Friday, October 13, 2017

Harvey Weinstein

We all saw a powerful man go down this week.

And we all agree that he deserved it, and that it was long overdue.

Who else did he victimize? Who was too afraid to come forward? Who knew about this behavior, but never reported it? Who knew, and actively covered for this man? Who suspected, but never spoke up? Who had tried before to get this creep to stop doing this? What about this story that his contract specifically protected him from losing his job for this behavior? Who else has been victimized by some other person, and is now courageous enough to come forward? Who else has a history of victimizing people this way?

Seems like all of Hollywood is scrambling in the sudden light of this scandal.

Next time you want to gripe about "the media", remember it was news reporters who broke this story, not a police department, or a victim, or a witness. Women will be spared this man's humiliating and criminal treatment because of the hard work of journalists who kept after the story and didn't give up.

But, before the story of an icon's abuse drifts away from our immediate attention, it's worth asking what we can take from this story:

*Another reminder that victims of abuse often face frightening obstacles against outcry, and can pay an enormous price for reporting, even if only within their own families or personal/professional circles. It's not always just a simple matter of speaking up.

*Another reminder that colleagues, friends, and family members of abusers, as well as witnesses and bystanders, need to trust their instincts when they notice something awry, and say something, even if there isn't airtight proof, at least to raise concern and begin building a pattern of intervention.

*Another reminder of how power serves to heighten the traits a person already has, and can corrupt even the most well-intentioned of people, let alone someone who is already inclined to be abusive.

*Another reminder of why it is so vital that, in every interaction, the person with less power in the relationship must be protected against the advantages of the person with more power.

*And...yet another reminder that it is always wrong to use another person's body for your own gratification in a way that person does not consent to, or does not want.

But, we already know all of this.

Harvey Weinstein, at some point, surely, at the very least, heard all of this.

King David knew all of this when he saw Bathsheba on the rooftop and invoked executive privilege to change his nation's history, forever.

Most of us will never even think of committing sexual assault, or any actual crime against another person, but in our fallen human condition, we must acknowledge the power of the temptation to view other people primarily as tools for our desires.

How do we fundamentally view other people?

When we meet someone, are we quick to size up what that person can do for us, what resources that person has, or has access to, that could satisfy some need or want in our lives?

While most of us would never think of touching a person's body in a self-serving way, do we respect the same boundary around that person's mind, heart, time, work, attention, talent, patience, connections, expertise, possessions, money, experiences, fears, joys?

Of course, mutually beneficial connections happen spontaneously all the time, but isn't there a difference between celebrating those connections when they happen on their own, and deliberately scanning people for connections they may or may not have an interest in sharing?

When we meet someone, why can't we simply celebrate that person, and pray that God bless them on their journey, whether or not their life will ever bring any direct benefit to ours?

Why can't we view other people, every single person in the world, as God's own creation, a soul who owes us absolutely nothing, but like us, owes everything to Him?

If God has placed a person in your life to bless you in some way, God will work out the details.

Don't grab.

If God has placed you in another person's life to bless them in some way, God will work out the details.

Don't let them grab.

Let God work, and celebrate His work in the lives of others.



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