I heard recently on the news that Somali rebels are raping women. This I guess isn't new, but what struck me was the fact that this is still going on despite the famine, and it's said that the attacks are being carried out on women weak from starvation.
I have heard some people say things like, 'rape is a 'weapon of choice in many of these conflict zones', and whilst I understand the phrase, I still can't get my head around it. In fact , when we say that, are we trying to intellectualise something we should simply denounce immediately as pure fuckery, or pure wickedness??
I have heard some people say that rape isn't about sex. How can that be?
Rape is all about sex, if it wasn't for the sexual act it would not be rape.
Yet, I guess, on the flip side, there are cases of these men using whatever instrument they can find to seemingly cause as much damage as possible. That- is beyond comprehension for me.
I have heard some people say it's about power. Again, surely if it were just about power one would perhaps subject these people to a life of servitude/slavery.
What is really going on in these places?. Is it the legacy of colonial rule? and if so , how, and when will it end?.
If it is, should we ( +french etc) have our troops there..constantly trying to help make amends?
Or is it best to leave well alone?
How will these men be made to pay for the terrible crimes they commit?. These villagers are not the enemy, in fact.. I wonder if these rebels really know who the enemy is, or if they're now locked in a cycle of violence, retribution, and plain old blood lust
Governments can't control these rebels and you may also wonder if they really want to. Who are the 'real' rebels anyway?.
Still, to debase women in that manner..seriously... I struggle to understand.. in fact.. it makes me sick.
I watched an excellent documentary about a doctor who is working with victims of rape, repairing Vaginal fistulas , I wanted to share it with you but could not locate it, however, this documentary sheds a little more light on the problem, as a starting point, this is on the war in the Congo, and the horrific reality of rape attacks
And whilst I wont go down the religious 'road' I would say that surely.. 'treating women bad.. makes god mad'... 'who-so-ever your god may be' It may initially sound like a trivial thing to say, but I say that because the irony is that in some of the most religious 'spaces' women are treated most appallingly. Not even as 2nd or 3rd class citizens, but practically inhuman.
Can somebody tell me where in the 'good books' this is written?
Even if it were, I would urge/beg for a moment to reconsider, for the sake of humanity... and common sense.
If as the song says 'the children are our future', what kind of future can we predict for our brothers and sisters in these combat zones? and do international 'investors' have blood on their hands?
its an insane state of affairs. I feel beyond sex and power lies cultural ruination and these monsters know it. a woman raped in a society like Somalia has no future. she faces rejection by her family, poor-to-no chances of marriage and could even face blame and family attacks (even honour death) for a trauma that's destroyed her sense of womanhood through no fault of hers. Its really sad cos I remember reading Islam forbids this. I'd hate to say "All is fair ..." but this is the ugly nature of the beast.
ReplyDeleteChilledLeo asked me a question about rape the other day. I'll ask her to pose the same question to you.
Your post picture played in my head. I'm not even sure these Somali guys know why they are fighting this (proxy) war. I remember back in the day asking a friend Anwar about Somalia's war (we was like 23/24 then), he replied some gibberish about blood ties and madness like that
*smh*
A boy solider, or a child solider robbed of a their childhood, knowing little other than murder, torture, rape and war, from what i know has little idea of why.. only that it is. I suspect someone who studies the psychology of war may be able to shed light on how anyone can comit such monstrous acts, and not.. feel
ReplyDeleteIt's madness
Like you Chrome, i used to talk to a friend ( she was a girl though) 20s, about life 'back home'.. she'd had a tough time, what with certain 'female practices' etc. I remember her wanting to help her community here, esp men addicted to Khat, which she felt was a huge issue, but she just felt exasperated, at the fact that it probbaly wouldn't happen, as she was a Somali woman.
After a while she dropped the idea, wanted nothing to do with any of it, and was just glad to be here (UK)
Very pretty woman, but having to then deal with the reality of the psysical impacts of what they'd done
Dawna this story (post) gives me a gut renching feeling absolutely DISGUSTED and outraged by the whole act...RAPE in every sense of the word is nothing but a DESTRUCTIVE FRIGGIN POWER TRIP!!!!.....
ReplyDeleteYes the sadness is soo deep for the thought that these women's intergity and confidence must be completely shattered through this EVIL act, yet they pay for further consequences of being deemed as outcast in their community once this act of violation has occured.....
The war continues and unfortunately the backwards way of thinking keeps growing. When will we learn??
I suppose rape stories and senarios vary from case to case none the less it's a cowards way of trying to exert control and punish another human being by using the act as a weapon, and thats exactly what it is. the comparison is uncanning with someone stabbing another individual or putting a gun to their head!!!!
Imagine a father or mother in some cases both parents are in on the act DESTROYING their children through this type of abuse, what the hell could be going through the assailant's mind let alone the victim for that matter.....(the colour purple was the first of such film dramatisation which had me gripped with fear that the closet person to you could destroy your soul)
Then off course we have the date rapes or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time, oh lets see some complete freak decides they fancy a night out but their main agenda is to ensure they finish the night off with a shag whether it comes free or not they will FORCEFULLY take it!!!!......(takes me back to film the accused with Jodi Foster portraying a woman that was gang raped at a bar one night apprently inappropriately dressed and was basically asking for it)
It must be awful, imagine violated through the act only for you to be humiliated again in court in front of strangers judging and having to come to a conclusion on your behalf. What gets me is that some people do try and derail the topic about rape and try to find all and any angle to make it sound like the victim be man or woman brought the incident upon themselves. NO IS A NO........
Some people have a Blasé opinion that it won't ever happen to me.....well truth of the matter is 80% of the time rape victims know the assailant so really we shouldn't be fooling ourselves!!!!
Through discussions and reading certain literature, suggestions state that in some cases of rape, apparently the victim feels a lot of guilt because their body automatically responds to stimuli and therefore become sexually turned on. So question is do you believe ignorance to to this fact leaves society blaming the victim???
Take a look at this thread conversation below.....Case of woman (man to woman sex change) who raped a man (woman to man sex change).....WTF!!
http://www.journalfen.net/community/unfunny_fandom/14383.html
Chilled Leo - your response is so passionate and so articulate you've got me thinking about this issue further on a whole other level...every situation a real head shaker..
ReplyDeleteIn response to your question, here in the UK, I think 'society' tends to be very selective depending on who the victim is. Women are sometimes faced with comments such as 'bet you enjoyed, or asked for it' ignorance, I was also told once that for male victims it can be especially tortuous for the reason you stated (body responds to stimuli) so heterosexual men have the additional emotional insecurity regarding their sexuality.
I do think ignorance to the fact (as mentioned) plays a part in societys attitude to some rape victims - but also, like domestic violence there's an underlining belief that if it's a woman, 'she may have caused it' its patriarchy.
It's a complex and terrible crime
Here, as difficult as it may be there are the law courts. Where, in Somlia, or Congo etc can these women go? many of these women are raising children from rape attacks who in all reality may 'grow' to become rebels and continue the cycle.. it's tragic
Both of the films you metioned gave me chills. very sad/moving
I checked out that thread..confusing initially but i got the gist..hmmm
Better understanding more awareness & support I reckon, I also suspect it's more common than most realise.. as it often goes unreported. People suffer in silence.