We all know it goes on. We just prefer to bury our heads. To get on with our lives and hope our children or grandchildren do not become victims. We rise up in hate when someone is charged or imprisoned and then move on – danger over. The human capacity for self deception may be a defence mechanism but it does not help those who look to others for help, only to find them unwilling. Why this happens is complicated and no matter what psychologists or sociologists may say or write they can only theorise. The conditioned fear of peering in to the private; the unwillingness to associate with ‘stranger children’ for fear of becoming one of the accused; our own experiences and upbringings which make us reticent to interfere in others; deference and hierarchy; a sense of powerlessness… on and on. All excuses for inaction.
If we knew that an uncle was an abuser – what would we do? Who would we tell? Depends upon our age some say but what about the victims? What about their age and their capacity to live out a ‘normal’ life. What if they become abusers themselves? Whose fault is it? Vulnerable people who are caught in a chain, possibly going back generations. So who is going to help break it? You, me, someone else, no one? Once we suspect, we are a part of it. No escape.
Jimmy Savile will die twice. The second time when the media kill him off and move on to another story of their choosing. But what about the others? Do we really believe that a man so close to the establishment was a lone predator? Let’s make this clear – Jimmy Saville was part of a dangerous and emotionally void stratum that still abuse with impunity. They feed off children and are protected right to the very top. Police officers, social workers, politicians, religious leaders, doctors, teachers, royalty, relatives, and people in our street are either at it or will be, soon. Turn your heads and pretend. They depend upon it. Or make a stand.
But then we come to the primary dilemma. If we are inactive because of our own fears of being labelled what is going to make the difference? What will make us stand up and be counted even with that risk of being targeted? Well, I have not got a clue. Modern society is about blaming victims and there for the grace of … go I. We make sense by believing the propaganda and the stories designed to throw us off the scent. Why did Newsnight drop the story on Savile? Why have the authorities in Aberdeenshire and the media not pursued the case of Holly Greig who was ritually abused by a paedophile ring? What about the deafening silence about teachers in the past who abused at will? We know that this systemic abuse is being covered up and so we must ask why? If we don’t what hope have the victims got in having the confidence to stand up without being further abused by people who should be supporting them?
We are therefore faced with a choice. Continue to be reactionary and only respond when the media tell us to. Or we become more proactive. But what if our accusations or support turn out to be misguided or simply wrong? What about the damage to the accused and to ourselves? This is why most people do nothing but wait. This is why abuse will continue. Fear – the prime motivating force for humanity. And don’t they know it.
Rally against Child Abuse at Trafalgar Square, 7th August 2010
Update:
Douglas James
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