Dear Editor:
The police have seen it a thousand times. The woman is obviously in pain, and scared. Her face reveals new abrasions and old bruises, as do her arms, the parts that can be seen. Her red eyes belie that she’s cried a lot lately. Perhaps it’s constant. But, she won’t risk getting help.
“I fell down the stairs,” she says, a familiar lie. The police try to console her, to assure her that they can keep her safe. But she knows, there’s little they can do. The police are a REactive force; they cannot prevent harm before it happens. They don’t know how angry her abuser can get, how vindictive, how … evil. No, she’ll just endure it, for the sake of their kids, until she can figure how to get away safely. Maybe that can happen before he kills her.
It’s a look in the eyes … fear, resignation, the feral desperation for survival.
As the 5th anniversary of the Jan 6 insurrection riot has arrived, Congress has convened a hearing to examine the history and lessons, if any.
That same feral look in the eyes is evident, but on the Republican side of the aisle. They are desperate to portray the riot as a mere ‘fall down the stairs,’ and clumsy us. Nobody can come to their rescue, no one dares confront the abuser. Their job, their future, their safety depends on hiding the truth, absolving their abuser, and as is the case in the animal kingdom, showing their soft underbelly to their better, their master. And snarling at any who might oppose him. Profiles in cowardice.
Jeff Harrison
Buffalo TX
