The reason I am so angry about many of these responses to the Ford/Kavanaugh story is because 15 year old girls who were raped and abused over the weekend will see and read these responses and hear, "Shut up - it's not that big of a deal, and your life will be hell if you talk."
It does matter. It wasn't your fault. What happened was wrong and wicked. And while there are idiots out there who won't understand, there are also compassionate, well-trained people out there who care and who will fight for you. Don't ever believe you don't matter.
I married a woman who was once that 15 year old who internalized this precise message. I pray to God that none of you have to walk the path I've had to walk with @R_Denhollander, even though I regard it as the chief accomplishment of my life to have walked it with her.
But my goodness! If a professor like Ford or an attorney like Rachael cannot escape being pilloried for bringing their charge before their case has even been heard, what mssage did this send to a 15 y.o. who still wears braces? HOW WE RESPOND MATTERS.
