Sep 28, 2018 - But I digress...
Apologies for that, but I—like much of the rest of the country—was transfixed by Dr. Christine Blaisey Ford’s testimony yesterday, and couldn’t quite get any work done. She was so inspiring and brave, and the other guy just so damn awful— everything you wouldn’t want in a Supreme Court justice. But I’m curious to know how you feel about all of this: will Kavanaugh go down? And—if so—will our president replace him with somebody even worse?
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Kim France
I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
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I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
I’m am trying so hard not to be cynical and hope that a couple of republicans will show some character and vote against him, but it doesn’t look great.
His true agenda and personality was laid bare in my opinion yesterday and it wasn’t pretty. Partisan in the extreme and a bold face lier. No matter if he believes himself to be innocent or not, Kavanaugh’s presenting himself as a choir boy, with overwhelming evidence to the contrary, proves to me what an entitled little shit he is..
The republican’s are either utterly tone deaf or just think they’re greed Trumps all.
Unbelievable.
Sorry for the rambling rage.
Deep breaths…
Late comment. Warning: this will be long; apologies for the (I hear) lack of paragraph breaks.
First, I went to Yale at the same time as Brett Kavanaugh (graduated two years before him but have friends that span various graduation years). He was in the sister college to my residential college. So yes, I knew Brett slightly, but no better, because I did not want to. He was part of the bro-y atmosphere of Yale in the early 80s (see all the stuff about DKE, etc., and visit the Yale Daily News site for some excellent reporting on the topic). Second, I was date raped my freshman year at Yale, and I have the same vagueness of recollection of details as Dr. Ford. Can’t remember whether my date and I were at a party or a restaurant… can’t remember whether we walked back to my dorm room alone, or in the company of others… but what I will never forget is being held down and penetrated while he hissed in my ear, “You asked for it.” I never reported this incident and in fact spent a long time, like every other sexual assault survivor in history, thinking it was my fault and that I had in fact, “asked for it.” (To this day, very few people in my life know what happened to me.) So how is this all connected? I am disappointed that the hearing—besides being so farcical—did not address the central issue surrounding sexual assault, which is of course that it is never about sex, but about power. I believe 100% that Brett Kavanaugh was capable of raping another human being. And instead of concentrating on the “he said, she said,” perhaps we should all be thinking about what that, and his rage-fueled and at times incoherent performance last week, imply about his attitude towards people who have less power than he (and let’s remember, as a student at a private boys’ prep school in Washington, DC, he already had that power 36 years ago). Finally, and this is particularly addressed to the commenter who lives out of the country and has two boys in private schools: I have privilege. I grew up overseas as well, and went to private schools for my primary and secondary education. I then, obviously, went to an Ivy League college, which conferred on me more privilege. I’m also white, which confers on me additional privilege. Let us all please stop saying that privilege is irrelevant. It’s not. Neither is what we do with our privilege. Which I guess brings us back to Brett Kavanaugh, and his privilege, and what he demonstrated with that privilege last week.
Oops. That sounds have said, “I believe 100% that Brett Kavanaugh was capable of attempting to rape another human being.”
That *should* have said. (This is why I never comment anywhere.)
Thank you, Judi, for trusting us enough to share your experience with us. I had a very similar assault and there are a lot of details I don’t remember, but I clearly recall my assaulter grabbing my legs and pulling me down the bed even after I said no. I’ve worked on the shame part with my therapist, and he reminded me, “It’s rape. PERIOD.” We have to drop the antiquated “date rape” – it’s like we’re handing them an out.
Love and healing to you, Judi. ❤️
Completely understand you not being able to post today––I think we all need a moment to restock our mental health closets.
I was both fascinated and gutted by yesterday’s proceedings. Many, many self-care breaks including pounds of chocolate and trips to the beach were needed to make it through the day.
This morning I made briefly hopeful by the recommendation of a thorough FBI review by the American Bar Association, but that brief moment of hope was dashed by McConnell’s determination to have a vote on Kavanaugh today.
If Kavanaugh doesn’t make it, his replacement is most likely Amy Coney Barrett who is one of the most misguided women I’ve read about––VERY Catholic, VERY conservative and VERY supportive of trump. A “pray the gay away” and “get rid of the brown immigrants” variety of conservative. Apparently she drank ALL the Kool-aid. And she’s young so she’ll be around for-fuc&ing-ever.
I’m trying to focus on the bravery, honesty and calmness of Dr. Ford and being in awe of ALL the women who have spoken up, marched and stood with Dr. Ford. The future is, indeed, female. #vote #resist
Everything you said, dear c.w.
The male anger and hysteria in response to female power is quite something to witness. We see clearly that these men are weak, underdeveloped and afraid of everything that is not “white man.”
It is time for the woman. The future is female. Nasty Women Rise Up.
Yes–Many of us see who this man is–clearly!
yes yes – i had that brief moment of hope too reading about the ABA – and yes i’m worried about CONEY waiting in the wings — but mostly, i’m sickened. i will try to focus on Dr.Ford’s bravery…
Last night I was scheduled for a preseason hockey game, and for the first time writing sports, had to bow out. I spent the evening feeling gutted and useless — Lindsay Graham is a heartless pawn of the worst part of the Republican party, and Brett Kavanaugh represents the lowest class of drunken entitled white boy; he’s probably going to be on the Supreme Court. It’s good to know that women’s sovereignty over their bodies will be taken as seriously as this hearing was. And I hope we all express our anger with our votes in November.
I have been watching this unfold from across the pond. My absentee vote came into my inbox yesterday. I am going to put that vote in the mail today, so I can feel that I am doing something – anything – to counter this most odious and despicable group of Republicans. Christine Blasey Ford is a motherf’ing hero. I cannot conceive of the courage required to go in front of that tribunal of white patriarchal entitlement with her trauma and pain. Astounding.
And they have the balls to ask why women don’t report sexual assault. Yesterday answered that question a million times over.
That’s just an attempt to get us to shut up. Unfortunately for them, it’s backfiring hardcore right now.
Thank you for voting. Every last vote counts. We need all of us to stand up,
Hard to know whether he’ll be confirmed, totally dependent on whether any Republican senators vote against him. People have hope that some will because a couple of Republicans voted against repealing the ACA, but it’s anyone’s guesss.
Trump doesn’t really have time to nominate anyone else before the midterm elections, and it’s possible Republicans will lose their congressional majority this November, in which case Trump either has to really change the kind of person he nominates or he’ll never get the votes he needs for a confirmation.
But ramming Kavanaugh through will really hurt them in the midterms, imo. Dem turnout has already been unusually high in primaries and special elections this year, and Republican turnout somewhat low. Though again who knows — with gerrymandering, voter roll purges and other hanky panky anything could happen.
I went to bed heart broken and woke up angry. My husband, who always looks on the bright side, said times are changing. That may be but at a snails pace. Women cannot wait for men to help us. We must fight, demand and work our asses off for things to change. Vote!
I too watched both fascinated and horrified. What truly turned my stomach is the realization that Kavanaugh is not a “moderate”, not a nuanced and balanced jurist. The idea that this is a plot by the Democrats is beyond ludicrous. So the Dems scoured the country until they could find a woman who would claim she was sexually abused by him? Beyond belief. He is partisan, angry, and I believe, vengeful. Not what ANYONE should want on the Supreme Court.
where can i move and live on a moderate budget? i am utterly depressed by this spectacle–unbelievable?
Please stay. We need your vote, and we need to keep fighting the good fight. (It’s hard I know. I’m exhausted too.)
I am so full of rage today and trying to find a productive place to direct it. I look at my 15-year-old daughter and it makes me so sad that not much has changed since I was that age.
I am so afraid for my 8-year-old daughter’s future under a court determined to wipe out her right to control her own body. And I am fighting so hard to turn that fear into action because the idea of her teen and young adult years being the same as mine breaks my heart.
I didn’t plan to watch, but then I couldn’t turn it off. Dr Ford was so composed and credible- and BRAVE. He was completely unhinged- angry, arrogant, boastful and frighteningly political. Sadly, I fear the Republicans will confirm him. What is happening in this country? Women rise up.
I’m so angry and upset and I can’t wait to VOTE. Fired up and ready to go!!!!!
I can’t wait to vote, either. My friends & I vote early, and then we go out for brunch. We are like a pack of she-wolves lol
Her testimony was difficult for me to watch and upset me, in ways that I did not expect. It was hard to focus yesterday. I am a few years younger, and although this did not happen to me as a teen, I had a friend who experienced something similar, and never reported it. I am a lawyer and could talk about an FBI investigation, due process, and how the system expects women witnesses in such situations to be “perfect.” But there is lots written on that today. I am also a Canadian, so I cannot comment as expertly as others on the politics (although we have similar issues going on in Canada). My observation based yesterday’s testimony? She was credible and I believe her, 100% (to use her words). Him, not so much.
I was at work and was not able to watch the hearing in real time, but have followed it online. In addition, I have personal connections to much of this–my time at Yale overlapped with Kavanaugh’s and while I don’t know him personally, the separation is more like 2 or 3 degrees rather than the proverbial 6. In addition, this brings up so many painful past memories, incidents that affected not only me but almost every other woman I know. I can’t believe Senator Flake just weaseled his support to Kavanaugh. I am so with those women who confronted him on the elevator.
In short, yup it’s awful and painful and I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY ARE GOING THROUGH WITH IT.
The American Bar Association statement gave me hope that their call for an investigation would make it harder for at least two Republican Senators to vote to confirm. It also hopefully made it clear to people that the Democrats’ request for one was not bogus, but that it is actually the standard process that is expected when allegations such as this are brought forward. So screw you, Rick Santorum, Federalist Society Lady who should know better, and Michael Caputo (I watch too much CNN).
Blasey Ford was amazing and composed and heroic. Kavanaugh was insanely bad at being able to answer questions, for a judge who supposedly did nothing wrong. It tells you all you need to know about Republicans that once they realized he was wilting under the prosecutor’s actual questions, they pulled her out and proceeded to hijack their so-called investigation to spend the rest of their time slamming the Democrats.
Seriously, that July 1st calendar entry seems to be the party Blasey Ford states occurred, and there were so many questions that could have ferreted out the truth, such as if his description of Timmie’s house matched Ford’s, and whether Judge worked at the Safeway in August, which is when Ford said she saw him. The prosecutor was notably pulled right after she started asking him about that date.
I have never hated a political party in my lifetime as much as I hate the current Republican Party. They are morally bankrupt politicians who care about nothing but pleasing their wealthy donors so they can maintain power. I hope to god the Democrats take over in the midterms and I hope a media investigation into Kavanaugh continues so that stories keep coming out. From the women’s descriptions, there were more women assaulted and harassed by this pig. Hopefully they will decide to come forward, as well.
Maggie, I read your post and thought to myself, “Did I get up last night and write this in my sleep?” I agree with every word you wrote, particularly what you said about hating the Republican Party. Hearing the word “Republican” used to make me think: fiscally conservative, socially conservative, religious, family-oriented, old-fashioned. Not anymore. Now I think: racist, misogynist, homophobic, greedy, dishonest, corrupt, narrow-minded, vindictive, selfish. They are despicable, and I fervently hope–as David Simon likes to say–they all die of boils. Slowly. Yeah, I guess I am a little triggered.
Kathy, I think I wrote your post in my sleep last night! You & Maggie express what I think most of us are feeling. Disgust!
Kavanaugh is like virtually every guy I knew in college. He will get his lifetime appointment because the old boys club still exists. But the tide is turning, slowly.
Kirstjen, I’d like to make an exception to that. I knew a LOT of drunk guys in college. I hung out with a LOT of drunk guys in college. Sure, some of them were immature and occasionally said dumb things, but MOST of the drunk guys were good guys who would never think of sexually assaulting a woman, drunk or sober. Let’s be cautious not to lump all college guys in the same quagmire. But, hell yes to the “old boys club” still being in existence – it’s time to smash it all to bits!
The tide has not changed since Anita Hill. I’m furious and sad.
Thank you for commemorating this event with something (not posting). When the hearing started yesterday, I wanted to kneel.
Forever.
If I knew that we were all going to wake up and our enlightened country would create a national holiday commemorating this living nightmare, I might be OK.
His nomination, the fact that it’s continued, despite multiple women coming forward (with evidence). No investigation. The republicans’ and others’ treatment of Prof. Ford. It feels like slow-motion abuse. It’s farcical someone thought that yesterday’s process would appease. I will vote in November, but I will also never forget the republicans’ unforgivable behavior. Thank you for asking. What a gift to us, your avid followers. I can’t share these feelings at work, so, thanks to you, I will make it through the day.
I think he’s getting confirmed. They’re going to vote down party lines and Collins and Murkowski aren’t going to save us this time. The real question is: what happens next? I am hopeful that this decision will boost voter turnout and Democrats will take back the House. It will likely be a few years before Democrats get the Senate back but I think it will happen. In the meantime, I personally feel like engaging in some civil (or uncivil) disobedience.
Dan Savage suggests that maybe the best option would be to let him be confirmed ( I know nuts but wait) as BK is apparently and allegedly guilty of lying under oath and other offences that he would be able to be impeached and put the Supreme court back to 4-4, while any other nomination by this President will be as bad they might not all be as impeachable.
I so appreciate these comments as they validate my own feelings. Unfortunately, it seems we haven’t come very far since the Clarence Thomas hearings. Nevertheless, we must continue the fight to make our voices heard.
This is the thing, for me. This is the endgame in a political battle that’s been going on since Reagan was elected. It is not, and never has been about the lives of unborn children – it’s about women’s access to power. While the wider culture has in a lot of ways gotten more liberal, the central prower structure has not. It’s wealthy, white, straight men who make the decisions for the rest of us, decisions that serve their needs and theirs alone.
I couldn’t bring myself to watch the hearing yesterday, honestly. And I can’t stop thinking about what today’s decision will mean for younger women in this country, especially poor women and women of color.
Hold each other tight, ladies. We’re all we have.
Completely agree.
It’s of a small comfort, but it’s nice to be able to come here and read what others think and to know I’m not alone.
I can’t help but think there is a reckoning coming for the men in power. Too many people are really livid this time. More than I can recall in my lifetime.
She was brave, composed and credible; he was angry, vengeful, evasive, boastful and partisan. The discussions about God during his questioning turned my stomach. Kamala Harris’ comparison of him and Gorsuch was illuminating: Almost identical politics, education and achievements, the only difference being that Gorsuch was never accused of assault. And the “Democratic conspiracy” machine apparently could not dig up anything up on him. If Kavanaugh ends up getting confirmed, I will not be surprised but I’ll certainly be angry. Lindsey Graham and his gratuitous outrage made me want to vomit as I thought of Merrick Garland. The only shining light in yesterday’s hearing was Dr. Ford, who, after all her pain, suffering and death threats will probably fade into the background where the power-hungry, white, frat boys hope she remains. Regardless of what happened 30-odd years ago, yesterday’s hearing was evidence enough that Kavanaugh doesn’t have the composure, objectivity or temperament to sit on the supreme court. I was repulsed by his performance.
THANK YOU! Although Dr. Ford’s testimony was compelling, believable, and dignified, those white men had their minds made up before she ever spoke. Brett Kavanaugh is the epitome of an entitled, white frat boy. He was partisan and embraced all kinds of right wind conspiracy theories right out of the gate. A truly vulgar display spending his entire time bragging about himself and screaming about the indignities he has faced. And yet, when the dust clears, he will be sitting on the court with another sexual predator—Clarence Thomas. If Bill Cosby was a republican being considered, he would have sailed right through. Disgusting. I will vote, and I will not be silent.
If women were mad when Trump was elected, just wait to see the fury that will be unleashed if he is confirmed. This is going to be an amazing election year.
Dr. Ford is a heroine and someone whose brave actions will change America, however slowly it may be going!
Thank you for opening up your post to allow us to express our dismay and shock over the events of the past twenty-four hours. Dr. Ford is a portrait in courage.
What I saw unfolding in real time on my computer screen yesterday depressed and terrified me, but it didn’t surprise me. These white men believe they deserve run to the country any way they see fit – even if millions and millions of people disagree. While I watched the proceeding I kept this quote in mind -“To those with power and privilege, accountability and equality is so often experienced as loss, injustice, persecution.”
I, too, was enraged by yesterday’s hearing. But like most people, I managed to get my work done anyway.
Mazel Tov.
I did not. Didn’t sleep well either. Ford’s testimony was harrowing; Kavanaugh’s was a punch in the face. And then there was Lindsey Graham’s performance, and the realization that this was a kangaroo court. My job is meaningful to me but, let’s face it, nothing about it is as important as what happened to the country yesterday.
I was enraged and also did not manage to get my work done. Unless you count as “work” being there for your friends, making calls in protest, helping to get out the vote, and longing for the liberation of all who have suffered abuse from the patriarchy.
I also spent much of the day watching the hearings and feeling so hopeless. I remember the Anita Hill hearings so well and here we are again.
It was sad to see her be so solicitous, thoughtful and vulnerable, and he so arrogant, smug and enraged. It was also easy to see how this dynamic played itself out 37 years ago in a suburban bedroom.
I was feeling so sad and alone today after watching the hearings yesterday. I looked for your post this am as I always do hoping to brighten my day. And as usual it was just what I needed though not what I expected. I feel so blesed to come here to this welcoming community and read the thoughtful comments of those who truly understand.
Watching the hearing yesterday made me sick to my stomach, especially the second part when he “testified.” It was all about politics and not about finding the truth. Why wouldn’t he say yes to an FBI investigation? Why is his anger at the Democrats a reason for not answering most of his questions? Why….? The list of questions and doubts go on. I take comfort in reading that all of you, like me, saw a candidate who is privileged, shameless, and 100% partisan. Dr. Ford, thank you for your bravery to tell your truth. Now, I must do my part and vote.
When he was “elected”
I said, well he can’t break the constitution at least! Turns out…I’m probably wrk g about gat. Just wait…they’ll figure out how to repeal the 19th amendment before it’s all said and done… dystopian and disgraceful. #nastywomen
Apologies…horrible typos above and I can’t figure out how to edit my comment! Meant to say: “turns out I was probably wrong about that.”
Ditto what many said.
Also, to me the ink blot looked a little different. What cries out to me from the judge’s performance is that it may be time we Catholics eradicate boys’ schools. The girls’ ones are okay, but I don’t think anything good comes out of all boy schools. I speak from sisterly experience. Boys don’t tell their parents what happens in these places, not for years. (I’m not talking about pedophilia, although that can be an issue too.) There is a whole thing about machismo and attitudes towards women. Also sometimes actual beatings. Again, you the parent will not be told. I include seminaries too. Let’s pull the plug on all that. If someone is going to be a monk, and not a priest or a church official, fine, maybe they can go be in an all-male space. Everyone else, no! They say they want to renew the Church, so let’s see it. The hatred of sex, the repression – many of you may not know this, but they used to actually try to teach children that masturbation is wrong and I bet there’s a few of them still running around — well, let’s look at the result of that. Too much repression and self-hatred of the body, and you get – among other things – drunks and bullies. I know this is too long and I’m not being clear enough. But the Church really does have a problem with women. And it hurts *all of us.* Can you imagine being his parent, and you shelled out allll that dough for a fancy Jebby education, and *this* is what happened? I don’t blame it *all* on the brothers, but some, yes. Yes I do. (Also I’m sure his parents are in denial about the drinking. As another aside, I felt very sorry for the Kavanaugh too. He is clearly suffering, and even if right now it is mostly his ego, this is still a very public and sudden character test he is getting. Unfair, in a way. I think it’s easily possible he genuinely remembers *nothing.* In an ideal world, we wouldn’t metaphorically skewer people on telly.)
Anyhow, it’s a big sad sorry mess. Oh also, ditto on the doctor. She was heroic. I am so sorry that happened to her. May God bless her. Sorry for all the Churchy talk, but, it seems relevant to me.
Oh, also … I accidentally thumbed up the getting my work done comment, but then I was worried maybe you, Kim, might think it was aimed at you (though I don’t think it was – if it were, I wouldn’t have thumbed up). What I took from it was in the vein of, that we women do get a *lot* of the work done, even in the clutch, and if I’m not wrong, the majority of it globally per the UN? So, yay us. We can walk and chew gum at the same time. Just to clarify.
Another cleanup – when I said “nothing” good comes out of boys’ Catholic schools, I was very imprecise. What I should have said is, I don’t believe all-male Catholic education adds anything much of value to the many lovely little people who get subjected to it. All the many good things that happen in those schools could still happen if there were girls and women in them, and the bad things would generally decrease. Secular boys’ schools I’m not sure about, but I am suspicious a bit.
Moreover, family life is much more determinative of character (assuming you don’t ship them off to boarding school too young, but that’s a whole other thing).
And I wouldn’t blame the kid anyway, it probably wasn’t their idea.
What mystified me the most was that, even if you believed him about the assault itself, he blatantly lied under oath about so many smaller things (the yearbook; s e x references that he pretended were ‘drinking games,’ having never blacked out from drinking in his life) that he should be disqualified from serving on the highest court in the country based on that alone – this is a JOB interview, not a courtroom. In addition to showing how little our country has progressed on these issues since Thomas, yesterday completely destroyed any last vestiges of neutrality / separation of the court, and that, too, is heartbreaking and scary. I’m just numb.
The the message was clear. Even the most sympathetic woman doesn’t matter against a yelling powerful man seeking more power. She becomes irelevant.
And his reward for violating her body? — More power over other women’s bodies.
OMFG HOW ARE WE STILL HERE???
I don’t know, but I’m in the fight. Let’s not shut up until we are somewhere else. With more women in power. And the dudes who aren’t scared of women with power.
Also – a women with no history of mental illness doesn’t just decide she needs two godamn front doors because nothing happened. I get her gaps in memory – bc nearly the exact same thing happened to me at 16.
Let’s not trade this public gutting for self-immolation. Our history demands we dig deep and turn our personal outrage into collective courage. This may be the tipping point and therefore a gift from those who refuse to “take their feet off our necks”. Regift in November.
While I have not lived in the United States for 20 years, I still vote and yearn to move back to my home country. I cannot believe how much anger there is in the USA and how disrespectful everyone was to each other in the hearings yesterday. I am most saddened by how divided we are. Women seem to think that just because she’s a woman, she is to be believed. I am not saying I don’t believe her but Kavanaugh has only been accused of, not charged with, sexual assault and all of the comments here have already found him guilty. Shouldn’t every American be innocent until proven guilty? Regardless of their gender? And it’s very dangerous to dump all boys/men who go to all boys private schools into the same category – they are not all arrogant, affluent “shits” as I read someone refer to them as yesterday. I am raising two teenage boys who go to all boys private schools and I can assure you, they are not “shits.” Maybe if we all thought about speaking to each other with more kindness and compassion, we might actually find we want the same things for our country.
JennyB…
we are not discussing your boys, who are no doubt wonderful.
We are talking about white, wealthy, entitled, often private-schooled, narcissistic, ego-maniacal and likely sexually-repressed grown men. We are talking about the men whose very bad behavior was on full display yesterday. Their words and actions speak for themselves and their actions in government harm many many people.
And I wish it were so, but we don’t all want the same things for our country.
Dana d….when you lump all men who have been privately educated in all boys schools into the same category, you ARE referring to my boys, who will soon be men who were privately educated in all boys schools. Is it fair that you’ve already made up your mind about them? I’m pretty sure that we do all want the same things for our country – to be supportive of each other’s endeavors, to represent our country with dignity and to be kind to one another.
Please read again…I didn’t do that.
This isn’t about your sons. It’s not about you. It’s about a woman who was sexually assaulted (1 in 3 women) and a man who is part of a larger group of men who have NO idea how to listen to, and respect women, people of color, the poor, etc.
It’s not about you.
*APPLAUSE*
Jenny, perhaps spend less time thinking about what the world owes to your sons and then we can talk.
Thank you. You all have entertained her solipsistic, entitled nonsense in a kind way.
because your boys are the beneficiaries of incredible privilege and now have access to power and influence that aren’t available to people who aren’t educated in those kinds of schools, they have a responsibility to do what they can to police the actions of their classmates and peers.
we all have a responsibility to make our own person communities safer, more just, and better.
it just so happens that your boys’ communities are powerful, and so if they neglect that responsibility, the effects are likely much greater than it would otherwise be.
i say all of this from the perspective of someone who has gone to schools like that, who has many friends and family members who have, and so we all feel the importance this duty. my brother-in-law, or my male friends, who went to schools like georgetown prep don’t feel lumped in with people like BK because they KNOW they’re not like him. they know that they spoke up when they heard disgusting things being said. they know that they didn’t view the world as belonging to them, but they were thankful they had the educations they had, and they worked hard to deserve it. and when they didn’t get what they wanted, they kept working like everyone else.
and when you do get lumped in with bad actors like BK, then you have to work even harder to prove that you’re not like him.
that’s the price we pay for privilege.
Well said, Rachel! You clearly illuminated the issue with men like BK and men that are not. Thank you.
If this were a trial, then yes, he would be innocent until proven guilty, there would need to be due process, etc. But it’s VERY important to remember that’s NOT what this is. It’s a job interview. So his lying about smaller details under oath (regardless of whose version of events you believe, it’s clear he was lying about things like his drinking and yearbook), his lashing out at democrats when this is supposed to be nonpartisan, his unhinged demeanor should all disqualify him REGARDLESS of the content of what was actually said yesterday. His inability to speak with, as you say, kindness and compassion is exactly the issue. It also felt performative for Trump, whose continued backing he needed to secure so the nomination wouldn’t be withdrawn, and Trump would not have accepted anything less than a bombastic and blustering denial.
Agree! And it’s a job interview for one of the most important jobs in the country (top 10) and a job for life (till whenever the justice wants to retire).
While what you say is true, Kavanaugh has a checkered history.
He was personally responsible for drafting the extremely graphic questions that were posed to Bill Clinton. He felt it’s was his duty to expose every lascivious detail in the public arena. So it’s incredibly hypocritical of him to be offended.
But then hypocrisy seemed to rule the proceedings. He’s a pretty nasty price of work.
Whoops…This was actually for jenni B!
I, too, didn’t get any work done yesterday. Glued to the C-SPAN feed and Twitter. Christine Blasey Ford is a great American, and so brave.
He reminds me of so many men/boys I used to know. Arrogant beyond belief, pretentious and plain old slimy. Somebody just said to me it’s a “he said/she said” situation but I don’t believe him for one second. I’ve no doubt he thinks he can get away with anything, he’s just so much better than the rest of us.
K, sounded like a raging partisan nutter. It’s shameful that he won’t submit to the investigation. It’s just a he said she said.
Thank you Kim. I’ve been waiting for you to provide a space for us today so that we can come together in anger and frustration and hope. Yesterday was heartwrenching. I surprisingly found myself unable to sleep the night before because I worried for her. She was amazing under fire. A hero to all females. Kavanaugh was more disgusting than I could have imagined. If any woman had behaved as he did…yelling, angry, interrupting, crying and blaming this on a Clinton cover up…she would have been deemed hysterical, overemotional and unfit for office. He does not have the ability to be even-tempered, apolitical and impartial in interpreting the law. My biggest concern is that, one in position for a lifetime, he is going to set back women’s right for over a generation My heart aches.
Yes, this. This would be a career ender for woman who presented this way in public, never mind in court.
I’m still crushed, but I feel heartened by reading everyone’s thoughts here.
I love all of you smart, spectacular women. Thank you for this forum and this particular post, Kim.
Much love and strength to all of us…xoxo a million times over
Thank you Kim.
Thank you for holding space here today, and thank you to all the women posting, and especially those posting about voting. I see this as about turning SCOTUS, which has been more left leaning than right for 3/4 of a century, to the right. They will do anything to turn it red and shape the laws of the land for the next few generations. They will sacrifice the 2018 election, and 2020 if need be. Owning SCOTUS so that they can roll back abortion, environmental regulations, banking regulations, enforce gun rights, curtail immigration, enforce all the conservative agenda items … that’s the goal. It doesn’t matter that he’s a violent predator. Dr Ford’s testimony was irrelevant. They don’t care. Rape and assault and women’s rights and women’s bodies aren’t important to them. We need to fight this with every vote, and every voice. Thank you all for being furious.
Thank you for writing and keeping the comments open for us to all hear the words of support and sadness. Yesterday was awful; today is also not great. I think they will confirm that rageaholic and it will go badly from there. Looking for a silver lining, I hope that the slow giant is awake now and will move with speed and strength to shake the political rafters clean. Vote. Call. Email, text – whatever it takes to vote and get people into place that represent our hopes and dreams for the generations of women to come.
I’m so angry. Just so damned frustrated, angry and sad that this amazingly courageous woman told her story, and it feels like this rich white boy will get a pass. It’s not new. It’s something we’ve lived with for a long time, but not only he is angry, entitled, belligerent and sexist, but if confirmed, he WILL take this out on women around the country. I can’t imagine how awful it would be to go back to a time when abortions were illegal and women are told what they can and can’t do with their bodies. I’m furious. It unsettles me how angry I am. While I would like to hope hope hope he doesn’t get confirmed, my fear is that he will. It will be a dark day for everyone if that happens.
As many have said before me, thank you for this, it was amazing to me how many people weren’t reacting or paying attention to the hearings yesterday and it is heartening to know there are so many of us that were. Thanks to some work that I needed to do that didn’t take much brain power, I watched every minute of the hearings yesterday with my husband (who was probably angrier than I was at times) and at the end felt more deflated than I have since being in a conference room with people happy about the previous night’s outcome two years ago on the morning of November 9th (I was one of the only ones not). I keep telling myself that we have made progress since then in no small part because so many more of us are talking about the issues with those around us and getting involved with campaigns, writing and calling our representatives at all levels, and even running for office. I hope that November’s elections bring the results that so many of us are hoping for and that we can continue to move forward instead of back.
I’m too sad and horrified to write.
Why in the world should this accused man “go down?” What happened to due process, evidence, and innocent until proven guilty? Don’t tell me this is a job interview- when you go for a job interview can your sociosexual past be FBI-investigated, your good name trashed by the most powerful governing body in the nation, and your family threatened? Doubt it. There is not one single fact, piece of evidence, or proof that would even pass a grand jury trial much less an FBI investigation. It is so clearly a last-minute Democratic effort to thwart a conservative being assigned to the Supreme Court. Must we women think with our outraged gender instead of with our brains? A Hundred years ago men said women should not be allowed to vote because we are too emotional. From what I read in the comments, unfortunately that appears to be true. I see no evidence, only political opinions, emotional outrage, and the instantaneous condemnation of a lynch mob. Historically the shameful extreme has been to never believe a woman; the other frightening extreme now is to believe her 100% without any shred of proof and ruin another person’s life in doing so. People criticize Kavanaugh for being angry and this bad in a leader; wouldn’t you be righteously angry if she had accused your husband, son, or friend in what is currently just a 36 year old rumor? Ford may truly believe that Kavanaugh assaulted her, giving her the appearance of a martyr and allowing women to unleash the historical rage of sexual assault on one man (and in so doing against Trump). But if you think that you can tell her story is ACCURATE simply because she has the glowing appearance of sincerity, then I would watch your bank account because people are probably lying to you every single day and getting away with it. I am worried not for women as a whole, but for democracy and the Constitution, which I value more highly than the sisterhood I’m told I should unthinkingly embrace.—A right-leaning woman who also reads fashion blogs
Yes. TONS of government jobs require deep background checks. Especially a lifetime appt. Fact. He lied multiples times – even on small stuff – which reveals a lot about character to me. She’s very credible to me. Her letters from her therapists are credible. Not facts suggest she’s an operative – that would mean she’s lived 50 + years as one person and then just changed? I don’t but that. No one did this to Gorsuch – even if we disagree politically. They won’t do it to ACB. You can have your OPINION about Feinstein – but I Dr. Ford reached out when Kav was on shortlist, working her way up her reps calling back, desperately wanting to protect her identity backs up DiFi’s actions/ timeline. And with sexual assault, women don’t talk, but are often emboldened when others start speaking (Weinstein, Cosby, Louis CK) — when they see they are not alone (won’t get humiliated/ doxed, etc). Those are all FACTS. You seem really EMOTIONALLY CONNECTED to this guy. Why? The Freedom Caucus has a deep bench. I would cut bait on this on – even if he were a Dem (too many questions, the job too important). Just like I would not want Bill Clinton on the court – getting to weigh in on rape laws or forced NDAs.
And my bank account is well taken care of – via a killer job the sisterhood who came before me fought hard for – thank you so much for asking.
Not all women are the same. There are bad women and good women. And bad men and good men. I also value the constitution, democracy (I love it to) and my sisterhood of awesome lady friends.
You can swear at my sisterhood all you want (it’s your right), but I really hope you have some good lady friends in your life. Because they are a gift. Fashion’s not going to take you to a chemo appt and keep you laughing your ass off.
My mom was a federal judge appointed by a Republican president. When she had her senate confirmation she was asked to provide a list of “character” witnesses. Not people she had angered, not the people she sentenced to jail or the lawyers she ruled against. This was a lifetime appointment. So the only people who spoke in her favor were her friends/minister. This should not be the case for any lifetime appointment. My goodness, start with yearbooks! BTW, she died while in her 18th year of her appointment.
One reason this man should “go down” is that in the hearing itself he displayed a level of belligerence and political influence that is inappropriate for any judge, let alone a Justice of the highest court in our country. Whether you believe him or not, his behavior yesterday demonstrated his clear absence of the “judicial temperament” required of Supreme Court Justices.
So let me ask you this, in all seriousness: based on his performance yesterday, do you believe that Kavanaugh could be truly impartial, impersonal, and unbiased, with the deliberative seriousness we demand of SCOTUS judges?
He isn’t being put in jail. At most, he is being denied a very cushy, very prestigious, very powerful job. That’s *all.* (If we’re lucky.) And, he already has a job pretty much just like that (though I am sure he works reasonably hard).
Meanwhile, more than one person who knows him personally has described him as someone who at least used to drink to excess. His good friend apparently wrote a whole book about their lifestyle. I don’t know what my college roommates say about me … but I know it wouldn’t include *this.*
This is *relevant* because alcohol can affect one’s memory. It is evidence. It isn’t just Dr. Ford’s credible persona on the other side. There’s actually a reasonably sized pile of stuff that calls his whole scene into question. And then, his performance yesterday. Oh my gosh.
And in fact, there is apparently a lot of paperwork that hasn’t been examined, from his career as a (very, very) political lawyer. Who knows if he told the truth about his past. We *should* know, and we don’t. That’s all due to your side of the aisle, btw.
But believe what you want. I would be sorry if you felt threatened, but I don’t see how it could be because of anything anyone here has said to you.
You know what though, I believe the other people too. He probably is a good soccer coach. When he’s not s-faced, which is probably the vast majority of the time, I can believe he is a decent human being, and maybe even better. And it’s not a stretch either. We’re all mixed bags. I really don’t like the way this has gone, and I definitely blame the WH and the Senate Judiciary GOPers. Having said that, he doesn’t seem very honest. However, that kind of scrutiny would be hard for most of us I think.
I read your comment to my beau. He said, “sounds like it was written by a man.” And, just a side note––my beau went through a deep background check including the FBI when he worked at the Smithsonian. High ranked government jobs require deep background checks––even for government museums. And my guess is you have never been sexually assaulted––you are very, very lucky. I worked with women in Seattle who had been sexually assaulted––they were from all walks of life and had been assaulted in all kinds of situations. One thing I learned from them is you never ever forget. Conservatives keep feebly latching on to certain things such as Dr. Ford’s inability to remember certain details, but if you ask any psychiatrist who has worked with sexual assault victims about that, that psychiatrist will tell you this is not at all unusual. And, as many other have said, Kavanaugh’s behavior of belligerence and anger and flat out rage are not the qualities I look for in a Supreme Court Justice.
YES, c.w.! Applause!
“I am worried not for women as a whole, but for democracy and the Constitution…”
I find it difficult to believe that anyone who supports the current version of the GOP is at all interested in democracy or the Constitution.
Since you are asking for facts, you should look into the questions that are asked of SC nominees during the FBI background check process, because, yes, your sociosexual past is part of the investigation.
Justice Anthony Kennedy sat through more than 10 hours of FBI interviews. Among the questions he was asked: Have you ever engaged in kinky sex? Did you shoplift as a kid? What about any associations with groups like the Klu Klux Klan? Ever abuse a girlfriend? Engage in cruelty to animals? And tell us about sex in college: How often, how many women, and did you ever contract a venereal disease?
The problem with the background check process is it relies on the interviewee being honest and the nominee providing his own people to question. So when Republicans claim this is the seventh investigation, the first six relied on information provided by Kavanaugh, who clearly lied multiple times during his Senate hearing, including about his drinking and the meaning of several terms in his yearbook.
And wow, I know conservative women have beliefs I don’t agree with, but I haven’t met any who have gone to the “women shouldn’t be allowed to vote due to their emotions” place since the early 60’s. What about Brett Kavanaugh’s emotions? He made a whole bunch of unfounded claims about a Democratic plot orchestrated by the Clintons while crying and yelling at his questioners. Should his emotions disqualify him?
My bank account is fine, thanks for your concern. If I were you, I’d watch out for my rights as a woman, because with this current administration and the likelihood of BK getting confirmed to the Supreme Court, you’ll be able to watch them erode one by one…
I love reading this site for the fashion and pop culture info, and usually just ignore that everything skews left, but this pushed me over the edge. I am conservative and believe in due process and apparently that makes me “evil” in the eyes of virtually everyone else who reads this blog. I’m done.
It’s interesting that you and the other anonymous commenter apparently feel so threatened by people who disagree with you. No one’s attacking either of you; they’re simply pointing out what they percieve to be holes in your arguments (which I might add are rather belligerantly stated) and defending their own positions. Thinking someone’s opinion is wrongheaded is not equivalent to believing they’re evil.
*On due process and the Constitution, cf. Merrick Garland.
👋 Adios. This site is not Twitter or Facebook. Open frank discussion without attacks can be expressed here, I have found. Too bad you’ve made inaccurate assumptions just because your opinion is in the (overwhelming) minority.
i don’t think you’re evil. you say there’s not one bit of evidence – it doesn’t make sense- a credible woman spoke at great cost to herself & family. you are ignoring this woman , in the same way men have ignored women for all of history.
You and a lot of Republicans say you want due process, but I don’t know how Republicans can make that claim when first they refused to open an FBI Investigation into these allegations, then they refused to actually ask Kavanaugh the same probing questions that the prosecutor asked Ford during the hearing, instead spending most of their time attacking Democrats, and now they are narrowly dictating how the FBI investigation can be conducted and limiting who the FBI can talk to and what questions they can ask. The White House won’t even disclose their letter to the public detailing the parameters they have set for the FBI, and you have Trump making contradictory statements about what the FBI was told to look into. Then you have Mitch McConnell stating the vote will happen this week regardless of whether the FBI needs more time to follow up. This does not at all comport with due process. It truly seems more like a preemptive attempt to cover up anything the FBI risks finding out about Kavanaugh by limiting the information they can investigate.
I am far from a bleeding heart and have often railed about the fact the pendulum has swung too far the other way. One of them is lying though and I believe, in this case, it’s Mr. Kavanaugh.
And Dr. Ford seems to have no problem with a broader investigation into the matter. Can the same be said for Mr. Kavanaugh? Does he even want due process?
I’m exhausted. I watched the whole hearing yesterday and was impressed by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. I would have been somewhat more indulgent of the anger of Brett Kavanaugh — if he were really innocent he’d be entitled to rage — but I don’t believe him. Even before the sexual assault revelations, he lied to the Senate about matters such as the receipt of stolen emails belonging to the Democrats. Yesterday, he lied several times and Republicans even edited Wikipedia to back up his made-up definition of “Devils Triangle.” How Orwellian is that? He said that the other people in the house during the Ford attack said it didn’t happen. Two people said they didn’t recall the party, which is quite different from something didn’t occur, and one said that she believed Dr. Ford. The other was Mark Judge, Kavanaugh’s best friend at the time, who according to Ford’s account was in the room and participated in the attack. And why was Judge not subpoenaed?
His insistence on his innocence while refusing repeatedly to request an FBI investigation was mindboggling. Just how stupid does he think we are? He knows that a thorough investigation won’t exonerate him; he has something to hide. The prosecutor hired by the GOP seemed to be getting at something with her questions about the July 1 entry on Kavanaugh’s calendar. They cut her off and started asking the questions themselves.
I hope that the FBI is about to locate more evidence during it’s too-brief seven-day assignment. But I don’t know if anything will convince the swing Republican Senators. If Kavanaugh is confirmed, he should be impeached if the Democrats regain control of Congress. If he is not confirmed, the Dems should delay until after midterms. It was OK for them to deny Merrick Garland a hearing and the Scalia’s empty seat was held open for more than 400 days.
The ugliness of the GOP was on full display. They care about nothing but pushing through their (or their rich donors’) policies to the point of confirming a serial liar and sex offender.
The comment software should be configured to permit paragraph breaks. My above comment included several to increase readability. I don’t know if anyone will get through that block of text. I’m sorry I took the time to write such a detailed comment.
I feel the same…
this is exactly what I teach my 8th graders…short paragraphs equal easier to read…
I read all of it. It was really good. Thank you for taking the time to write it.
I read every word, dear Reader….
No worries. Beautifully written. I read it all.
I read every word, Reader! Clearly, concisely stated with reason. Thank you!
Agree about the paragraph breaks––same thing happened to me, but I did read all of your reply and like it.
Exactly. Who can forget Brett Kavanaugh’s long silence when Senator Durbin asked him if he wanted an FBI investigation—an investigation that could, after all, potentially restore BK’s good name. Kavanaugh didn’t want it. Nor did he want Mark Judge in the room, testifying under oath. Only Ford wanted more questions, more answers. I trust that that is something we can all agree on. (Imagine, if you believed yourself innocent, AND your friend believed you innocent, how badly you’d want that friend to show up and cooperate on your behalf.)
I am so disappointed in theses comments for their biased, unfair and emotional hatred. I am sure many of you consider yourselves “tolerant”….but only for those who think like you. Dr Ford had a very bad experience over 36 years ago and I’m very sorry for the pain she has held onto for so long. Her vague memory and accusing a man she didn’t know does not make it go away. Her facts are not consistent or accurate. She misled about her fear of flying vs enjoying traveling to Costa Rica, Hawaii and other parts of the world. She didn’t know if she paid for the lie detector test. She doesn’t know how she got to or from this house. Doesn’t know the day. She is far from credible. But I guess people will believe what they want to believe. Just be aware of the koolaid you drink.
Nobody has been unfair or shown you hatred. You may not agree. But you have thrown around insults to women you seem to want to engage with, suggesting they are dumb for maybe not getting your same news feed/ seeing it your way. That’s a rough foot to start a conversation on. I’m not a die hard liberal, no one is trying to dox or threaten you as your name suggests. We just disagree. I agree there are some facts that make Dr. Ford’s account not one we could prosecute or send him jail on. No one is suggesting that. At the same time, she is what law enforcement and psychologists refer to as credible witness — the important details are there while others fade. I had a similar situation at 16 – I remember being held down, the guy’s knees on my arms, his hairy hand over my mouth, his hot breath in my ear saying “Go ahead and scream. I want to hear you scream.” And I fought. And next thing I know I’m in my car – I don’t know how I got there or how I got out, but I’ll never forget the assault or taking off my torn underwear or losing my orange sweater and camera I just got for my birthday. I will never forget it. People remember all the awful things that happened to them (where you were when your mom died, or 9/11 happened, or a child died etc — you never forget specific details, but then other things fade – doesn’t mean the event didn’t happen – we don’t live our human lives as forensic detectives). Juries actually convict on this kind testimony all the time (if you don’t have a history of lying, etc?). Do a minimal research into sex crimes, eye witnesses – her testimony meets the LEGAL STANDARD. Maybe your personal standard is different. Cool. But it’s enough for me to say – it’s too much of a shadow of a doubt on him – and the power he would have access to. Move to another SCOTUS pic. Add to that his vengeful hysteria – vowing revenge (blaming the Clintons??)- made me think he would be there with a partisan ax to grind from the bench – punishing millions of people for his conspiracy theories. I don’t like that on either side. Her case does not hinge on fear of flying. People who fear flying, do so often. It’s not comfortable, usually requires some Xanax, but they do it. Also – would YOU be psyched to publicly testify? From your defensive posting name – my guess is no. I certainly wouldn’t. I’m sure it’s hard for most non politicians who don’t want to be doxed/ family attacked/ linked for life to a sex assault. PS – You think you’re not biased and emotional? We’re all biased. It’s just my biases are not the same as yours. Welcome to sharing democracy. My guess is – as Americans – there’s also a lot we do agree on.
I am so sorry that happened to you, sc. The small details you recounted regarding your torn underwear, orange sweater and new camera broke my heart. And the rest horrified me. Much love to you, friend.
Thank you that’s kind. I’m good!
Thanks for sharing what happened to you, sc. It’s not easy to share that you’ve been sexually assaulted. Anyone that thinks it should be hasn’t really been paying attention. I was assaulted in college, many many years ago, but I remember certain horrible details clearly while the date and other particulars are gone. Dr. Blasey Ford said she was 100% certain that her attacker was Kavanaugh. And THAT, I believe!
Still here?!? Thought you were leaving.
We’re the ones drinking Koolaid? Hilarious. What makes you think she doesn’t know him? I’d love for this whole matter to go to trial and give this supposedly innocent man a chance to clear his name but Brett isn’t interested.
With respect to the assault, Dr. Ford’s memory was not vague at all .
So you find her not credible. But Bart O kavanaugh – that’s the guy you believe? You believed his line about Alumnus Renate? Devil’s Triangle etc etc? ?
I think we live in a time of near-violent righteous indignation and extreme intolerance for the “other side,” whichever it might be. Our worst tribal tendencies are popping up, making it impossible to deal with this manner with any thoughtfulness and grace. Conservatives think Ms. Ford is lying or embellishing in order to push a political agenda. Progressives think Mr. Kavanaugh is lying or embellishing in order to push a political agenda. Somewhere in this mess lies the truth, but we’ll never get at it. I don’t know how to feel, except extreme dismay at the majority of our supposed leaders acting like children—on both sides of the aisle. If this were happening to the Democrats, the situation would be just as intense, only the sides would be switched. BOTH lives are taking hits here—Ms. Ford because she has laid bare her pain in the court of public opinion and she’s been treated shabbily by many people. Kavanaugh because we are blind to the fact that it is possible to grow up, to develop from a shit-headed frat boy cruising on hormones and uncommon sense into a thoughtful, kind and caring adult. It is also possible to misremember, to embellish, to make justifications for one’s behavior, especially when, again, one is so, so young, inexperienced, and ignorant about how to properly behave in this world. And, yet, the court of public opinion has no sympathy for the fact that human beings are complex, not black and white.
Some truth in here, though I did not see one side’s Senators acting like children, and I did not see a thoughtful, kind, and caring adult in Kavanaugh when he testified. In fact, if that’s how he acts when he’s sober, I’d be terrified of him after he’s had his beer.
Kim, I am so grateful that you provided your readership this opportunity to share their thoughts and provide validation and support to one another.
Providing a place for your readers to talk when you could have pretended it wasn’t happening was in itself an act of courage and I sincerely thank you for this.
I am surprised by just how much the above comments mean to me. After reading this, I feel a little stronger.
It’s a pity Kavanaugh isn’t a Democrat. Would certain Republican supporters still think him an innocent man, after watching his unbelievable horrible behaviour? They might be objective if the whole “They’re just trying to take down Trump” theory is no longer available.
Under oath, he clearly displayed his partisanship, in saying this was a Democratic play, a Clinton conspiracy, etc. For any attorney, under the ABA rules, a lawyer should not display partisanship at any time, much less a judge, and much less for a lifetime appointment. His testimony was frankly an offense that should get him disbarred.
I teach at a small, very expensive, private university. With a very strong Greek (fraternity) culture. (I’m Canadian, and came to the U.S. only in 2013, and both these elements have been quite a culture shock.)
But I now walk around looking at the young men on campus – very privileged, almost exclusively white, mostly private schooled, almost all members of fraternities – all of whom are polite and respectful to me – thinking, “I don’t know who you really are. And this world tells you that you *could* act like that.” And I feel … afraid.
It reminds me of a line I saw going around: Brock Turners grow up to be Brett Kavanaughs, who then make the laws to protect Brock Turners.
Dr. Blasey Ford was credible, without artifice, strong and 100% believable. I could not bring myself to watch the faux outrage on the part of the old white boys and Kavanaugh, so I turned that part off. The next day, even though I had prepared myself for the worst, I was devastated. Couldn’t get through the day…felt like I was in a fog. I’m a survivor, so it all felt a little too close to home and I didn’t feel like reliving it in my mind. My husband gave me hope when he spotted the breaking story about the delayed vote and FBI investigation. But I can’t see Trump backing down. His ego won’t let him. Asshole.
Just want to point this out: She has nothing to gain by lying. He has everything to gain by lying.
Kim, thank you for giving us this forum to vent, to feel validated, and to share. I took the day off on Friday and spent it with my 75 year old Mom, the only person in the world who could make me feel better. I did take time to call my Senators again. Also, I am planning my trip to DC for January 19 for the Women’s March. My hope is we can turn this into momentum for good.
yes, thank you KimFrance. I live in Asia and it’s hard to be here sometimes, away from other Americans. I watched it all by myself, read tons of articles in the past few days. It’s comforting to read this thread & hear what other people are thinking. But I’m upset.
White women, consider Black Americans. For centuries they lived in a country that loathed their existence. When the Jim Crow era started and blacks sought to escape suffocating, demoralizing, and murderous state laws, many took trains as far north as they would go – Chicago, Detroit, New York. And while there weren’t yet state laws to crush them, there were quickly established local laws, landlords, and general cultural white hatred that drove them out of neighborhoods with knives and guns. There was, quite literally, no place in the United States where a black body was safe. Questionable whether there is even now. I hear your worry and concern about your daughters, but it also helps to have some perspective and fight oppression in all the places it lives.
These are not normal times and it seems so awful go on with our routines as if they are. Thank you for taking and giving the space for us to reflect here.
A local newspaper published an opinion piece last week about the Kavanaugh mess, written by a U.S.-born female writer. Its title was “What happened in high school stays in high school.” The higher-ups in the newspaper chain responded to public outcry by “doubling down”, as it was described. They stood behind the piece, and essentially gave the finger to anyone opposed to the editorial.
This comes on the heels of the Jian Ghomeshi pity party that saw the editor of the NYRB step down.
(https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/29/new-york-review-of-book-ian-buruma-jian-ghomeshi)
Two female city councillors have decided to stop granting interviews to the newspaper. And since the two daily papers in the city have the same owner, we only have TV news to hear from them.
These are frightening times, when the supposed guardians of democracy seem to have forsaken their historic role of looking out for the public interest. Editorial pages always reflected the views of newspaper owners, but news pages were supposedly kept non-partisan and unbiased. This editorial has caused a spillover effect. The newspaper is trying to turn this into a debate about the right to say anything in print under the guise of free speech.
I did some further investigation of my own, and learned that the writer of the opinion piece has had her work published in a publication that Wikipedia describes as “publishing false articles and being a source of viral falsehoods.”
This fact about the writer was not disclosed, nor were her other side jobs (rather relevant ones). Is this where they are headed? If so, the fifth estate has turned in a new direction, and the public interest is not it.
We are all getting dragged into the muck. The infection is contagious. How close we are to repeating the days leading up to 1939.
History is only valuable if we learn from it.
Thank you, Kim for opening a forum on this topic.
Read the following observation a few days ago, and it still is on my mind:
“People like Brock Turner grow up to be people like Brett Kavanaugh, who then make laws to protect people like Brock Turner.”
Scary, but so true.