When I was 13, my parents forced me to go to Boy Scout Camp, on this annual trip we take (about a week and a half long), I was SA by two of the guys in my patrol. To get away, i slept outside rather than in their tent every night. I told one of the Troop Leaders about it, but i was ignored. When i get home, I told my parents about it but i wasn’t believed because i’m a guy. The next year, (im in a new patrol now), I was wearing my yamaka when these two guys who hadn’t been on this trip last year started picking on me, for my religion. It started off small at first, they harassed me, annoyed me, they even told me I was going to hell bc i’m jewish. But then it started getting worse, one time i remember they knocked my food over on the ground, and when I went to pick it up to throw it away they started kicking me. They ended up forcing me to eat it. Revolted and angry, i told them they went to far and i was gonna get one of the adults. I started walking over to the Troop Leader’s cabin when i got hit in the back with a rock. And it wasn’t just one, they literally started stoning me. I ended up crying and later called my mom to go home early. I haven’t been back since. I have many christian friends now, I love everyone, i don’t blame anything or anyone but Boy Scouts. I feel so badly for the girls it’s just now starting to let in. I wish the whole program, or at least my troop was abolished

I been thinking real hard about even relaying these awful things about the person that I have admired the most, the person I have respected and revered my whole life but that now, has completely backstabbed me in the worst way possible. A few years ago, a scandal broke in my political family involving my mother. As you can imagine, it nearly broke my marriage and tore my husband’s family apart. My sister in law found my father in law and my mom talking on social media. The worst part of it, when I was confronted, I was accused of knowing about the whole affair and made it looked like I was an accomplice to the whole ordeal. When I had absolutely no clue to such a disgusting mess. I don’t know what neither of them were trying to accomplish and now, I’m the black sheep of the family. No one talks to me. While my father in law is still loved and honored. My mother the home wrecker and I pay the sins of her ordeals. She never once has said I’m sorry. Never! In her head, I’m better off without that side of the family. But it’s not about that; why did she do this to me? Why my father in law? Among so many men? Why him! I guess I’m just looking for an explanation and I know I will never get it from her. Because she just cannot accept she did anything wrong. I wish I could get her version because as of now, I only know everyone else’s but her’s. I always thought I didn’t need to hear her side because it’s not my place to question her, but I have kids who now have to suffer for her sins as well. I don’t think it’s fair to them either. I guess the damage is done as well and the past is the past. I won’t get nothing accomplished but I just want an acknowledgment from her part that she messed up.

• August 12, 2023