DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD - COURAGEOUS

I've written several posts on the Kavanaugh hearings out of anger at old, white male privilege and how it disregards and dismisses female voices. If a woman had behaved how Kavanaugh 'acted out' during those hearings, i.e. cried and yelled at Democratic Senators so disrespectfully and arrogantly, she would have been escorted out of the room and labelled 'a hysterical woman.' Oh god, the gender bias was on display for all to see.

So, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.....it was really hard for me to look at her and listen to her as she talked about the sexual assault and her PTSD symptoms. I had to keep moving around and tears welled up. I couldn't help it. Her lower lip was trembling and so was mine. Later I heard lots of other people cried too. Although I am not a victime/survivor of sexual assault, I am a survivor of physical and mental abuse as a child. I am left with PTSD and certain triggers. Dr. Ford's story was a trigger. I could relate.

Calm, measured, quiet, in control; a college professor who could answer the question of how she was 100% sure her attacker was Brett Kavanaugh. Very calmly, she answered Diane Feinstein:"memories are stored in the hippocampus; the memories are seared into my brain." Omg, the woman has a PhD in Research Psychology. She not only can tell you her memories, she can tell you why she has them !!!! A little tutorial in PTSD. The woman shined a spotlight on PTSD and how the brain works. She is a research scientist ! I was stunned at her knowledge. I thought there should have been a handout given to all the Senators on PTSD and the brain. A good teaching moment for the damage caused by assault, especially at a young age - 15. No you do not forget. You cannot forget. Dr. Ford told us why.

Again, I was struck by what sent her and her husband to counseling. They were remodeling their home and she wanted TWO FRONT DOORS ! I get it. She needs two front doors to feel SAFE. (As an aside, renovation and building projects are so stressful, that often couples wind up getting divorced before the remodel or new construction is finished - Fun Architecture Fact)

I have two doors leading into my bedroom. One from the hallway near the front door and one leading into the kitchen. My bed is set up on the opposite wall so I can see the two doorways - there is NO WAY I could place my bed against the wall near the phone jack (I have a landline!). I would not be able to see 'if anyone is coming'. I would not feel safe.

She was extraordinarily credible to me. What she said made sense.

I BELIEVE HER.