Repost of Standing in the Gap, aka Brolly Lady, as the Empathy-Building Part of Project Do Better

Coop, ,

    This narrative short, which I neglected to mention is nonfiction, at first, will be part of an autobiographical short short anthology I am releasing later this year.   I was stunned at the reception this one got, and even more surprised to find, a few months ago, that it has been republished (yes, my name is credited, but it is incorrectly labeled as fiction) by an online magazine, entirely without my knowledge.  I hope that this short short inspires others to stand together, to protect one another, and to help build more empathy in this world.  Empathy building is the ongoing part of Project Do Better that runs concurrently with all four phases of this project.  Please share widely. 

   …  Memories of a “Brolly Lady” …

—

   ”  There it was again.  I knew that sound.

…”

 

—

Shira

Action Prompts:

1.)  Share your own story of standing in that gap to help a fellow human being

2.)  Tell us how you feel that your actions may have helped our world.

 

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Thoughtful Readers who want to help build community, please consider reading about  DoBetterCover  #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BSCS

Shira

About ShiraDestProjectDoBetter

Shira Destinie Jones is founder of #ProjectDoBetter, a long term plan proposal for community building, and a published poet, academic author, and advocate for improving our #PublicDomainInfrastructure. Her other book, Stayed on Freedom's Call, on Black-Jewish Cooperation in DC, is freely available via the Internet Archive. She has organized community events such as film discussions, multi-ethnic song events, and cooperative presentations, and is a native of Washington, DC. She promotes peaceful planning, NVC and the Holocene Calendar, and is also a writer. More information at https://shiradest.wordpress.com/

58 thoughts on “Repost of Standing in the Gap, aka Brolly Lady, as the Empathy-Building Part of Project Do Better”

  4. This incident is also an illustration of the need for Early Childhood intervention and education in terms of providing emotional health care, as well as adult and parental health Care emotional and mental as well as physical. Assertiveness on the part of every woman and, the ability to defend herself financially as well as physically and emotionally comes from both widespread early childhood mental health care and martial arts training which every girl should be provided with.

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    2. A related post shows this, as well:

      This incident, which I now see I should not have tagged stories, since it makes people think that it was fiction, is a good illustration of why we need early childhood mental and emotional health care resources deployed in all kindergarten and elementary school settings, to build up self-esteem, confidence, and assertiveness, especially for girls, and most especially for Black girls.

      see: https://shiradest.wordpress.com/2021/07/25/any-landing-you-can-walk-away-from

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  5. Pingback: Repost of Standing in the Gap, aka Brolly Lady, as the Empathy-Building Part of Project Do Better — Inspiring Critical Thinking and Community via Books, Lessons, and Story | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  7. It is very hard to understand that nobody at all helped you, not even your lover. I mean, what can one man do, even if he is big, when several people stand up to him? Family matter or not, the woman had no chance against him, how can one not do anything?

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    1. Exactly, and I expected loyalty from her, too, especially since she’s bigger than me (not as big as that drunk guy, but still, not petite like myself), and if beating a woman into another incarnation outside on a rainy night is a family matter, than I guess I didn’t miss much, not having a good family.

      I suppose that human beings, in the great majority, are opportunistic and cowardly, but I expect a certain level of courage, solidarity, and loyalty, at least enough to risk suffering with me rather than standing by and watching another woman suffer, from my partner. But, as I noted at the end, some lovers aren’t worth keeping, and it had been clear enough to me at that point, but I was still in need of some event to shake me into leaving her and making it stick (she kept pulling me back by telling me that I had no right to cut her out of my life, for some reason).

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  9. My take is that all the people just watching, are somehow abusers themselves. I know it’s not easy to get involved but a whole bunch of people left it up to you. People such as yourself with trauma and abuse understand. You make go through life in fear, pain, PTSD, whatever and can many times be immobilised by your experiences. But you also understand the limit of someone’s suffering and are able to push through your horrible memories and help. Your “lover” and the lookie loos will never understand. You and the woman on the ground cannot and should not be with people that abuse just because they show interest in you because you have a need to be loved. Love is shown by actions, not empty words and perceived companionship.

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  11. Pingback: Stand Together? | Inspiring Critical Thinking and Community via Books, Lessons, and Story

      1. Yes, but only down to about this point, and then link to this page for the rest of the story:

        ” Looking at the giant, I wanted to flee, abandon this woman to her fate. But my feet had a will of their own, carrying me right into the one spot where I didn’t want to be: about 5 steps between each of them.”

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  18. Pingback: Mental Health Care In The Breach? | Context, Critical Thinking, Continuous Learning: Project Do Better
  19. Pingback: Mental Health Care In Modern Society? | Context, Critical Thinking, Continuous Learning: Project Do Better

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