Some thoughts on ancient prejudices, collateral damage and healing. My 'take' on Larry Nasser's "Show trial": Revenge is not Justice even when the accused actually is guilty. To be just, Justice must not be a 'show trial' it must offer some means of "restoration" for the community at large, for the abused, those of us who experiencing collateral damage and, yes, even the abuser, Mob Justice/ revenge (perhaps especially against those who are guilty ) should not be used to rile everyone up, renew prejudice, and re-elect politicians

Revenge is not justice and a “show trial” followed inevitably by a hanging "no matter what the circumstances" only convinces the lynch mob (and apparently the judge) that their prejudice about people who abuse ( “ once a...always a”) was right all along. It gives impetus to revenge and dead-end beliefs that say the only way to stop an "abuser" is to hang/incarcerate or place in Civil Commitment Forever-and-Ever.  Collateral damage all around. The only way to 'help' is to cast the family out along with the abuser if we don't eagerly join the lynch mob.

 But....

The old joke about a trial followed by a hanging  (even when the person on trial probably is guilty,) does not lend itself to restorative justice or healing even for  Larry Nasser's ‘victims’ who now have to remain forever labeled Larry Nassar’s “victims’ just to prove Larry Nassar is the forever “Monster’ the "justice system" says he is in order to continue to  justify the 'hanging' that followed his trial., (After all if they manage to heal and become survivors who go on with their lives, how does that justify the continued prejudice that says "Once a...forever a..."? So they have to do their part and remain forever traumatized "Once a victim...always a victim"?

After what amounted to a show trial followed by a "death sentence" handed down by the judge,  what abuser would dare raise his hand and ask for help?  Won't such a vengeful 'justice" just scare off any and all abusers who might want help /  who realize they are abusive and want to stop? And what family member will dare raise their hand and report after seeing what ‘justice’ is in store for weeping victims or even for abusers (some of whom they may still love?)

Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2v5ReG7https://usat.ly/2v5ReG7 

After all, Nassar said he was molested as a child (#MeToo) I don’t believe that absolves him of his choice to become and continue as an abuser. But wouldn’t it have been a far better outcome for him to have received help as a child/ or even as an adult? What if he'd felt free to have dared ask for help before or shortly after he began? 

For an abuser or an abused person or a family member to be brave enough to reach out for help before harm is done (or even shortly after) requires bravery in this present social climate. We live silenced lives in fear of being cast out should we acknowledge there is a (Silenced) problem if we ask for help or speak out about abuse. 

But if someone ( especially Larry Nassar) had been able to break the silence and stop the abuse years ago,  that would have saved the 200 some weeping victims? Wouldn't Breaking the Silence        ( and being met by restorative justice instead fear of the lynch mob)  have been better than supporting a revenge model of "justice" which Silences and ultimately allows more harm  (even cycling from generation to generation as in my family)

As family members, as children, as wives/gf's/ mothers perhaps even past/ present victims, we are often caught in the middle.  We have a unique perspective because we are the ones/ the families that the current system often also victimizes /leaves un-restored. 

What do you think? 

 Larry Nassar seeks resentencing, wants judge who signed his 'death 

warrant' off case

Larry Nassar, through his court-appointed attorneys, has asked for a new
judge to sentence him, saying that Judge Rosemarie Aquilina was
'admittedly not an unbiased and impartial judge.'

Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2v5ReG7https://usat.ly/2v5ReG7 

Take care, Janet Mackie