I really appreciate your writing, your thinking, and your message on this and your other Substack posts. I also found the published article to be very powerful. Thank you for endeavoring to make a difference. It does. Write on!
Yup, been there, and I'm remembering my mother's stories, too. But my daughter's haven't, inshallah, mostly through good fortune, also through good choices (think about that. Women's narrow set of choices.) and also through their attitudes. But one of my daughters hikes alone and after the election I asked her to stop doing that, than men feel empowered now in a way they didn't last month. In the 70s, I had a button that had a drawing of the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland, that said "Off with their balls!" I need to dig it out and wear it again.
I see you, Margie. While my experiences did not include the level of violence you experienced, the perpetrators knew they had control. I also feel the lack of safety these days. We deserve so much better. Gentle hugs.
Very powerful essay, Marjie. I can't stop thinking about it. I admire your courage and strength to put these terrible experiences so powerfully and poignantly. Everyone needs to speak out right now.
"unfortunate" past is too superficial of a description for what you've had to go through, saying "so sorry" doesn't really say enough but I am so sorry to hear these things.....I don't know what the article was like before but I found this version of it chilling, and it made me think, which says a lot. So as a reader of this I found it meaningful, disturbing and thought-provoking.....very well done, and congratulations on them publishing it, and that they wanted so badly to publish it. I have to say that I have found this world unsafe for a long time, the need to always be on guard, not to trust *anyone*, be aware, be aware. Sigh.....
What concerns me most (though I don’t agree with your dire prognostication) is that next time there will be five editors. Trust the reader or audience to do their own filtering! Free speech is just that.
Oh, this wasn’t in any way at all censoring. There’s a huge difference between censoring and editing. This was, I believe, editing to protect staff and readers, while still allowing a “brave” story through. Not censored at all.
But you using quotation marks around the word edit implies something. They were working to protect the same people often harmed by the perpetrators of the violence the story discusses, and the elected. It’s a group process, this publishing business.
Thank you for writing this. As a woman I know these stories and have my own versions. As a mother of two daughters it took just seconds after they were born for me to cry about their future and pray the world would change as they got older.
Ah. It was in a heading, which for some reason I never read! Same with who is speaking, when reading plays, and same with chapter headings, etc. It's a problem, I don't know why my brain is this way.
I like your original title, it’s succinct and packs a little punch, and makes you wonder why.
Your piece, even edited by 3 editors (I wonder how one gets a job editing…) was quite chilling. And made me cry just a little bit.
That first description shocked with its unemotional tone. I can also appreciate how the description of the day of children playing and the detail of the dressing gown would add to the menace… it’s the juxtaposition of the “normal” with what is to come, isn’t it?
Again, sorry you are all going to have to live through the next four years. That final description of the 4 boys’ hostile and threatening reaction is just scary. Scary.
I really appreciate your writing, your thinking, and your message on this and your other Substack posts. I also found the published article to be very powerful. Thank you for endeavoring to make a difference. It does. Write on!
Thank you
Yup, been there, and I'm remembering my mother's stories, too. But my daughter's haven't, inshallah, mostly through good fortune, also through good choices (think about that. Women's narrow set of choices.) and also through their attitudes. But one of my daughters hikes alone and after the election I asked her to stop doing that, than men feel empowered now in a way they didn't last month. In the 70s, I had a button that had a drawing of the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland, that said "Off with their balls!" I need to dig it out and wear it again.
I see you, Margie. While my experiences did not include the level of violence you experienced, the perpetrators knew they had control. I also feel the lack of safety these days. We deserve so much better. Gentle hugs.
And back to you. <3
Very powerful essay, Marjie. I can't stop thinking about it. I admire your courage and strength to put these terrible experiences so powerfully and poignantly. Everyone needs to speak out right now.
Thank you - and I agree! It's when it's most dangerous that we need to be the loudest, I suppose.
wow marjie. powerful piece. i understand your disappointment, but it's still chilling, brutally honest, and poignant. thank you for sharing this.
Thanks. I’m not disappointed! Just learning.
I have tagged the article to read when I have a bit more breathing room. Standing in solidarity with you and all of my other trepidatious sisters. ❤
Thanks for sharing the link, Marjie. I'm sorry for your pain.
Thank you.
"unfortunate" past is too superficial of a description for what you've had to go through, saying "so sorry" doesn't really say enough but I am so sorry to hear these things.....I don't know what the article was like before but I found this version of it chilling, and it made me think, which says a lot. So as a reader of this I found it meaningful, disturbing and thought-provoking.....very well done, and congratulations on them publishing it, and that they wanted so badly to publish it. I have to say that I have found this world unsafe for a long time, the need to always be on guard, not to trust *anyone*, be aware, be aware. Sigh.....
So true, friend. So true.
What concerns me most (though I don’t agree with your dire prognostication) is that next time there will be five editors. Trust the reader or audience to do their own filtering! Free speech is just that.
Oh, this wasn’t in any way at all censoring. There’s a huge difference between censoring and editing. This was, I believe, editing to protect staff and readers, while still allowing a “brave” story through. Not censored at all.
Didn’t say it was censorship. The “editing” changed your voice in the piece. As more folks “edit”, the odds increase that your voice gets lost.
But you using quotation marks around the word edit implies something. They were working to protect the same people often harmed by the perpetrators of the violence the story discusses, and the elected. It’s a group process, this publishing business.
Thank you for writing this. As a woman I know these stories and have my own versions. As a mother of two daughters it took just seconds after they were born for me to cry about their future and pray the world would change as they got older.
❤️
So, after all that, are you going to share it? I'd like to read it as written.
The article is linked.
Ah. It was in a heading, which for some reason I never read! Same with who is speaking, when reading plays, and same with chapter headings, etc. It's a problem, I don't know why my brain is this way.
Congratulations on having your piece published!
I like your original title, it’s succinct and packs a little punch, and makes you wonder why.
Your piece, even edited by 3 editors (I wonder how one gets a job editing…) was quite chilling. And made me cry just a little bit.
That first description shocked with its unemotional tone. I can also appreciate how the description of the day of children playing and the detail of the dressing gown would add to the menace… it’s the juxtaposition of the “normal” with what is to come, isn’t it?
Again, sorry you are all going to have to live through the next four years. That final description of the 4 boys’ hostile and threatening reaction is just scary. Scary.
Honestly, the flavor here is terrifying.
Yes, I’d hate to be living there right now.
Jeez, Marnie, I don’t know what was edited, but that was still a powerful piece. I feel sick for you and my wife and daughter and sister and nieces
Stupid autocorrect, Marjie, thanks for sharing this
Autocorrect often has me sign my own name Markie, so don’t feel bad!