The fallout of #metoo

I try to keep my social media free of politics.  Not that I don't care - I just don't think that it makes much of a difference.  To be honest, few of the people on my feed are willing to have real, non-hostile conversations with people with whom they disagree.

And to be sure, the blog of a music teacher that is caterwauling about his classroom woes is the last place that you should find socially-charged content.  Except when it relates to people that I know and love who, once upon a time, were on my roll-sheet.

Since the #metoo movement touched down I have been seeing more and more posts from former students who have related stories of being the victims of abuse, harassment and assault.  We're talking about strong, capable, intelligent women.  I am horrified.  And furious. 

When we send our graduates out into the world... every...single...class.... we imagine we are sending out the people who will be the next generation of leaders, the people who will solve the problem of renewable energy, who will cure cancer.  Even if they don't end up doing any of that... even if they open up a coffee shop or become yoga instructors... I still believe in them and their potential to contribute to society.


At the very least, I expect the world to treat these individuals as the amazing people that I have come to know and love.  And I am angered that somewhere out there... there's a piece of shit who blackmailed one of my former students with 'sensitive photos' so that she wouldn't go to the authorities (or the media) with her stories of being physically beaten.  Apparently this individual is quite the success - CEO of a multi-million dollar company,  public reputation for being a strong and charismatic business leader....  The perfect antagonist for the #metoo movement.

I am angry for this woman, but I do not pity her.  She is a strong individual who has since moved on.  But I'm still furious at the world for making it so easy for this kind of thing to happen.