Lots of people at DailyKos have now gotten familiar with our little group called Tree Climbers.
Something that we have all discovered is so much of the trauma, struggle, success, and activism in our lives is out here in Recent List land (and rec list!!).
Behind all the phenomenal survivors and there stories, we are just normal people! So this new Friday night series...an open thread if you will is here for everyone get to know who the survivors as just average folks!
So this is the background - an intro if you will as how we formed.
Tree Climbers at Daily Kos is a community composed of survivors of childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and those who support them.
Tree Climbers tell our stories, recover, sustain each other, learn about childhood abuse, and discover and create ways to protect children.
Trigger Warning - The next paragraph holds brutal words. Feel free to scroll past it.
In a typical Tree Climbers diary, you might read of someone who survived the grooming (this does not mean hair brushing), the fondlings, the rapings, the beatings, the mutilations or the death threats perpetrated by a sadistic egocentric molester of an innocent. Criminals abuse their victims. For years. Families refuse to believe the victims. For years. Victims report being dead inside. For years. Families and society have stifled the voices of victims and magnified and perpetuated the abuse. For years. We weep. We rage. We heal. We inspire.
We invite you to climb or be lifted up in our safe tree with us. We have broad branches, sunshine, hammocks, cushions, and plenty of tissues. Comment on the diary, ask questions, and share your perspective or even your story. If you are too overwhelmed to speak, you can just witness. That's okay. A few of the Tree Climbers are as silent as a jury.
Tree Climbers Rule: Be kind.
No T r o l l s. When we were children, we had no power. But we are no longer children. Climbing trees is not healthy for trolls - everybody knows that. If you act like a troll in our tree, we will calmly watch while you become invisible.
Even more info!! We are new group but we are also prolific writers as it turns out!
Follow the Tree Climbers.† If you click the red heart (♥) or the word "Follow" next to "Tree Climbers at Daily Kos" at the top of our home page, our diaries will be delivered directly to your Stream.
Join Tree Climbers. You are welcome to join us. To do so, send a private message via kosmail to SallyCat for an invitation to join the group. If you want to Join, you must also Follow. (Not intuitive, but unfortunately true.)
Special diaries and a radio broadcast. If you missed the first few days of the Tree Climbers, we recommend that you read the following three diaries and also listen to a radio interview.
• F**k Joe Paterno by Rebecca, January 22, 2012.
• “No One Spoke Up for Us": For The Children Who Had No Voice and for Those Finally Finding Theirs by Rebecca, January 26, 2012.
• In Solidarity. There is No True Justice for a Crime That Lasts Forever by dear occupant, January 26, 2012.
• Roxine's radio interview. On Dr. Laura's radio show on November 11, 2011, Roxine read her letter on air (8 minutes). You can read the text in "No One Spoke Up for Us."
Technical questions? See the Daily Kos Frequently Asked Questions, found also at the bottom of every Daily Kos page.
† Following. Once you become a member of Daily Kos, you can Follow (subscribe to) any diarist or group. From your home page, when you click on the tab "My Stream," a page will open that looks like an email Inbox. To see what a Daily Kos Stream looks like: SallyCat's "My Stream" page.
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1.800.656.4673.
Donations. If a Tree Climbers diary inspires you to make a donation, please support the group founded by two of our members, Roxine and Rebecca, TREE Climbers: Tell, Recover, Educate, Empower. There you may donate by PayPal or credit card.
|
So now that we have the background...we need to find the right tree, then design a tree house...then bring food, drinks, laughter and tears and just fun stuff!
Welcome to Friday Night at The Tree House! Come to get to know us as we get to know each other.