Tue 7 Nov 2017
I beg to differ, Mr. Carroll
Posted by PJ under bearing witness, silence, surviving
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I hesitated before posting today’s quote of the day—because it was triggery for me and I thought it might be triggering for others.
I know Mr. Carroll was speaking politically (probably) and not personally, but it’s such a broad, bald statement that it can be taken in many ways.
In the end, I decided to post it because I believe in hosting a multiplicity of viewpoints (barring Nazi propaganda and the like). I also wondered if it might broaden current discussions going on about speaking out. Hopefully (since I really am small potatoes), it won’t stir up a sh*tstorm, but you never know how these things will go. Reasoned discourse is not in fashion these days.
You see, there is nothing wrong with keeping your silence. I know from personal experience that sometimes silence is a survival mechanism and NO ONE has the right to tell you that you must break your silence. It is completely an individual choice. Breaking silence can sometimes be immensely damaging to the psychology of a victim if forced on them before they are ready to speak. Sometimes they will never be ready to speak, and that is entirely okay.
You owe it to yourself to take care of yourself because maybe no one else will. You don’t owe the herd anything that will damage you. If speaking out helps you, then speak out. But these things can’t be rushed. They exist in a space outside time and the needs of the many. They are entirely personal until and unless you decide to make them public.
#MeToo
