The Twelfth One.
Afternoon, Subheading: It's a Process - a LONG Process. (Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault.) A friend of mine shared this meme on Facebook, and it sparked quite a response in my brain. I started to comment on it but realized quickly that I had more to say than what was appropriate for a response to a status. A part of me wanted to stand up and cheer, a part of me cringed, and a part of me just quietly nodded. When we have conversations about assault and rape, we want the story to be simple so we can unequivocally condemn the abuser. It's not only easier for the person sharing their experience, but also for the person hearing it. When we know someone we care about is hurting, we want to be able to comfort them, to say something. It becomes difficult for people to say the right thing when they don't understand the facts of the story, or come to a different conclusion when presented with those facts. In these moments, it's important to keep a few things in mind. ...