[Oe List ...] Our conversation reminds me of

[jonzondo at juno.com]

Jon Elizondo here.My abuse in my Order time came mainly from older boys.  both in religious houses and at camps.Two of the older boys had the heart to apologize to me in person at a reunion.It was amazing.  It allowed me to let go of so much. As for adults, caregivers...two sets of guardian parents did their best to actually pay attention to me and were not abusive.  To them I am so grateful.  Other caregivers were verbally abusive or neglectful.  (neglect is something most of us experienced, I believe).None of them ever came forward to speak to me... although one of them expressed apology to one of my same age peers... they never picked up the phone or wrote a letter.At this point in my life, I'm an elder myself.  I don't feel the need to be spoken to... but some of my peers may still have a request.  Something that would aid them on their emotional/spiritual journey.So, IF you are aware... IF you are willing to speak,... your authentic apology may still have meaning.... even all these years later.  Responsibility is the ability to respond.  It is a beginning.  It is a door. We are all connected.Jon Mark Elizondo

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Ken Fisher via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
To: Randy Williams <randycw1938 at gmail.com>
Cc: Ken Fisher <kenfisher1942 at gmail.com>, "O:E Lists" <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>, Michael May <michael at interiormythos.com>
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Our conversation reminds me of
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2025 18:43:10 -0400


Hey Randy, Got to go on record. Before that time, and in retrospect, I saw childhood sexual abuse in the churches, in my church, and in the Scouting movement  in Canada, of which I was a leader. It is in  our Western patriarchal culture. I also witnessed spousal abuse in and out of the O:E. Among others, I confess to being unwilling to ‘out’ the abusers. I came close.. While being angry, I could not find ‘an ear’. Only a decade ago, my oldest shared his sense that he had been abused in Bombay, at less than three. He is a phenomenal parent, raising two Inuit boys and one of their own. At the Denver reunion in 2000, those gathered made a deeply heartfelt apology. Other institutions did that under legal duress. We were naive, and yet we were different. And… there are E.G. staff members who have never apologized. While there is no excuse, I do declare (Joe Pierce) that the 'all-is-good' is inherent in the O:E. Donald is a pedophile. Are you going to block all of America? Ken       
On Jul 19, 2025, at 5:10 PM, Randy Williams <randycw1938 at gmail.com> wrote: It’s a travesty.Randy Williams 
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