Becky Hope
Jul 23, 2017 · 1 min read

When I was a child I watched Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best, Lassie, Bewitched, etc. I grew up believing those were normal nuclear families (okay maybe not Bewitched, but the basic premise was there). Hence I thought something was terribly flawed about me because I had a miserably dysfunctional family. Most people tried to present a “normal” front so that others wouldn’t know that they didn’t have a “normal” family.

The internet has exposed the true nature of human behavior and it’s not always pretty. We can’t make changes for the better as long as we are ignoring the elephant in the room. Rather than react with revulsion it’s time to face our demons. Humans can be wonderful and vile. You can’t cure a disease until you dissect it.

I recently read articles about the rampant sexual harassment in the tech industry. Included was an apology and resignation from a repeat offender. That just didn’t happen before the internet. Secrecy and denial with cash payouts were the norm. The offenders got a slap on the wrist and kept their positions. The victims never had their experience validated or received any apologies.

The truth is there are no good old days. I think we’re better off facing the demons head on, repulsive as that can be at times.

    Becky Hope

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    Human, humanist, feminist, nurse, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, daughter, fierce female