Caroline RothsteinVerified account

I'm not the first person to say that we are being abused. I am not the first sexual assault survivor to say this is all familiar.

I know I am not saying anything new. And also, how many voices need to scream out in desperation and pain until their humanity is heard.

This is bigger than the government. And the two-party political system. This is bigger than @realDonaldTrump himself. It's way, way bigger.

This is about who is allowed to speak and who isn't. This is about who is allowed to sit at the table. And who is allowed to be heard.

And this is getting so abusive. These systems of oppression. These unconscionable performances of "justice" and "America." This is ungodly.

How many survivors - of any/all atrocities - need to scream before something happens and ushers sustainable change? Permanent change?

What are we going to do about this so we stop feeling like we are silent trees in the middle of the uninhabited woods?

I don't watch the news or read the newspaper because it's too triggering. And I'm a journalist. I'm supposed to cover and create the news.

Except I already know what the news is: we are being abused. And people in power are abusing said power. And the abuse is not being stopped.

I don't feel like anything I say matters. I don't feel like anything we do is being heard. And then I remind myself that this is abuse.

THIS IS WHAT ABUSE LOOKS LIKE!!! The people being abused don't feel like anything they do is going to stop the abuse. That's my experience.

Right now, being an American feels deeply similar to when I was abused. And that's the thing. It's always been this for millions of people.

So when does this senselessness stop? When do we stop shouting in a forest? When do the trees become the earth & the ungodliness will cease?