Milo Yannipoulos Speaks Out, and then, Caves In, to Sexual Abuse Cover-Up Culture

Milo Yannipoulos was an editor of Breitbart, a conservative online news outlet.  Steve Bannon, who was with Brietbart news, is now in President Donald Trump's cabinet as one of his advisors.  Milo lost Simon and Schuster as the original publisher of his upcoming book because he made comments that seemed to endorse pedophilia.  He said that a mature 13 year old boy with an adult male is not pedophilia.  After the backlash he received from losing Simon and Schuster publishers and the backlash from the mainstream media, he came out in a press conference and admitted that he was a gay man and he was sexually abused by two men when he was 13, one of them being a priest, and he did not realize that what happened to him was, in fact, abuse, until now.  He was dealing with the feelings from his abuse with his rhetoric that was not intended to hurt or affect other abuse victims. He resigned from Breitbart. 

It is not uncommon for sexual abuse victims to overcompensate for their abuse by saying they consented, they were in control, it was their choice, or that it wasn't abuse.  Having to face the reality that someone who was in a position of authority with a predatory mentality took advantage of one's trust and innocence is very difficult to manage.  I am speaking from experience.  It took a very long time for me to admit that I was too nieve and too trusting of predatory people who took advantage, because then I feel that it means that what happened was somehow my fault.  Should've Could've Would've is Monday morning quarterbacking.  So easy to see after the fact.

Milo said in his press conference that he is moving away from conservative news reporting and starting a new website to give him an outlet for entertainment rhetoric.  I admire Milo's bravery in speaking up about his survival of sexual abuse and putting it out there.  I don't even have the guts to come out of my shell as the author of this blog.  I have found that when I have tried to tell people what has happened to me I am treated like a disease that someone might catch - the "abuse" disease.  It doesn't help a survivor of abuse to feel alienated or rejected by others or to feel like the survivor said or did something wrong to affect someone else.  Milo showed alot of emotional strength with this press conference.

Perhaps if all survivors of abuse came out and spoke collectively it can come to a stop and addressed for future generations.  Easier said than done.  There is a cover-up culture that has to change, and it is like trying to pull a dinosaur or an elephant with a rope to make that happen.  The first step, at a minimum, is to not feel alone.  Hopefully that can change.  Maybe this blog can help with that.  Posting all of these well-known personalities like Rhianna, Marie Osmond, and Milo Yannipoulos clearly establishes that it affects all genders, all ages, all races, all income levels, and it has been going on for decades, and for all of the outspeaks by social justice warriors on the left and Trump supporters on the right, the problem of sexual abuse, rape trauma syndrome, and post-traumatic stress disorder is a plague destroying civilized society, and it is still swept under the rug with the delusion that somehow if people continue to put their heads in the sand like ostriches and never discuss it, it will go away.  Not true.  There has to be a change.  Complacency and cover-up is not the answer.  

The Challenge of Building Relationships

I took a long break from writing because just the few entries I had posted were very, very tough for me.  That being said, I read my entries now, a few months later, and they really did make me feel better.  I hope that anyone who is suffering from PTSD or RTS like me will feel safe and validated with my entries here.  If this blog helps even one person, it will be very worthwhile for me.

I have had to face a few realities to understand how all of this happened to me in the first place.  First, I will be clear that I have evolved past the "its my fault" blame game garbage guilt shame crap that was plaguing me for a very long time.  Nothing that happened to me is my fault.  I do not feel guilty about anything.  I have nothing to be ashamed of at all.  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.

Instead of guilt, shame, or regret, I have realized that what I really need to do is learn from it.  Here is what I have learned.  First, some background.

Both my parents were extremely intelligent, and, I believe, tried to love me in their own way as best they could.  They did do alot of things right despite their shortcomings and I am grateful for all of the things they did right.  I believe I have the strength and work ethic to face impossible situations and my intelligence and determination and drive because of my parents, so for all of that, I am grateful.

My parents were very giving people in that they gave alot to others, including their children like me, while expecting little to nothing in return.  I do think that this was a contributing factor to me allowing people to just trample all over me and not stand up for myself.  Many of the abuses that have happened to me - they happened because I had no training from my parents on how to stand up and not take crap from people.  I realized that I had to learn to figure this out myself, but even now, 30 years later, I find it to be a challenge.

At first, I went into hyper-bitch mode and just didn't trust anybody and was guarded with everybody. This was a perfect solution to keeping people from hurting me, but it also resulted in isolation and bad feelings about me with others.  So, I realized that was not the right approach either.  I had to find a mid-way point between doormat and ice bitch.  I think I still struggle with this, but not as much as before.  I call my optimum midway point "nice person, cool chick" but nice doesn't mean doormat or fool.  If I feel that I am being trampled on or abused or taken advantage of or played for a doormat fool, I stand up.  I say, "no more".  I assert myself.  I set boundaries and say, "unacceptable.  I deserve better than this."  I also will go into hyper-ice bitch mode if it is necessary.  Having this approach has proven to be somewhat effective, but, it is a balance.  When to be nice?  When to be assertive?  When to come out swinging?  When to sit and wait?  So much to think about, and because it is not natural behavior for me, it is constantly in my front conscious mind.  However, through trial and error, and, from studying Tony Robbins and personality types and personality conflicts and building relationships, etc., I get better and better every day.

However, that being said, I live alone and work alone.  I should be grateful for the freedom.  I am grateful for the freedom in alot of ways, but I am still facing the challenge of building relationships and having people in my life I can love and trust.  Tony Robbins says that we have six basic human needs, and our behavior is driven to meet these needs.  Those six needs are:  certainty, uncertainty (variety), connection/love, significance, growth, contribution.  I believe that the need of connection/love is not being met at all for me.  It is a huge challenge given what I have been through.

It's okay.  I have also learned to be nice to myself, forgive myself, take one step at a time, and focus on just the next step.  Forget the past, the future, and just focus on the present, now, and ask myself, "what is the next step?".  Sometimes, just keeping a focus on next helps to move forward.  Breaking things down into small steps is very helpful.

I have made alot of progress, but I still have alot left to do.  I will, one step at a time, one day at a time.  It will work out.  It will be okay.  I have faith in the power of God and prayer.

They say that we see God in our darkest hour.  I think, to some degree, this is true.  I think I discovered the meaning of the Lord's Prayer when I was at my darkest hour.  When I understood the Lord's Prayer, really really understood its meaning, it gave me incredible power I didn't know existed.

Our Father, Who Art In Heaven
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Will be Done On Earth as It Is In Heaven
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
And Forgive Us Our Trespasses
As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us
And Lead Us Not Into Temptation
But Deliver Us From Evil
For Thine is the Kingdom
And The Power
And The Glory Forever
Amen.

I will talk more about the Lord's Prayer in my next blog post.  That's all for now.  More later.