Learning that someone you know was sexually molested as a child provokes an emotional response. I still remember telling a college friend one night outside of the campus theater – I saw her assimilate the conversation and feel the shock and pain. She was full of empathy that night.
Another one of my college friends tells me he still remembers every detail of the time I told him: what my dorm room looked like, where he was sitting, what time of day it was. It was not easy for him to hear. You think you know somebody and then you find out something new, something terrible, but true and that’s a part of me as much as my eye color. Do you know me? Well, now, you do. The great news, that I am eternally thankful for, is that my friends, for the most part, have been extremely supportive over the years.
Which brings me to the question: Seriously, do you know me?
If you grew up in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama in the late 80s, early 90s – you just might know who I am. If you went to a small liberal arts college in South Carolina in the 90s – you just might know who I am. If you rented a video from a store in Greenville, South Carolina or are now connected with me on Facebook – you just might know who I am.
If you do know me and the first place you are hearing about it is 30is30.com, first of all let me thank you for being in my life. I don’t express how much I appreciate and value the people and relationships I am fortunate to have. Very few people knew about my “past” before now. It’s not an easy thing to talk about. Forgive me for not telling you in person or over the phone. I had to make a choice to go public with this website because time was running out.
I’m not shy now about talking about my experience, from a child’s or adult’s perspective. So if you want to talk about it, just let me know via contact information you already have, or through contacting 30is30.com. If you want to comment on this site in a personal way, that’s great too, I just ask that you keep my “real life” identity a secret in such a public format.
Lastly, if you know me. If you went to school with me, or lived in the community I grew up in. If you know my family. If you remember seeing this play out in the news 15 years ago. Please give me 15 minutes of your time. Help me and the other victims take one more step towards reclaiming our lives by contributing your voice to the crowd. Write a letter to the Alabama Pardons and Parole Board and tell them you oppose parole for Charles Donald Corley. If you are so inclined you can print out a petition and gather signatures for the cause. I hope you will do both of these things. But no matter what actions you choose to take, you can and will have an impact.
And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
3 Comments on this post
Leave a CommentWell…. you think you know a person…. 🙂 I think this goes to show that there are many secret troubles that people carry with them… and you have only to be kind and be a friend and listen, and allow people to share these darker parts of themselves with you.
It DID make a difference to know that you are someone I know. But it might have been anyone. It might have been me or a family member – who knows what other secrets there are. The important thing is to shine a light into this darkness (just like you are doing)… and make the world a better, safer place for our children.
Comment left on 9.16.2011 by Steph
Oh my! You have touched on a very important issue for me. I was almost molested by a man who molested my brother. I was lucky to have escaped his plan to “take” me! I had not idea. But I do know that this is not an isolated incident. This is much more prelevant than most people realize.
I sit now with tears in my eyes, not so much for you or for me or my brother, but for those who might still be out there living under this type of abuse, not knowning where to turn, thinking perhaps that they can’t tell anyone or thinking that there’s not anything to tell. I will support this and know that you do it from a loving place and space in your heart. I am grateful for your courage. It will surely help others to find their own voice.
Comment left on 9.16.2011 by John G.
I rememer sitting through the trial. I was trying to get the Sex Offender Law passed here and decided to monitor the trial. I watched as older members of the church jeered at you boys. I was so angry with what I watched that I turned to the Internet to get people to email and call the judge demanding strict sentencing. I even took my daughters to the sentencing in hopes to educate them on offenders
He should pay for his crime… Not get off early
I have thought of you boys often and promise to write a letter
Comment left on 9.21.2011 by Donna