Monday 2nd February - Insights from Judith Herman

‘Trauma and Recovery: The aftermath of violence - From domestic abuse to political terror' ’ by Judith Herman (2022, p.10)

Quote from the first chapter, italics in brackets are my thoughts

“when traumatic events are of human design, those who bear witness are caught in conflict between the victim and the perpetrator. It is morally impossible to remain neutral in this conflict. The bystander is forced to take sides. (sounds obvious so far)  

It is very tempting to take the side of the perpetrator. (really? Is it?)  

All the perpetrator asks is that the bystander do nothing. He appeals to the universal desire to see, hear and speak no evil. The victim, on the contrary, asks the bystander to share the burden of pain. The victim demands action, engagement, and remembering. (Now it makes sense)...  

Victims perhaps wish to forget and cannot...  

Secrecy and silence are the perpetrator’s first line of defense”  (it seems obvious now!)