Witnesses described the distress they experienced observing their younger siblings being physically punished for bed-wetting. Many described protecting them from beatings by any means, including pretending that they had wet the beds themselves and taking the punishment instead of their siblings. They also described hiding wet sheets and trying to dry sheets in advance of an inspection. In some instances witnesses reported swapping their sibling’s wet sheet with that of another resident who was then punished instead. The girls who wet the bed got beaten. I never wet the bed but my sister did and my
older sister and I used to get up early and make sure her bed was dry so that she didn’t get hit, the babies who wet the bed got beaten. We would change her bed. I know it’s a horrible thing but we would change the bed with someone else, so that she did not get hit and if we didn’t get time we’d change her with our own bed and we’d take the beating. We just didn’t want her to get hit, she was only a baby. The punishment was, beaten with a leather strap all over. The nun used to get a big girl to go around and check what one was wet, what one was dry. You couldn’t save everyone you know.
~From the Irish Commission To Inquire Into Child Abuse
Picture found here.
Yes the "good sisters" were quite mad and dangerous but we must also say that the Irish were as well. Let us pray that the Irish now invite the snakes back.
ReplyDeleteThere is within us a voice, a knowingness that will guide us away from cruelty and hatefulness and into love of creation. The question now is how to encourage that voice.
Invite the snakes back? I say they invite their Gods and Goddesses back! ASAP!
ReplyDeleteHeh. What little difference between the big girl checker-informant and the neighbor who turns in the goat-herder. All for a political gain where options for empowerment seems in short supply. All for another day of deflection to bargain for safety.
ReplyDeleteThe actions of the intermediaries rarely make it into reports as a major contributing factor in perpetuating problems. Probably because they are in some way victims themselves. But the short-term solutions seem to be all the same. Divide and conquer. Complicity by victims to trade on the heads of other victims.
Further, should there ever be 'justice' meted out, it's usually more abuse heaped on the abused abusers by mercenaries, instead of anything direct among those involved. Instead of anything with any healing value. It's dehumanizing all the way around. We know that from reports from the front line. Those tasked with "carrying out orders" become just as damaged in the process.
When will the cycle of violence end?
Not until there is widespread recognition of the destructive value of wanting to see a good fight.
Not until the wound-salters and the unhealed, perp-identified instigators are stopped in their tracks.
Gah.
UUgal
"Yes the "good sisters" were quite mad and dangerous but we must also say that the Irish were as well."
ReplyDeleteWho is 'we'? "The Irish" were quite mad and dangerous? Which Irish? All of them?...be careful of generalisations. The "good sisters" were feared by many people. This was a nation disenfranchised and rent asunder, losing its language, its very voice, as well as its land, rule and gods/goddesses. A culture repressed. Time is a great healer but it takes time. Things are starting to happen- it will take time. Compassion, tolerance and understanding of the deeper issues are needed. Do not tar everyone with the same brush.
There never were any snakes - the Irish never asked for them to be banished. Read here for some history on the St Patrick myth.http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090316-st-patricks-day-facts.html
If by 'snakes' you mean the Pagan Ireland. Go there. The energy seeps out of every green hill, craggy rock and windswept beach. It is truly a magickal place, like no other. Blessed Be x
There's a lot of evil that has been done by us christians, although this doesn't mean that christianity or the church are therefore evil things. The church, despite its shortcomings, has always been concerned primarily with bringing people closer to God.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,