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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