Alfie pointed out this week that language lags behind science and in so doing limits, in some, how far it will be thought about. I think this is true in all walks of life if we are truthful. Who in society dictates to us what is correct, polite and acceptable should give us pause to think. This has never been more theatrical in England, at least, than in Westminster currently. When language and the cloak of what we attach to it, as a norm, has been thrown under the spotlight. ‘It isn’t what I would have said’, Rishi Sunak finally admitted casting himself as far on the ‘other side’ as he dare. Those of us in the cheap seats seized upon it , we all ‘knew’ what he was saying and what he will say, but only in the inevitable Act 3. That’s polite, educated and acceptable.
Invited to speak with ‘the Mental Health Warriors’ last month Jack checked first he could bring up all the subjects he wanted to, there are some that are non-negotiable. D.I.D of course, why else would Jack be there, but Ritual Abuse too. Ritual Abuse is not polite to mention in any setting. People are afraid to ask questions, hesitant to believe it when you speak truthfully. When you get into the nuts and bolts of it, we watch people’s eyes disappear into a world of disbelief, imagining the many sad scenarios of madness that have taken hold of us. There is no way of cloaking ritual abuse in the polite, acceptable or correct language. It is none of these things, it is not a story.
After doing the podcast we found a touching change in people. For the first time people were at ease to use Jack’s name without awkwardness, they understood the context. People asked questions without that look of assumed disbelief. We even received beautiful messages of encouragement from people. Humanity is far more compassionate than etiquette allows for.
As long as we do not use language truthfully we perpetuate a structure that allows child abuse to be used as a political weapon. When the experience of any sexual violence, I include the very casual attitude toward the nightly occurrence of spiking, is so belittled we catch a glimpse under the cloak. We can reason why so little progress is made towards protecting children, young people and supporting survivors.
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