Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Sexual Abuse Widespread in America: Not Just in Big Business, Entertainment and Politics

It happens in every setting one can imagine, I am proof of that.
I will list all the molestations, etc. I can recall, but I am bound to
have (--mercifully!) forgotten  a few:

--When I was eight years old, an eight year old boy forcibly
mounted me, aping the sex act in our grammar school
cloakroom. Guess who got into trouble?

--When I was 11, my next door neighbor's 19 year old relative
made me pull down my pants to see what color my pubic hair was.
I was too afraid to out him because the adults in our two adjoining
houses would have closed ranks against me and I knew it.

--When  I was twelve, the local shoemaker molested me
 repeatedly. Guess who got into trouble?

--When I was 16 a Catholic priest, called by a  neighbor
to help troubled me took me into her bedroom, closed the door,
and forcibly "french" kissed  me. Again, I did not report this.

--When I was 18 my boss at a dry cleaners did more than
touch my breasts. We worked alone, no other employees.
I quit.

--In 1969 my supervisor at the main branch at our post office
kept touching my backside. To avoid my large husband going
down there and giving him what for, again, I quit the job.

--In 1969 I was taken off the street by three men and sexually
assaulted by just one of them (--thankfully!). Even though he
had a gun, I outsmarted him by suggesting we go out for coffee,
actually ordering coffee, then ran away...

But all of this has cost me, psychologically, and I bet, millions
of other women as well. Obviously far too many males can't
control their private part urges. Do they care to?

It happens in the law office, in Congress, the doctor's office,
everywhere.  Be clear, all men do not behave this way--
but many men often do, and far too often, women
cooperate by not leaving the job if there is no redress.

I want to delve further into this extremely complicated, loaded
issue. There is widespread sexual abuse in America, at all age
levels and with/without threatened career implications.

The Rich Running for High Office: Egos, He Goes, She Goes

But probably not to help most of us "everyday" people. No,
when the super rich but legislatively inexperienced toss their
hats into the ring,  rest assured it is to burnish their name/fame.
I ask: why are Chris Kennedy and J. B. Pritzker angling for
Illinois governor? Neither has held any previous political
office--Trump and Rauner, also without the proper prior
experience, now have records to comment upon, unfavorably,
in my book.

Heather Steans, also from an extremely wealthy family,
succeeded in nailing a post in Springfield, Illinois. She too
had no lower level political office earlier. Has she produced
significant accomplishments in the Illinois General Assembly?
Hmmn. I got insight into her character based on one short but
revealing interaction we had down in Springfield several years
back...her high disdain of me then was in marked contrast to her
"butter would not melt in her mouth" demeanor when I ran a
debate in Chicago (2008) between her and Suzanne Elder for
the post Ms. Steans now enjoys.

Here's what it's all about: these sorts want to be in the "club",
a rather exclusive one, apparently not satisfied to exert
influence with their foundations, donations, etc. The social
opportunities must be even better once they have political
power married to their money...if that is what one cares
about.

Oligarchy has returned to the United States with an unbelievable,
unmitigated vigor and pace. --Race to glory, guys and gals!
Watching them contending to win with ego, there they go,
contests more frightening than amusing.