Child sexual abuse: On Spotlight

Recently, I was handed a copy of David Brooks’ article "The Moral Bucket List" in the Sunday Review of the New York Times, dated April 11, 2015. In it, he wrote:

"The stumbler scuffs through life, a little off balance. But the stumbler faces her imperfect nature with unvarnished honesty, with the opposite of squeamishness…"

"There’s joy in mutual stumbling. There’s an aesthetic joy we feel when we see morally good action, when we run across someone who is quiet and humble and good, when we see that however old we are, there’s lots to do ahead…"

"But eventually, at moments of rare joy, career ambitions pause, the ego rests, the stumbler looks out at a picnic or dinner or a valley and is overwhelmed by a feeling of limitless gratitude, and an acceptance of the fact that life has treated her much better than she deserves."

I was gratified that Spotlight won Best Picture at the Oscars this year. It is about time that the issue of child sexual abuse get discussed more publicly to stamp out the taboo, the secrecy surrounding it. 

Watching Spotlight, I was glad that the film dealt with the issue quietly, intelligently, without too much melodrama. It would have detracted from the profundity of the subject.

Like many survivors, I didn’t want to be identified solely as a survivor of child sexual abuse. No, it is one of my many identities. 

I cannot change what has happened, the past. But it has certainly made me who I am today.

For I am, in Brooks’ words, a "stumbler". Life has treated me much better than I deserve. And for that, I am profoundly grateful.

Read part 23 here.

Read part 22 here.

Read part 21 here.

Read part 20 here.

Read part 19 here.

Read part 18 here.

Read part 17 here.

Read part 16 here.

Read part 15 here.

Read part 14 here.

Read part 13 here.

Read part 12 here.

Read part 11 here.

Read part ten here.

Read part nine here.

Read part eight here.

Read part seven here.

Read part six here.

Read part five here.

Read part four here.

Read part three here.

Read part two here.

Read part one here.