IS THIRTY YEARS TOO LATE? IS SIXTEEN?

From Local To National, Send The Word: NO

Can You Hear Me Now? via wordsonimages.com

Two stories need broader exposure, a specialty for BoomerPDX.

One comes from a local sports columnist, the other from every media outlet worthy of the name.

The Oregonian’s John Canzano wrote about a forgotten woman from an a Corvallis assault.

Why forgotten? No charges, no crime.

Part of her healing is telling her story now.

Women stepping forward after years, even decades, of silence show a positive shift in our culture.

The awful reality is the way one horrific night changes everyone involved.

That women have found the strength to speak of their experience in public forums gives others hope.

Now we hear Bill Cosby news. Bill Cosby? Another ‘open secret?’

From nbcnews.com:

“Inspired by the attention, on Nov. 13 Bowman wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post titled: “Bill Cosby raped me. Why did it take 30 years for people to believe my story?””

Did NBC News just say “inspired by the attention”? Say it ain’t so.

For a test, mention Bill Cosby or Neil Goldschmidt and see who jumps to their defense. Make that a new line in the sand. They have no defense. Even Whoopie Goldberg.

There’s no statute of limitations here. Normal events and experiences for others are triggers.

Imagine seeing Bill Cosby’s face on television for thirty years, the same face you remember before being roofied by America’s Dad.

He’s got thirteen women lined up with a variation of the same story. He’s got a routine about Spanish Fly and drugging women on an album from the 60’s.

Say it ain’t so, baby boomers. This isn’t what ‘free love’ meant.

Imagine former Oregon governor Neil Goldschmidt’s babysitter seeing his face for thirty years.

It hasn’t been 30 years for Brenda Tracy in Corvallis.

From oregonlive.com:

“There is no statute of limitations on compassion or basic human decency. I understand that Mike Riley, who was our football coach at the time, has offered to meet with Ms. Tracy and would like to have her speak with the football team if she wishes to do so.

The immediate response from us to Ms. Tracy is to ask how we can help her address the effects of this violence. It is our hope that any role she is willing and interested in pursuing to help educate our community on the horrors of sexual assault by sharing her story could bring some healing.

This would be of great interest to us, but only if it is helpful to Ms. Tracy in continuing to deal with all that she has suffered.  

We cannot undo this nightmare. I personally apologize to Ms. Tracy for any failure on our part in 1998 in not helping her through this terrible ordeal. This is a moment from which each of us can learn. But it is mostly a moment for us to help Ms. Tracy heal.   

Edward J. Ray President (OSU)

Call me short-sighted, but I like the idea of people actually being who we think they are. Bill Cosby is not who he says he is. Neither was Neil Goldschmidt.

Brenda Tracy is who she says she is.

Her story may not ‘break the internet’ but it helps break the silence too many live with.

Whether a college town apartment or a famous man’s lair, it’s time to open the doors and let the light shine in.

Is thirty years too late? Is sixteen? Not when women live lives clouded by doubt and fear every day.

Open the door and breath free. It’s never too late.

Give thanks to Brenda Tracy so that others may find the peace they deserve.