How the Epstein files are dehumanising his victims all over again | Letters

The Jeffrey Epstein Files: A Bitter Reminder of Power and Prejudice

When the latest Epstein files were released, it was sickening to witness the outpouring of outrage - but not just from those who were outraged by his heinous crimes. Rather, a disturbing trend emerged in which some individuals used the exploitation and abuse of young women and girls as a smokescreen for their own ideological agendas.

For many, Epstein's case became a convenient vehicle to attack certain political or constitutional figures, with victims reduced to mere proxies for righteous rage about unrelated causes. This is a stark reminder that, even 20 years on from Epstein's crimes, we still have much work to do in dehumanising the powerful and the privileged.

The problem lies not just with those who enabled Epstein, but also with our own society's propensity to deny or downplay allegations against people we know and respect. As Rev Glayne Worgan notes, it is astonishing how easily ordinary church folk struggle to comprehend and accept evidence of abuse - a phenomenon that has far-reaching implications for victims like Epstein's.

The devastating impact of Epstein's actions cannot be overstated. But what's equally damaging is the way his case has been hijacked by those who seek to exploit the suffering of others for their own gain. It's as if some individuals have forgotten that Epstein's victims were never just statistics or talking points - they were real people, with lives destroyed by his heinous crimes.

As Colin Montgomery so eloquently put it, "Surely we're better than this?" Indeed, we must strive to be better. By listening to and believing the words of survivors, rather than using them as a pretext for our own ideological agendas, we can begin to create a more just and compassionate society - one that holds power accountable and treats its victims with dignity and respect.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how some people use vulnerable victims like Epstein's as a means to further their own agendas. It's like, we should be using our outrage to uplift and support those who've been harmed, not to fuel our own ideologies. We need to remember that these women were never just pawns in someone else's game - they were human beings with lives ruined by Epstein's actions. It's so easy for us to forget or downplay their stories, but we should be using those stories to create change and hold the powerful accountable. The key is to listen and believe the survivors, rather than using them as a way to mask our own biases. We can do better, and that's what keeps me hopeful

man i'm still trying to wrap my head around how ppl were able to enable epstein's abuse for so long... it's like they say, the devil is in the details, but also the silence & privilege can be just as suffocating... anyway, remember that time on youtube where kat von d talked about how hard it was for her to deal with her own abusers? i swear that convo stuck with me for years

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how some people are using Epstein's case as a way to spout off on other issues . It's like, yeah we're outraged by his crimes, but let's focus on the victims, you know? The fact that victims' stories get used as a smokescreen for other agendas is just wild . It's like we still have a lot of work to do in making sure the powerful don't get a free pass when they're called out. And can we please stop demonizing people who don't fit into our little boxes? We need to listen to survivors and believe them, not use their stories as a way to further your own agenda . It's time for us to be better than this .

I'm so over this latest wave of outrage about Epstein's files . It feels like people are only using the whole thing as an excuse to bash on certain politicians or figures, instead of actually giving a thought to what really happened in those cells . I mean, come on, can't we be better than this? We should be using these cases as a way to learn and grow, not just to score some points against our enemies . And don't even get me started on how we're still downplaying allegations against powerful people today... it's like we're all just waiting for someone else to get caught out before we can say "I told you so" . We need to start listening to the survivors and taking their stories seriously, instead of using them as a way to advance our own agendas . Let's focus on being better than this, not just talking about it .

just read these latest epstein files and its all so messed up people are using his case to attack others who aren't even related to the scandal it's like they're trying to make a point about something else instead of actually talking about the abuse and exploitation that happened... meanwhile victims lives are still being affected by this guy's actions 20 years later its so frustrating when people try to downplay or deny allegations against those in power especially if you know them personally

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how some people are using Epstein's victims as a way to push their own agenda . Like, come on, if you're really outraged about something else, can't you just have that conversation without hurting the ones who were actually hurt by him? It's not like we need another excuse to make things worse . We should be focusing on making sure people in power are held accountable, but also respecting the fact that Epstein's victims were real people with lives ruined . I mean, I get why we want justice for them, but can't we just do that without hijacking their story? It's like, let's give each other some space, okay?

ugh this is so sad my heart goes out to all those Epstein victims their suffering is still so raw even 20 yrs later it's like they never got the justice they deserved and what's even more heartbreaking is when ppl use them as a excuse 2 push their own agendas it's like they're taking away somethin special from those already hurting we gotta do better ppl let's listen & believe their stories without judgment or using them 4 our own gain

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how some people are using Epstein's case to push their own agenda . It's like, yeah we're all outraged by what he did, but can't we focus on the real issue here? I mean, I get it, his enablers and the systemic issues that allowed this to happen are super problematic too... but let's not forget who the victims were - young women and girls who suffered unimaginable trauma . We need to be having a more nuanced conversation about power, privilege, and accountability, rather than using their stories as a pawn in someone else's game . It's so easy to get caught up in outrage and then move on, but what if we actually took the time to listen to survivors and try to understand what they're going through?

I'm soooo troubled by how some people are using Epstein's victims as a pawn in their own agenda . It's like, come on folks, let's keep the focus on the real issue at hand - helping those who were harmed by his sick actions . I mean, we can't just dismiss or downplay allegations against someone we know and respect, no matter how powerful they are . My heart goes out to all the survivors who've had to relive their trauma over and over again #JusticeForEpsteinVictims #BelieveSurvivors #NoMoreExploitation