Resurrection After Rape Community Group
Discussion, question-and-answer, general social support, and journal processing for progress-oriented rape survivors. No crisis, no damaging or triggering conflicts--this is for individuals who want to contribute to collective, cooperative action toward the goal of making actual PROGRESS through rape trauma. Much of this work is based on the book "Resurrection After...
Members of this group have suggested that we "rally" a show of support for the young teen in California whose gang rape made national news. The consensus was that the experience itself is traumatic enough, let alone having it featured on news every day. A suggestion was made that we collectively show support in a way that is dignified and classy, that wouldn't be embarrassing, and that demonstrated that as a group we have moved collectively to encourage and support her. So the idea was that we could write letters and send them to me to collect, and that I would bundle them and send them to the address that has been designated as a place to direct letters and donations.
The rationale was twofold: first, group members tended to feel that the positive impact would be greater if support came from a motivated group rather than individuals in isolated efforts, and that the group could be identified and traced back here to verify the authenticity of our support; and second, people preferred that letters be collected by me and remailed so that personal addresses are not divulged. My church has agreed to serve as a mail receipt address so that all letters remain safe/private with no addresses (including mine) being divulged at any point past my collection of the letters within.
I can see two possible achievements in this project. First, obviously, is that this young woman will receive incredible statements of support from you. But second, perhaps this project might even help ignite the "Letters to Survivors" manuscript that could be published as a way to provide this kind of support to MANY survivors, not just one. I want to be very cautious that this effort is not misusing a tragedy to promote our group, but that it is a sincere, heartfelt effort to do some good. If you feel that a book that collects such "letters to a survivor" would also be a positive outcome of this, I would like to combine these projects together. By far, peoples' favorite part of "RAR" are those letters, and I have long felt that a collection of these should be combined into an entire monograph. Personally, I think an inspirational book might be one small positive thing that could come from all of this.
Do you feel that this is a good idea? Would you like for letters of support for the victim in California to also help develop an inspirational "letters to survivors" book that could likewise encourage others as well, or would you feel that each should be a separate project? If you wanted to do both ("...with one stone"), it would mean that your letters should be written to as to encourage the young woman we want to help, but worded in such a way that ANY victim of sexual assault could potentially find comfort and wisdom if she were reading it, too.
Please tell me your thoughts, and if the group would like to do both things--support the California victim and add to a compilation of inspirational letters to ALL future survivors at the same time--I'll write more about how to move forward.
Your thoughts?
The rationale was twofold: first, group members tended to feel that the positive impact would be greater if support came from a motivated group rather than individuals in isolated efforts, and that the group could be identified and traced back here to verify the authenticity of our support; and second, people preferred that letters be collected by me and remailed so that personal addresses are not divulged. My church has agreed to serve as a mail receipt address so that all letters remain safe/private with no addresses (including mine) being divulged at any point past my collection of the letters within.
I can see two possible achievements in this project. First, obviously, is that this young woman will receive incredible statements of support from you. But second, perhaps this project might even help ignite the "Letters to Survivors" manuscript that could be published as a way to provide this kind of support to MANY survivors, not just one. I want to be very cautious that this effort is not misusing a tragedy to promote our group, but that it is a sincere, heartfelt effort to do some good. If you feel that a book that collects such "letters to a survivor" would also be a positive outcome of this, I would like to combine these projects together. By far, peoples' favorite part of "RAR" are those letters, and I have long felt that a collection of these should be combined into an entire monograph. Personally, I think an inspirational book might be one small positive thing that could come from all of this.
Do you feel that this is a good idea? Would you like for letters of support for the victim in California to also help develop an inspirational "letters to survivors" book that could likewise encourage others as well, or would you feel that each should be a separate project? If you wanted to do both ("...with one stone"), it would mean that your letters should be written to as to encourage the young woman we want to help, but worded in such a way that ANY victim of sexual assault could potentially find comfort and wisdom if she were reading it, too.
Please tell me your thoughts, and if the group would like to do both things--support the California victim and add to a compilation of inspirational letters to ALL future survivors at the same time--I'll write more about how to move forward.
Your thoughts?
If by "address," you mean to direct your comments to her specifically, then yes, although we do not know her name. I would suggest something vague but positive like, "dear fellow survivor," or whatever you choose.
But seriously good question... I might have avoided too long... Can we still do it?