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1.
I felt as if I were living in some kind of weird sitcom yesterday. I was at the kitchen table peeling onions and carrots, helping my 13-year-old on her essay on the evolution of Bilbo Baggins, and helping my 5-year-old make paper angels for the Feast of the Guardian Angels coming up. 

My laptop was in front of me so that I could watch the proceedings streamed on Youtube. I was particularly interested in the testimonies of Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh. From time to time I had to get up to do something else like finish fixing dinner, read a story to Miss C, or go to the bathroom. When it was time to go to cross country practice I put my headphones on and listened to parts of it on my phone. Rosie ran, Miss C. played with a balloon, and I listened. 


It was a weird day. 

I heard so many people on the radio warn against letting children listen to that hearing but honestly, for kids this was a snooze fest. Once you got past Dr. Ford talking about the actual accusation, the rest was just a lot of grandstanding from the Democratic Senators and tedious questioning by the prosecutor. 

2.
I have read several accounts on blogs, Facebook and Twitter from sexual assault survivors. Their creed seems to be that they believe Dr. Ford because they too were once assaulted. This makes absolutely no sense to me. I think a shared trauma can make you empathetic and sympathetic to another woman’s story. But if you have brothers or sons how can you not want to weigh the evidence first? Even sites very friendly to sexual assault victims say the rate of false or mistaken allegations ranges from 2 to 10%. I think the mantra shouldn’t be, “Believe Women” simply because they are women, but instead, “Listen to Women” and then make your judgments accordingly. 


Doesn’t “Believe Women” just for being women kind of take away from the gender equality movement?

I did listen to Dr. Ford yesterday and I do think something happened to her. But I do not believe her memories or accusations ring 100% true. When she was caught in the “fear of flying” lie that erased a lot of her credibility. I think she is being used as a pawn and I think she is allowing that to happen for political purposes. 

3.  Younger readers might not remember Susan Smith.  But when I watched Dr. Ford’s testimony she reminded me of that. Lots of emotions, no tears. Nuff said.
4.
Heroes emerged. 
Lindsay Graham – whoa!
I think Chuck Grassley had some good moments as well. 

5.
At times it seemed as if the only person defending Judge Kavanaugh, was Judge Kavanaugh. He was powerful and defiant. And believable. If he’s lying, he must be one of the nations most gifted actors because I found his testimony moving and compelling. 


6.   
Elizabeth Foss had two wonderful tweets yesterday. As a mom with four sons, one of whom went from discerning priesthood to a life in public service, this hit home.

7.
And since Rosie and I are spending a lot of time in the Hobbit this semester:

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