Rape Solutions?

[yavanna]

Morwyn and many others have bravely brought the subject so easily swept under the rug in other corners of society; rape.

Rape, it affects us all. According to Ohio State University in the US alone, 1 out of every 3 women will be raped in her lifetime yet only 16% of rapes are actually reported to the police and only a fraction of these are prosecuted succesfully. What kind of message does this send; that is OK to rape? No, it is not, nor will it EVER be OK to rape. It is an offense against all society and all people of this world.

The time to stand by is over, so we must ask ourselves now, what can we do about it?

Folklore has already suggested a pagan rape charitiy. Having no experience with charities I don't know what this would entail. Is anyone out there involved with an existing charity who could advise or are there existing pagan rape funds we could become involved with.

I am already organizing a protest in my area to try and get the police and local officials to take us seriously.

I know the Vagina Monolouges do a charity on V-day every year and I want to become involved with it in the future, has anyone done V-day before? Could we put on a V-day for pagans and donate all proceeds to a womens shelter or charity?

I was raped, by my former boy friends fraternity, he brought me there like a sacrifice and drugged me and I felt to ashamed to report it. I am NOT ashamed any more, I am PISSED off, and I refuse to sit by and do nothing anymore. Who's with me?

Ideas Ideas? This is a problem we can truly make a difference in

Yavanna

[LadyCelt]

I was raped by someone I was seeing. But he abused me so much emotionally and I was so low on myslef, I didnt see it as rape. He also tried forcing me to take either coke or heroin. He degraded me and called me fat and ugly and used me for sex, a car, and free food and a stready girl. He praye don my naivness, youth, and innocence. It was too late for eveidence but grrrr on this. I tried to get a restrainign order, and they didn't grant it to me, but were oh so proud I didnt do the hard drugs. he even put me on a site where people call me up to have sex with me and meet me for sex. The cops gave me the run around, and said even if they traced it to his ip, what if its his dad, they can't prove it. Bull crud they can't. Luckily and thank the Lord my dad knows a detective who took care of it.

I had a friend who was raped by a good friend of hers. My former college roomate was raped by maybe even 2 people. Her former roomate was raped. Crazy to think of all 3 girls that lived there in 2 years or 3 years time, we were all raped. Once, I was at the bar and this guy yelled "wh*re" loudly to this girl. I bet its cause she didn't accept his advances.

I feel people don't respect themselves and so they dont' respect ladies. I also feel it is demonic and dark spirits too. It is pathetic I was not granted my restrainign order and given the run around. What message does this send to ladies? The justice system wo't even be on your side?!

Beyond pathetic. In a way the corurpt justice system is worse, cause it allows this to happen.

[yavanna]

Lady Celt, you are so much braver than I was. I never even went to the police, I was so ashamed and he tried to convince me nothing happened. Its so good that he didn't end up forcing you to do drugs and I hope he didn't end up making you believ that your not beautiful because even though I've only been here a little while, I can see from the posts you've written that you are a beautiful person.

I agree that its a problem with respect and love. The world needs healing.

Yavanna

[yavanna]

The only thing I've come up thus far Is that its probably better to support an existing charity than start my own because I wouldn't be able to really help because I'm going to be moving around so much over then next few years until trout gets a permanent restoration job.

So I noticed on eBay that you can sell something and donate a portion of the money to charity, up to 100%. I found what looked to be a really good organization RAAIN, it isn't pagan based but they seem to do really good work and I don't think this solution has to be tied to religion. I'm thinking I'll probably paint something and auction it off and then give all the proceeds to them, if there one of the charities on eBay's list. If nothing else it will help me heal, but my hope is it will help prevent rapes from occuring and console those recently victimized.

PropheticMonkey has set up a group to send energy to abuse victums (abuse of many kinds) so I urge anyone who can send energy to help the healing to go to his thread in the energy forum.

Blessed Be and Heal
Yavanna

[misschief]

i think the best thing anyone can do is, learn to defend their self, carry some sort of weapon if necessary... i don't mean an AK47 :lol:.. i'm sure pepper spray would do. be alert of what's going on around you, etc. if one woman carries some mace or something and goes to self defense classes, more will do it. the women i know don't want to look like a 'wuss', so they don't take precautionary steps... but it's human nature to think... well if mary (just some random name) is doing it, what's so bad about me doing it? start a chain, get the women in your life to learn defense, then they'll tell the women they know, and so on. i'm not saying a big 'movement' or something is a bad idea, not at all. but the bottom line is, women who cannot defend theirselves are not safe, and they never will be.

[PoisonIvy]

I'm wondering,no offense,.....how is a charity gonna help stop rape? The same charity that stops serial killers?
Rape is a crime of violence,It's about control and power not sex!
It happened to me in an area where there were no cops around(out on a road in the country). I didn't go to the police simply because I knew that if I told the right people about what he had done that I would get justice! And I did! I'm pretty sure that he won't be bothering anyone else.
Self defense is just about the only way to help yourself.

[yavanna]

i think the best thing anyone can do is, learn to defend their self, carry some sort of weapon if necessary... i don't mean an AK47 :lol:.. i'm sure pepper spray would do. be alert of what's going on around you, etc. if one woman carries some mace or something and goes to self defense classes, more will do it. the women i know don't want to look like a 'wuss', so they don't take precautionary steps... but it's human nature to think... well if mary (just some random name) is doing it, what's so bad about me doing it? start a chain, get the women in your life to learn defense, then they'll tell the women they know, and so on. i'm not saying a big 'movement' or something is a bad idea, not at all. but the bottom line is, women who cannot defend theirselves are not safe, and they never will be.

I totally agree, deffense is really important, but 2/3 of rapes are perpetrated by someone an individual knows. In my case, I was drugged by my boyfriend so I was barely concious when it happened and had no way to defend myself. This is a very common way rape happens. The best deffense for me would have been to be more wary and be more educated about rape in general. Also, I wish I would have known about rape help centers so I could have gotten counseling. But I agree fully with you, deffense is a really important component of rape prevention. My DH suggested they teach self deffense in school.

Yavanna

[misschief]

I totally agree, deffense is really important, but 2/3 of rapes are perpetrated by someone an individual knows. In my case, I was drugged by my boyfriend so I was barely concious when it happened and had no way to defend myself. This is a very common way rape happens. The best deffense for me would have been to be more wary and be more educated about rape in general. Also, I wish I would have known about rape help centers so I could have gotten counseling. But I agree fully with you, deffense is a really important component of rape prevention. My DH suggested they teach self deffense in school.

Yavannai think high risk communities should have free self defense classes. sometimes they're only $30-40, but some people can't afford that. the problem is, high risk communities are usually poor communities.

[Chibi-Fallon]

Rape is a crime of violence,It's about control and power not sex!


In the immortal words of Dr. Drew: "It's the exact same as if I shot you.... and then came at the end." Exact same.
People need to get off that Oprah way of thinking. Obiously *some* part of the rape was about sex. If it was just about power and control they'd tie you up and smack you around a bit and then kill you. If that's all they wanted they wouldn't have sex with you.
Because that happens too.

[yavanna]

I'm wondering,no offense,.....how is a charity gonna help stop rape? The same charity that stops serial killers?
Rape is a crime of violence,It's about control and power not sex!
It happened to me in an area where there were no cops around(out on a road in the country). I didn't go to the police simply because I knew that if I told the right people about what he had done that I would get justice! And I did! I'm pretty sure that he won't be bothering anyone else.
Self defense is just about the only way to help yourself.


Thanks for your question. Its really good that you knew enough to go to the police. Still, I'm sorry but Idon't agree that a charity won't help. Many rape charities support education programs warning of the possible situations in which rape is most likely to occur, ways to keep yourself safe etc..., pay for medical bills patients incur after being raped, support centers for rape victums. Also, I'm not just talking about adult rape, what about kids? They cannot easily deffend themselves against an adult attacker. They need to be empowered with knowledge of situations that aren't right and know that they don't have to keep silent.

I'm not asking everyone to support the idea of charity, that's one component of what I'm working towards, I think education is the best protection because as I said before, 2/3 of rapes are perpetuated by someone the vitum knows.

Another component is local action; I'm working with others to organize a protest against rape in my town. We want to show the government of our town that it is not OK to tolerate rape. Its hard because I'm moving in a few months, but I hope to get the ball rolling here.

If I were staying here longer I would volunteer at the local safeway house too.

So it isn't soley about charities, but sometimes giving money is all someone can do. I know people have busy schedules and sometimes all they can do is donate to an organization like RAAIN. But for those of you who have time and are interested in helping, consider bringing the problem to your local governments attention or volunteering.

I know there are other solutions out there, thats why I started this thread, so I'm asking, does anyone else have Ideas?

I'm not trying to get attention with this thread, I know I'm new and everything but we're a growing segment of the population and I know if we work together we can make a difference in this and many other areas. Even if we each do a little, together we will do so much!

Yavanna

[thecount692003]

If a man rapes women & gets caught as punishment the authorities should be Aloud to cut it off, to serve as a lesson to others.

[yavanna]

i think high risk communities should have free self defense classes. sometimes they're only $30-40, but some people can't afford that. the problem is, high risk communities are usually poor communities.

Thats such a good idea! I wonder if there are any programs like that out there already, your right I'm sure they're not many. I know at my old college there were SDF programs cheaply availible, but they were only for students. If any one that was interested in helping had SDF training, volunteering to teach such classes would be a really good way to help.

Yavanna

[LadyCelt]

^^^^^^^^ thanks for your kind comments.

I also decided to not let it rule me. To not be against finding men again etc. If that happens, then he and the situation win. I have found my love and my soulmate who loves me no matter what I look like, smell like, my moods etc. He is an angel from God in my eyes and I love him dearly.


I would also like to say to women out there to do the same. Do not fear men again or love. Do not let this make you think all men are like this. There are great guys out there. Most of my friends are guys. The right one will come. I feel a good thing to do maybe is have us show how good guys can really be. I feel the most iportant thing is to not let it rule you. Of course a portion of me will still have disharmony with this. But, I refuse to let it rule me. I stayed with him so long out of fear. He still has my fashion designs, phoots, creative writing portfolio form highschool etc. I was scared to leave, then scared to stay. I decided one day even one day of freedom was worth it. I am thankful to God for not encountering him again and for my soulmate he has given to me. Sorry to get all preachy here but thank you Lord, thank you Jesus, Amen.

[PoisonIvy]

In the immortal words of Dr. Drew: "It's the exact same as if I shot you.... and then came at the end." Exact same.
People need to get off that Oprah way of thinking. Obiously *some* part of the rape was about sex. If it was just about power and control they'd tie you up and smack you around a bit and then kill you. If that's all they wanted they wouldn't have sex with you.
Because that happens too.


First off, I don't watch Oprah.
I never even knew the guy that raped me.
Am I correct in assuming that you've never had this happen to you?
A man that has to hold a woman down against her will to get a piece is violent! I was restrained and slapped. So because he didn't kill me it's not about power and control?
If you have a medical degree in this area....I would love to hear your thoughts and talk further,otherwise.............
It's been 12 years since it happened to me and I'm still furious!

[yavanna]

Its only been about 5 years since it happened to me. I'm so sorry for what happened to you, PoisonIvy. I feel your rage as well. I want to prevent it from ever happening, but I know I can't and its so frustrating.

I agree with both of you though, I think rape always is a voilent act but sometimes its about the sex, as I believe it was in my case. I'm sure that Chibi-fallon's comment was not meant to be mean or rude. Its just such a painful subject. I don't think these wounds ever heal.

I that I hope we can all work to find ways we can all help prevent rape and help those who are still dealing with the pain.

Yavanna

[Chibi-Fallon]

I agree with both of you though, I think rape always is a voilent act but sometimes its about the sex, as I believe it was in my case. I'm sure that Chibi-fallon's comment was not meant to be mean or rude. Its just such a painful subject. I don't think these wounds ever heal.


Exactly. People do violent things all the time, if that's all they wanted they would just do violent things.

And I really don't think there's anyway to "solve" rape. Just like there's no real way to solve any other kind of crime.


Although for many people a rape at 15 or 16 wasn't the start of anything. A lot of times there's prior abuse. That's what later makes them freeze and unable to run away or call for help.

[yavanna]

And I really don't think there's anyway to "solve" rape. Just like there's no real way to solve any other kind of crime.
.

I'm sorry but I don't agree. Maybe we can't stop it but does that mean we shouldn't try? If no one else wants to try with me, I'll still try by myself because I believe in change and if I help prevent even one rape it will be worth it. If you don't think its worth trying to stop rapes, why are you posting on this thread?

[tarotgirljess]

I read about an anti rape condom it works similar to a diaphram? a female wears it and if she is raped while wearing it the male will require surgery? let me see if i can find the link... ok here it is :
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9145415/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9145415/)

still unsure wether this will be a plausible solution. and not to mention the ways it can be mis used *shudder*
Jess

[AlAskendir]

Morwyn and many others have bravely brought the subject so easily swept under the rug in other corners of society; rape.

Rape, it affects us all. According to Ohio State University in the US alone, 1 out of every 3 women will be raped in her lifetime yet only 16% of rapes are actually reported to the police and only a fraction of these are prosecuted succesfully. What kind of message does this send; that is OK to rape? No, it is not, nor will it EVER be OK to rape. It is an offense against all society and all people of this world.

The time to stand by is over, so we must ask ourselves now, what can we do about it?

Folklore has already suggested a pagan rape charitiy. Having no experience with charities I don't know what this would entail. Is anyone out there involved with an existing charity who could advise or are there existing pagan rape funds we could become involved with.

I am already organizing a protest in my area to try and get the police and local officials to take us seriously.

I know the Vagina Monolouges do a charity on V-day every year and I want to become involved with it in the future, has anyone done V-day before? Could we put on a V-day for pagans and donate all proceeds to a womens shelter or charity?

I was raped, by my former boy friends fraternity, he brought me there like a sacrifice and drugged me and I felt to ashamed to report it. I am NOT ashamed any more, I am PISSED off, and I refuse to sit by and do nothing anymore. Who's with me?

Ideas Ideas? This is a problem we can truly make a difference in

Yavanna

I feel that it would be more effective to teach young pagans to invoke some Warrior Goddess to be in them while they study martial arts (or some kind of safe warrior training...SCA, Amtgard, etc) and while they use such skills to properly defend themselves.

A friend of mine (male) was studying the art of Kang Jo Fu, and his sensei was at the same time teaching a group of 30 women self-defense techniques. Near the end of the class, they asked him to give them graduation certificates. He anwered: "Why? If you know what I have taught, no piece of paper can add or take away from that, and if you don't, no piece of paper will make up for it.", But they insisted, and he yielded. On their graduation day, he had them line up in a row, held the thirty certificates in his left hand, went up to the first one and for-real punched her, and she fell down. He went up to the second girl, punch, fall down. Third girl, punch, block, "Here's your certificate, you passed."...Another 12 punch, falls. (!) 16th girl, punch, block, "Here's your certificate, you passed.", 19th girl, punch, block, "Here's your certificate, you passed." Out of 30 women, after 6 weeks of training, and even knowing exactly what was expected and required of them to pass, only 3 (10%) had the determination necessaryof themselves to defend themselves violently.

So this semi-cultural, crippling, anti-violence, anti-determination indoctrination is mainly what empowers those who would take violent advantage of women in our society....and the fact that the justice system is so whacked.

Many people will discuss how difficult it is to attack someone who is raping you when that person has control of your hands, etc.....but a sharp chin-blow to the larynx will crush it and the man will suffocate on the shards of his own voicebox. That will take a certain amount of skill, ability to think and act while in shock and under stress, and a determination to do violence. That determination is easily accessable thru invoking the Morrigan (for example), or Kali, or Pele.....and the list could go on and on.

The committment to spend the time instead of the money teaching women to invoke and be involved in some kind of warrior training is something different than the standard way that Americans are currently reacting to charities, and to my mind (but of course, i came up with it, so I'm biased) a more healthy way....

[AlAskendir]

Thanks for your question. Its really good that you knew enough to go to the police.

Re-read the post.....This person did NOT go to the police, and DID get real justice....which I *stands and gives a 10 mintue standing ovation* applaud!

Still, I'm sorry but I don't agree that a charity won't help.

I'm sure that a charity would do some good....but I think it would ultimately (by the Law of Resonance..remember? The means shape the end?) degrade those it purports to help. Those who receive charity usually end up thinking that they are 'charity cases', and this is exactly the opposite of what is needed to empower people to be mroe able to prevent their own rapes.......Most rapists, like most would-be taxi robbers, can 'feel' the readiness and skill to do violence in self-defense in a potential victim, and choose an 'easier' one.

If you were drugged and you know who it was, drug them back, and apply judicious amounts of draino and water to prevent further rapes by this erstwhile person.

Many rape charities support education programs warning of the possible situations in which rape is most likely to occur, ways to keep yourself safe etc..., pay for medical bills patients incur after being raped, support centers for rape victums.

We get right back to 'punch, block, you passed, punch, fall down, punch fall down'. All the training in the world will not help those who do not have the determination to do violence in their own defense and who do not have the forethought to analyze the situation they are in, choose a strategy that will work, and apply such a skill. That all takes practise, some kind of safe practise, and most mundanes are just not ready to hear the idea that if you are fully prepared for a rape, and completely committed to hurting and or killing in order to defend yourself, then it probably won't ever happen. This is magickal thinking, and a knowledge of the Law of Perversity (not meaning anything sexual by that, but the world's tendency to do things opposing what you are ready for).

[AlAskendir]

I'm sorry but I don't agree. Maybe we can't stop it but does that mean we shouldn't try? If no one else wants to try with me, I'll still try by myself because I believe in change and if I help prevent even one rape it will be worth it. If you don't think its worth trying to stop rapes, why are you posting on this thread?

Yes! Try!!! Find what works and go for it!! No-one is meant to be the carpet or the sex-object of anyone else, and if we aren't going to find a way to stop it, to prevent it, why go on living, trying, hoping, and getting walked on or raped?

I have expressed my idea of what woulde be best, I'm sure that there are others, and they need not compete, for not every solution is equally good for every person.

That being said, if something happened to you 12 years ago that you still think about and have emotional reactions to, every time you think about it you are literally re-membering it (as in, you are a set of experiences, each experience is a member of the set that defines who you are, when you re-member this experience, you let it define part of who you are), and re-raping yourself, unless you find a way to have a determined, positive OR active reaction to the memory, unless you find or create a defination which that memory invokes that is not anything that the perpetrator would have enjoyed - - - until you can do that, whatever it takes to do that, you are making yourself his victim again every day.

[AlAskendir]

I read about an anti rape condom it works similar to a diaphram? a female wears it and if she is raped while wearing it the male will require surgery? let me see if i can find the link... ok here it is :
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9145415/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9145415/)

still unsure wether this will be a plausible solution. and not to mention the ways it can be mis used *shudder*
Jess

Wow!!! What an excellent invention!! Misused? Really? (attempts to imagine)....usually I don't have a problem imagining things...hmmmm....weird....

[PropheticMonkey]

Its definitly a creative solution to be sure, but i dont think it attacks the heart of the problem. Having something to defend yourself with focuses on a seemeingly random attacker. But what about the slow and seductive sexual abuse that many women go through that they dont even see it as rape or any sort of coercion at all? This happens in abusive relationships with not only women but young children, male and female as well.

A condom is not going to help the young boys who are sexually abused by men every night. A little girl or a teen is not going to want to walk around in perpetual fear of being raped wearing one of those condoms. In my opinion, excluding mace and other defensive things like that, having something like that condom is simply not going to work in the long term. Having a good friend who was raped as a child by a family friend that something like that simply isnt going to work.

I think that the answer definitly has to come from education and citizen awareness. Right now, my school is teaching me that if I hear a girl scream to not get involved. Thats absolute bullshit. We have to teach our children that defending ourselves ISNT A BAD THING. It might sound stupid but thats the same kind of crap that is pouring out of the minds of politicians and forced through the mouths of teachers today in the modern world. Teens have to know what do to if they are abused, to have people that they can trust by example and not just the empry words of a principal or administrator. It is from there that the solution to rape is going to come from.

[tarotgirljess]

sorry when i was thinking of mis-uses i was thinking of some of the twisted females who would use one on a boyfriend as a revenge then cry rape. or No matter what saftey measures or laws there are someone somewhere will find a way to use it for there own means. not saying it's right but unfortunatly it does happen. other factors that this may effect would be if word of these gets out, what if the rapist is afraid as to wether a female is wearing one? would the cases of rape sodomy go up? I also feel that self defense classes would help, as well as training our youth that they are worth more than that. that every soul is precious and that they can say no. unfortunatly guilt is a powerful weapon as is fear. these are the weapons the women need to be protected against.

[Yvonne Belisle]

Frankly I know in high school an aquaintance of mine accused her boyfriend of rape using someone elses experience. In the court while his grandmother was having a heart attack in the courtroom she finally felt guilty enough to admit she was lying. Had his grandmother not had a heart attack she wouldn't have told the truth. She still felt no guilt over it. The best defense against rape is to avoid situations where it is likely to occur as much as possible. Sometimes you just have no choice but sometimes you can reduce the danger. If you have to go to your car late at night and are at a hospital or grocery store or mall ask security or someone from the store or buisness to walk you to your car. Look in the back seat before you open the door. If you know you walk across a dark desserted area carry a whistle and keys. Keep the keys between your fingers and be willing to take someones eyes out with them or punch them in the throat with them. Just how important is not being violated to you? For some people they would rather be violated that chance maiming or killing another. Me I will kill the person if possible before I ever go through that again. Who says you need mace or pepper spray. Do you have a pen? Keys? How about a metal nail file? These are all capable of being weapons. Do you have fingers? Take out the creeps eyes go for his throat. If he can't breath he can't chase you. Don't ever scream rape people won't call the cops scream FIRE as loud as you can they will call 911 then look. Don't be distracted when you are walking walk with purpose and know where you are going. Whenever possible go during the day and walk the route so you know where you will be going at night so you can walk it with confidence. Easy marks look nervous or distracted an allert person has less chance of being attacked. Always remember no one can fully prevent it 100% of the time and if it happens it wasn't your fault. You can pick up the pieces of your life and live on or you can let them have control by letting the fear, rage and hate control you.

[yavanna]

I think thus far we've gotten some awesome ideas on ways to prevent rape and ways to help its victums. Not everyone agrees on the best solutions, and thats OK because its clear that any solution will have to involve many approaches. So I want to thank everyone that posted with ideas, but this is just the first step.

Imagine if we all, every one of us, did one small thing to help? What if each of us sent energy or volunteered or sent money to a nonprofit, or even made sure the people we know are educated about rape and its varried causes, preventions and what to do if it happens? What a difference we all could make. Don't get lost in cynicsm, don't feel like you can't help because if we all work together we can do so much.

So I propose as we have many possible ways we can all help, we try to actually do some of them. I'm going to start another thread where people can post what they've done or plan to do, if they felt it helped and what they'd like to do next. We can really learn from and support eachother and I know we can really make a difference.

Possible solutions can still be discussed here, but I'd like to leave the next thread just for what people are -actually- doing if that's acceptable.

Blessings to all of you!
Yavanna

[Morwyn]

Re-read the post.....This person did NOT go to the police, and DID get real justice....which I *stands and gives a 10 mintue standing ovation* applaud!

Still, I'm sorry but I don't agree that a charity won't help.

I'm sure that a charity would do some good....but I think it would ultimately (by the Law of Resonance..remember? The means shape the end?) degrade those it purports to help. Those who receive charity usually end up thinking that they are 'charity cases', and this is exactly the opposite of what is needed to empower people to be mroe able to prevent their own rapes.......Most rapists, like most would-be taxi robbers, can 'feel' the readiness and skill to do violence in self-defense in a potential victim, and choose an 'easier' one.

If you were drugged and you know who it was, drug them back, and apply judicious amounts of draino and water to prevent further rapes by this erstwhile person.

Many rape charities support education programs warning of the possible situations in which rape is most likely to occur, ways to keep yourself safe etc..., pay for medical bills patients incur after being raped, support centers for rape victums.

We get right back to 'punch, block, you passed, punch, fall down, punch fall down'. All the training in the world will not help those who do not have the determination to do violence in their own defense and who do not have the forethought to analyze the situation they are in, choose a strategy that will work, and apply such a skill. That all takes practise, some kind of safe practise, and most mundanes are just not ready to hear the idea that if you are fully prepared for a rape, and completely committed to hurting and or killing in order to defend yourself, then it probably won't ever happen. This is magickal thinking, and a knowledge of the Law of Perversity (not meaning anything sexual by that, but the world's tendency to do things opposing what you are ready for).

I'm sorry I have to ask...what exactly is wrong with going to the police? That is exactly what I have done and I don't understand whats wrong with that.

[HPS_Mysta]

Morwyn and many others have bravely brought the subject so easily swept under the rug in other corners of society; rape.

Rape, it affects us all. According to Ohio State University in the US alone, 1 out of every 3 women will be raped in her lifetime yet only 16% of rapes are actually reported to the police and only a fraction of these are prosecuted succesfully. What kind of message does this send; that is OK to rape? No, it is not, nor will it EVER be OK to rape. It is an offense against all society and all people of this world.

The time to stand by is over, so we must ask ourselves now, what can we do about it?

Folklore has already suggested a pagan rape charitiy. Having no experience with charities I don't know what this would entail. Is anyone out there involved with an existing charity who could advise or are there existing pagan rape funds we could become involved with.

I am already organizing a protest in my area to try and get the police and local officials to take us seriously.

I know the Vagina Monolouges do a charity on V-day every year and I want to become involved with it in the future, has anyone done V-day before? Could we put on a V-day for pagans and donate all proceeds to a womens shelter or charity?

I was raped, by my former boy friends fraternity, he brought me there like a sacrifice and drugged me and I felt to ashamed to report it. I am NOT ashamed any more, I am PISSED off, and I refuse to sit by and do nothing anymore. Who's with me?

Ideas Ideas? This is a problem we can truly make a difference in

Yavanna

It's a nice thought but there are already plenty of charities out there for rape victems. Do start having one for just pagan rape victems is slightly rascist though. I am pagan so no one bite me, but why should there be a charity for rape victems on one religion. We are all women, all rape victems. Why then divide them up to pagan and non pagan?

[yavanna]

HPS_Mysta wrote:
"It's a nice thought but there are already plenty of charities out there for rape victems. Do start having one for just pagan rape victems is slightly rascist though. I am pagan so no one bite me, but why should there be a charity for rape victems on one religion. We are all women, all rape victems. Why then divide them up to pagan and non pagan?"

If you'd read the posts on this thread, you'll find that I'm not interested in beggining a charity myself or only supporting pagan non-profits, I just wanted to know if there were any existing pagan charities in the area and if they were known to do good work. I don't want to -only- help pagans and I -never- said that. In the VERY NEXT post I say that I personally am going to support RAAIN, a nonprofit having nothing to do with religion.

[yavanna]

I'm sorry I have to ask...what exactly is wrong with going to the police? That is exactly what I have done and I don't understand whats wrong with that.


I personally think going to the police is the best answer. I wish I would have.

[Morwyn]

Thank you Vavanna...I'm sorry if I came off a little easily offended :( The subject is still a very raw nerve for me and I apologize If I was rude. I just did what I felt I had to do.

[AlAskendir]

I'm sorry I have to ask...what exactly is wrong with going to the police? That is exactly what I have done and I don't understand whats wrong with that.

If you are satisfied with the results, then there is nothing whatsoever 'wrong' with it. Again, there are as many 'right' ways to do things as there are people to imagine them.

However, not everyone IS satisfied with their experience with the police, often feeling that the rapist raped them with his body and then the police raped them with paperwork, and then the justice system raped them with expectations and humiliation.

By all means, everyone should try EVERYTHING they can to become satisfied and allow the experience to make positive changes in them (if that is at all possible) and then fade away into the past.

[Darkwater Stone]

When are they going to be widely producing that condoms that snag rapists? I would totally support that.
Watch - they're gonna be really expensive....figures. Things that protect and help people are always the most pricey. They should be handed out like the health department hands out lifestyles.

[PropheticMonkey]

When are they going to be widely producing that condoms that snag rapists? I would totally support that.
Watch - they're gonna be really expensive....figures. Things that protect and help people are always the most pricey. They should be handed out like the health department hands out lifestyles.

Amen brother, amen

[yavanna]

Thank you Vavanna...I'm sorry if I came off a little easily offended :( The subject is still a very raw nerve for me and I apologize If I was rude. I just did what I felt I had to do.


No way, you didn't sound rude at all! I just wanted to let you know that i agreed with you.