Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Thank You Kimberly Bliss (Soubielle)


Kimberly Bliss Souvielle, known to me as Kim Bliss, killed her abusing husband and got 15 years for 2nd degree murder. She was released by the clemency board in Florida in 1993, and went on to graduate from Law School and become an activist for battered women. I met her in the early 2000’s, maybe 2003 or 2004 when she was hired to teach in the Social Work department and I taught Biology at Thomas University.
The campus was abuzz with her story. Men and women were uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to make of her. So I got to know her. Her case was controversial.  Murder or self defense. We never talked about her case directly, but we talked many times about women in abusive relationships and how powerless they were.
It would be wrong to say that she changed my mind about abused women, or if women should have the right to defend themselves. I have always believed that anyone being abused should have the right and the duty to use whatever force needed to stop the abuse. The police, social system and courts certainly didn’t do much. And still don’t. So, she didn’t convince me of anything or change my mind. She glued the whole thing together for me in a way only someone as passionate as her could have done. I moved from understanding to advocate.
I once told someone that I had probably broken up more homes that most people. The look I got was telling. “What you? You a lover or something?” was what I read in the look. And no, not by being a Casanova. By telling scores of my female students who trusted me enough to talk to me that they were smart and worthy of respect and to take no crap from a husband who belittled, demeaned or physically abused them.
Kim’s story and passion for women in distress should be a beacon for all of us. Now, if we could only change the Police, Courts, Judges and Laws. Slowly it is happening. But WAY TO SLOW.
Image: http://www.acmenovelties.net/writing/images/abused_woman_435px.png

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