets whose writing causes other emotions is not acceptable either.
May You Rise From The Ashes
A broken person is a person without hope. People become hopeless and break when they feel defeated by life’s messy ways.
Divorce, death of a loved one, loss of jobs, loss of all we have ever known, loss of a sense of belonging, fear that there will never be anything more than pain and sorrow.
We stay broken when we cannot process our grief and anger or rise above the fear and try to figure out how to go about life another way.
Those who are chained by the expectations of others, society, and their own guilt have a hard time being authentic in each moment.
Hope, being oneself, courage to live one’s life despite any setbacks are how we become strong at our broken places.
It sounds easy, but it’s hard work.
And anyone can do it.
All one has to do is believe.
Put your shoulders back. Stand…
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Quote me knot
Tonight I was watching Gotham…when I got such a thrill. Dr. Hugo Strange quoted Alice in Wonderland. Which led me to offer it as a summer reading choice. I am planning a very busy summer with a couple of amusement parks and a long road trip. Still for me, Reading is a huge part of life. I am always carrying some book or another. So many of the best quotes are lines from this book or that. Inspirational words written in the stories many of us found comfort in. Each life finds a different quote to inspire, to encourage and to grow. The quotes that help me through darkness really depends on my life at the time. I often wonder why some quotes are considered to be inspirational. What quotes make you smile? Inspire you to be better?
https://evelynlouiseblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/first-blog-post/
Check out my new friend and writer, Sharon Reed King!
Source: https://evelynlouiseblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/first-blog-post/
Summer break
I may disappear for about a month. Still will be back, but summer vacation calls and I am uncertain about internet while I am gone.
Originally written to respond to status on Facebook.
Since you see the darkness
that surrounds,
Your eyes are wide.
But in your disdain
You judge…
Not that I think you wrong,
Yet still it seems that
Judgment taints you.
Paints you,
With a brush of hatred formed.
See their actions
And look away,
For sadly you may
Never understand
That which drives them
To hate.
Hide disdain and sneering glares,
For tis themselves
Their hate brings down.
You are better
For not being involved,
For not allowing yourself
To them to devolve.
Pattimouse 