What a disgrace! The fact that there is even a designation of “Sexual Assault Awareness” speaks to our cultural obsession to power over. One in four girls under the age of 18 and one in six boys under the age of 18 are sexually assaulted. These are lost children and traumatized adults.
I was recently asked about the “excuses” for sexual assault like “her skirt is too short.” There are no excuses for sexual assault. No behavior gives another permission to sexually assault anyone literally or virtually; and if one is participating in an organization, that organization shares responsibility. Schools and universities are responsible when sports teams organize to sexually defame their classmates on-line. Fox News is financially responsible for the sexual harassment of its star, Bill O’Reilly. Clearly in this case, greed and ratings supersede decency.
The omnipresence of sexual assault in our society should at least give us pause. Do we value aggression over kindness? Why do we have to make another lesser so that we can be greater? Has no one heard of sanctity of human life? Each of us is responsible for our words and actions. The values we embody define who we are. Who are you?
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