Community Chat

[Oznell]

I did not realize this month it has been 20 years since Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped at age 14.   She has been interviewed by various outlets on this occasion, as she continues her advocacy for those who have been abused like she was.

Her discussion on CBS with Gayle King was riveting.  While acknowledging her life has not been 'perfect' or 'ideal' by any means, she said, and demonstrated, that she has not let those horrible kidnappers define her existence.  She radiated purpose and a kind of serenity.

The evil of her captors was mind-boggling.  Until this interview, I was not completely aware of all the horrific details that accompanied her sexual abuse by these criminals;  the taunting, and reveling in the horror that they inflicted, and the variety of degradation to which this young fourteen year old was routinely subjected.

Yet she is intact.  She has a family of her own.  And she helps others.  I looked up a few other interviews, and was surprised to see where she told Dr. Oz of being subjected to another assault on an airplane only 2 years ago. 

The honesty of her bewilderment and initial feelings of inadequacy to deal with that, came through in the excellent interview with Oz.  She is very transparent and clearly wants to show that no one, child or adult, should self-lacerate about what others do to them.

Her kind of courage is very inspiring.

[manny2]

@Oznell  This young woman is remarkable. She is a beacon of hope for all victims out there. You are not defined by what happened to you. You get to write that story. I can't imagine the work it takes for her to maintain this type of composure. When you are violated like she was it changes who you are. 

[on the bay]

@Oznell,

I've always been amazed at her and her resilience to horrifying circumstances.

She is inspirational and I always think I don't think I would have dealt with it all so well as she has. 

She is pretty incredible and I'm happy for her.

[Sage04]

She is certainly someone special. She was just a child and for all that she went through, I don't know how she did it.

I'm so proud of her. Just looking at her I feel like crying every time I see her. What an inspiration.

[chickenbutt]

She is amazing!  It's so much easier to just let it all take you over. 

Huge kudos and brava to her for not only making it through such horrible abuse, but making her life so meaningful and valuable to society.   I admire her greatly.  💖

[DottieBlue]

She is a genuine hero.  I greatly admire her.

[Pearlee]

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@manny2 wrote:

@Oznell  This young woman is remarkable. She is a beacon of hope for all victims out there. You are not defined by what happened to you. You get to write that story. I can't imagine the work it takes for her to maintain this type of composure. When you are violated like she was it changes who you are. 

---

The same goes for Jaycee Dugard with a similar horror story.

[Oznell]

I was also thinking of her presence of mind, even as a fourteen year old.  She told Gayle King that while he was intially taking her away from her house to his remote encampment, she made a plea to him.  She said, "If you are going to rape and kill me, please do it on the familiar trails, so they'll find my body and my family will know that I'm dead."

She didn't want endless, torturing questions left in her parents' minds.  I think that was remarkable, given her young age at the time. 

[chrystaltree]

Ancient histor..history.  

[MoJoV]

It is such a blessing this lovely woman survived her hideous ordeal.  So many haven't.  I hope the monsters who did this will never be out to do it again.