How Many Does It Take?
Back in the days of black & white television, when shows like Playhouse 90 and the US Steel Hour performed live dramas, I remember watching with my mother. At the end of one show, she said, “One thing bothers me about the performance; one of the characters said he would swear on a stack of Bibles he was telling the truth.”
I agree with Mom. If someone is to be believed, then only one Bible (or any other thing of value i.e. “I swear on my child,” “…on the Constitution,” “…on my life”) should suffice.
I recently read “Nobody’s Girl” by Virginia Giuffre. I thought it was about time I learned more about what hundreds of young girls went through than just the snippets of emails or flashes of a smirking Jeffrey Epstein in photographs. If you’re hesitant to read this memoir, be assured that even though events that happened in this young girl’s life are hard to read, it is extremely well written. It’s almost as if Virginia wanted to take care of the reader.
In spite of concentrated efforts by the rich and powerful to divert attention from their crimes, each of us needs to demand justice for all who feel, rightly so, that justice has been far from served.
Why is it taking so long? Epstein’s “trafficking operation” may have attracted more influential, wealthy clients than the norm, but why has it taken so long for people to pay attention? Why have so many been hurt? Does it have to be more than one?
More than 60 women have publicly accused Bill Cosby of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.
Larry Nassar sexually assaulted more than 330 girls and women.
23 of Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers finally got their day in court, but Danielle Bensky, who was 17 when she first met Epstein in 2004, stated, “I am one story of a thousand,” she said. “Think of that number, 1000.”
Boys and young men are not immune to cover-ups of sexual crimes. A college physician allegedly abused at least 177 male students during his tenure; a story revived in a harrowing film (“Surviving Ohio State”) that highlights how he got away with it.
What to do? What to do? Read “Nobody’s Girl.” Talk to your children, your friends. Demand accountability from the criminals no matter how filthy rich and obscenely powerful. Listen when the accused deny ad nauseum and then swear on a stack of Bibles.