In These Times

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• • 21 Aug 08
  • 8:43 am

  Someone a lot smarter than me once noted, "Circumstances don't make you what you are. They just REVEAL what you are." What do you suppose the prevalence of rape, in and out of the military, reveals about us? When I was in the service -- and I was in the least "hardcore" branch -- the misogyny was enough to turn my stomach. But, hey, maybe that's just me... But consider: we call people "heroes" and give them promotions and medals for doing things they'd go to prison for back home -- and most especially while "voluntarily" participating in a war that's …

  Posted to Why Soldiers Rape

• • 29 Aug 08
  • 7:36 am

  Very astute tinakins. In general, all kinds of predators choose their victims based on vulnerability and then availability. The specifically mysogynistic element serves to portray women not only as weaker, but as deserving targets. Men who are victimized have been "feminized" and moved over into the deserving victim column. This can only be because, a priori, the assailants believe that sex is bad and therefore is the worst thing you can do "to" someone. But it definitely is about power, not about sex. A rapist doesn't rape for sex any more than an alcoholic drinks because he's thirsty. Liberty & Justice, …

  Posted to Why Soldiers Rape