Despite the fact that a good 90% of the time, I forget that it's not actually still 2012, we're now well into 2017.

And, frighteningly enough, when I stop and think about it, in the summer of 2013, I was just a measly high schooler about to begin my senior year.

During that summer, Taylor Swift's career was soaring high. To an awkward, shy 17-year-old on the precipice of trying to figure out what the hell she wanted to do with her life, Taylor seemed to have it all figured out; she was living the dream.

But something else involving the pop singer occurred that June, unbeknownst to the public, that surely caused a cloud to settle over her.

Four years later on this past Monday, August 14th, 2017, a judge ruled in favor of Taylor Swift's lawsuit against former DJ and radio personality David Mueller. She was countersuing Mueller for $1 in response to his original suit against Swift, her mother, and one of Swift's managers, with which he was seeking more than

£2,000,000 in damages.

What on earth would cause a legal battle where there was such a disparity?

As I quickly found out, Taylor was alleging that she had been groped by Mueller during a photo op at a meet and greet in Denver, Colorado, in June of 2013. Mueller's claim was that Swift's accusations, which he maintained were false, had cost him his career and ruined his public image.

They say a picture's worth a thousand words...

And there is a photo of the moment in question. In fact, both sides attempted to use the picture to make their cases. But, in the end, neither was really able to prove their points with it.

Here is the picture:

And here are my notes:

• Her skirt doesn't look visibly disturbed in the front.

There's no glaring indication that it's been shifted by his hand. In my opinion, all this photo can 100% prove is that Swift, Mueller, and his then-girlfriend, Shannon Melcher, posed for a picture together.

• Taylor clearly wants distance between her and David.

I don’t think she could possibly get any closer to Melcher than she is. Is that because he is in fact groping the singer? Is it simply because she found Melcher more engaging and pleasant to be around? It’s impossible to say. But she’s irrefutably uncomfortable around him.

• Mueller's hand is definitely lower than it ought to be.

It's certainly down low enough for him to have made the alleged contact, as Taylor stated. At best, he's made for a disconcerting, creepy photo that makes it painfully obvious he hasn't obeyed responsible and respectable boundaries.

• And last of all: when I took a few minutes and actually leaned into examine it…

There's a funny angle to the waist of her dress that, to me, at least, makes it remarkably plausible that his hand is making contact with her butt. Is he reaching under her dress and grabbing her bare skin? Potentially. Can I, or anyone, prove that with this photo alone? No.

I’m no Sherlock Holmes. That’s for sure. And my thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone, as well as one amongst countless others. Truthfully, the photograph is ambiguous. I absolutely think Taylor appears uneasy, and that Mueller seems to be the reason why. However, as to the validity of anything beyond that, I cannot be positive without a shadow of a doubt. That, to me, based on the visual evidence, would fail to be objective.

Don’t be mistaken, though: virtually every fiber of my being wants nothing to do with objectivity regarding this case. I have extremely strong feelings surrounding it. And though I may not have quite a thousand words on the matter, I do have this to say.

So... it's getting publicity because she's a celebrity. That doesn't negate the validity of the stories and suffering of all the victims who go unheard. But instead of throwing her into the fire because of her status, consider that perhaps this will encourage more people to speak up.

The fact that anyone is blaming or shaming her is just disgusting. The fact that sexual assault exists is disgusting. By avoiding the real crux of the matter in favor of nitpicking her race or her fame or her countersuit, we perpetuate the silence that condones sexual assault. It takes a remarkable amount of courage and strength to make it known you've been violated; I don't give one iota of a damnabout anyone's demented opinion to the contrary. It requires acknowledging that someone intruded on your person in a way that society cringes at... yet allows to endure because of attitudes and rebuke like this.

Teach people (that's right, not just men, not just people of color, not whatever idiotic stereotype to which the world subscribes) to respect each other and treat one another with dignity, kindness, and recognition of their value as a human being. Stop blaming victims or coming up with ridiculous ways to excuse the perpetrator.

Innocent until proven guilty, sure. That doesn't make him a saint, invalidate her story, or do a thing besides underline how screwed up society still is.
Sexual assault can happen to anyone. And the aggressor can also be anyone. Focus on eliminating the problem instead of raking her, or anyone, over the coals, for doing it "wrong." That implies that the actual crime is permissible. And it's not.

Violation or abuse of any kind is WRONG. It's so atrocious and vile that words that don't exist in any language to truly describe it.

Sending fight, bravery, and love to Taylor, and everyone who shares a similar nightmare. May you find peace, and may one day, nothing but justice prevail.