How it was/how it is/how it should be
roadrunner
Registrant
Today has been an emotional day. It was great to see Kevin and Charlie finish their letter and have it received with such appreciation and support. Today I also read a painful survivor story by a new member who talks, among other things, about how he "just didn't know". How excruciatingly true.
Over the past two weeks there has been a real flurry of shared ideas and discussions about how things were/are, and how they should be. Adult survivors (several generations of us) just didn't know when we were kids. We didn't know what sexual abuse was or what rape was. I thought rape meant to hit a girl. Shortly after my own abuse stopped my grandmother took me aside - why I have no idea - and cautioned me that "fornicators go to hell". I told her ok in the most serious tone I could muster, and then ran to my dictionary as fast as I could to look up "fornicate".
Well, a lot of boys still don't know, and hopefully that will change. What can MS do to move things in this direction? This isn't a challenge, just a question, and I am sure it has already been extensively discussed. What has been done by the boys is marvelous and they deserve all the credit. But am I wrong in thinking that they have probably never met and that their project was based entirely on this site? It has been noted that it is unusual for recently abused youngsters to reach out to try to cope in such a brave and conpassionate way. But to repeat what I have said elsewhere, I think it was this site that provided them with the security and affection they needed to reach inside and find their true potential.
Today it occurred to me (but I am dense about many things
) that what we have here isn't just a haven and communication base and meeting point; it is a closely integrated community in which members find their own way by, among other things, supporting and assisting others. It has been great since the first day I came here, and one of the most impressive dimensions of activities here is the way such a wide variety of people of so many ages and backgrounds get along so well - especially considering what brings us here. I know there must be little ideas that arise all the time, but I wonder if it might be a good idea, on such an extraordinary day, to ask ourselves where the other young survivors are? Do they come in briefly and run away? Are they afraid when they first come here. Do they sit among the anonymous "24 guests" that I sometimes see listed as present. Are they scoping out whats happening and wondering will they be welcome? Will they be safe? Perhaps that is a question that should be addressed.
Larry
Over the past two weeks there has been a real flurry of shared ideas and discussions about how things were/are, and how they should be. Adult survivors (several generations of us) just didn't know when we were kids. We didn't know what sexual abuse was or what rape was. I thought rape meant to hit a girl. Shortly after my own abuse stopped my grandmother took me aside - why I have no idea - and cautioned me that "fornicators go to hell". I told her ok in the most serious tone I could muster, and then ran to my dictionary as fast as I could to look up "fornicate".
Well, a lot of boys still don't know, and hopefully that will change. What can MS do to move things in this direction? This isn't a challenge, just a question, and I am sure it has already been extensively discussed. What has been done by the boys is marvelous and they deserve all the credit. But am I wrong in thinking that they have probably never met and that their project was based entirely on this site? It has been noted that it is unusual for recently abused youngsters to reach out to try to cope in such a brave and conpassionate way. But to repeat what I have said elsewhere, I think it was this site that provided them with the security and affection they needed to reach inside and find their true potential.
Today it occurred to me (but I am dense about many things
) that what we have here isn't just a haven and communication base and meeting point; it is a closely integrated community in which members find their own way by, among other things, supporting and assisting others. It has been great since the first day I came here, and one of the most impressive dimensions of activities here is the way such a wide variety of people of so many ages and backgrounds get along so well - especially considering what brings us here. I know there must be little ideas that arise all the time, but I wonder if it might be a good idea, on such an extraordinary day, to ask ourselves where the other young survivors are? Do they come in briefly and run away? Are they afraid when they first come here. Do they sit among the anonymous "24 guests" that I sometimes see listed as present. Are they scoping out whats happening and wondering will they be welcome? Will they be safe? Perhaps that is a question that should be addressed.Larry