Time now for something… a little bit serious
Trigger warning for a discussion of rape
I don’t often write more serious toned posts on this blog (I leave that for my tumblog where I can get all ragey… just kidding). But this is something that really stuck with me.
It’s a problem that has persisted for a long, long time. It’s something that comes up in conversation a lot. It’s a word that we use, without thought to it’s present day meaning. I’m talking about rape, but more specifically, the use of rape as humour.
The act of rape, the violent assault that is perpetrated upon a woman (and let’s face it, women face this in greater percentage than men do) is not a laughing matter. Murder isn’t even a laughing matter, but there are more jokes about rape than there are about murder. Over on tumblr, some users manage to toss around comments like “that bitch needs to get kneecapped and raped” without thought of how that will affect a reader.
We need to step back and really examine the use of the word. I know that in years past the word rape was more commonly associated with “rape seed” or the plant that we also call canola. That’s gone by the way side, as the word has been used more often to describe a vicious assault.
Rape victims are the only ones who face shaming, and even blame for being raped. Which is why a good number of rapes do not go reported. The victim is often accused of wearing the wrong clothing. From what I’ve read the wrong clothing is anything. It’s more that the offender couldn’t and didn’t want to stop himself. Rape is an act of control and power by the offender. They often times will know the victim.
We live in a world that has created a culture of rape. Where women are taught how not to get raped, but men are never taught to not rape.
This is related, and while may be seen as sort of light hearted, I think it’s a good idea for anyone that’s tired of rape jokes. Instead of getting into an argument about rape, simply do this. First, download this business card template. Print off on a set of Avery labels (business card sheets, ten to a sheet). Keep them on you in a small business card carrier. When someone cracks a rape joke, hand them a card.
They look like this. Here’s the front.
And here’s the back.
The wording on the back might be a bit harsh, but it also might grab attention.
Maybe it’ll also change a few minds.
Clifford Olson reportedly dead at 71 – News – MSN CA
(via Clifford Olson reportedly dead at 71 – News – MSN CA)
For those who don’t know who Clifford Olson i, Olson pleaded guilty to 11 murders in 1982, which brought an end to a year of horror in British Columbia. Clifford Olson is Canada’s most notorious serial killer.
Earlier this year, parents of some of Olson’s victims were informed the 71 year old would not live until the end of September, because he had life threatening cancer.
One of the parents who’s son was killed by Olson said the serial killer’s death would bring her some peace, but it would not bring her son back.
CBC has more here.
Victoria Times Colonist has more here.
More on the history of Clifford Olson here.
Instant overnight sensation
Over at thedailywh.at a video appeared, and was also featured on failblog. It displayed an angry young man in reaction to the attack on his sister. Here’s the original news report as posted on Youtube.
Obviously, the young man was incredibly angry because a man tried to assault his sister. To be honest, I would as well. But overnight, it became an instant sensation. Which included a remix by the same guys that made the Double Rainbow Song, Autotune the News.
It became so much, that the same news station that reported on it in the first place, investigated it again.
So, people have an issue with him, and with the news station for allowing him to speak his mind. Hmmm. Well, I don’t think it paints either him or his community in a bad light at all. He was pissed off. His sister was attacked, and he wanted to issue a warning that there was a dangerous predator out there. And to top it off, he doesn’t regret his comments. I wouldn’t either. I’d have done the same thing. Granted, Dodson was much more restrained because I probably would have dropped so many F-Bombs that the news station would have had one continuous beep (however, in Canada, many news stations don’t bleep out foul language if it’s part of a news story).
People who say Dodson was an embarrassment should think again. What would you expect an angry young man, worried about the safety of his sister, would say? Do you think his comments would be rational? Probably not if he was a caring man who’s only issue was the safety of his family. That’s the bottom line. He had the right to speak, he had the right to warn others of this predator, and he had the right to get angry about it.
Good on him.
He probably wasn’t looking to become an overnight sensation. He merely want to warn others. And warn the attacker of his sister.
Until next time…
…keep ‘em flyin’!
The good will of the internet
Help me help my friend in DC. | Ask MetaFilter.
I’ve often heard about human trafficking before. I’ve seen episodes of different crime shows that have touched on the subject. I’ve watched news programs like The Fifth Estate and W5 discuss the crime of human trafficking.
But I’ve never seen an internet community come together to convince two Russian women NOT to go to an “employer” in New York City from Washington DC, and see it (read it) unfold before my eyes.
Read it, top to bottom.
