Dr. Christine Blasey Ford told the truth. That much must be clear to everyone. Her testimony had no possible positive edge for her. Regardless of what happens with Kavanaugh, she will forever be associated not with her numerous academic achievements, nor her family and her legacy through children, nor her personality and memories with friends, but with her testimony on her sexual assault before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the nation. For Ford to throw away the solace of anonymity, the dignity of her academic work and the support and comfort of her family, she had to be absolutely sure she was right and that what she said was true.
Her testimony brought forth tears, not just for herself, but for many Americans as well. Her vivid account of her assault, the way she recounted the details and the pain on her face as she recounted the most private of memories to a panel of mainly old white men, to the unfeeling eyes of cameras broadcasting her experience live on air to the whole planet, was nothing short of a heroic effort. We should all be thanking Ford profusely, offering her support, understanding and, most importantly, respect.
Unfortunately, Ford did not receive that respect. She was called “attractive” and “pleasing” by Sen. Orrin Hatch. The survivor of a sexual assault, giving her detailed statement to members of Congress, was called “pleasing” by a sitting senator. That is not the respect Ford deserves, and it shows just how out-of-touch this country is when it comes to sexual assault survivors.
Ford also, unfortunately, was harassed by reporters and internet trolls. She was driven out of her own home by journalists seeking the scoop on her accusation of Kavanaugh. Her email account was hacked by someone seeking to discredit her. Ford’s family now is considering getting a security service to transport children to school. All this is further victimization of a woman who already underwent one horrible assault. She is now subject to hundreds, if not thousands, of attacks on her character per day on Twitter, on the news and in the comments under excerpts of her testimony.
All this vitriol is being launched at a woman who simply wanted to express how a man who has no clear defense against her claims assaulted her. This is a woman who, even though it was likely not in her best interests to come out, bit the proverbial bullet and stood in front of America as she recounted a graphic, emotionally fraught memory that she has only openly discussed in therapy. Ford is not seeking a political hit. She is not a pawn in some crazy Democrat scheme to keep Kavanaugh out of the Supreme Court. She is a strong, resilient woman who has taken the worst, most humiliating thing to have happened to her and recounted it openly.
Regardless of the outcome of the FBI probe that has already had to expand its scope, yet still finish by Friday, or the nomination of Kavanaugh, which still seems likely even though he was unable to effectively defend himself from Ford’s accusations, we must all remember: Ford was telling the truth, and she was incredibly brave to do so.
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