June 25, 2004

• it seems that, with regards to the oldest profession, the more things change, the more they stay the same. the scale may be different but the rejection and need that sends women to such is universal.
• Thanks for the link, rodgerd. These are some sobering stories that certainly put my insignifigant worries into perspective.
• I feel blessed that I have been born in a society where the worst I have to fear from my closest male relatives is second-hand smoke. I feel incredibly frustrated that I cannot personally visit bodily harm on men who abuse their female relatives (or any woman for that matter) with impunity.
• That was rough. Kind of puts things in perspective.
• Some people really need to instill the fear of getting-castrated-while-you-sleep into cultures abusive to women.
• I have visited bodily harm on a few men who have abused women. It may not have changed how they think or act in the long run, but I felt better. The women who were abused were thankful that someone stepped in. Serious injury to the women involved was averted by my actions. No one should take a beating IMO. Not men, women, or children. I don't advocate violence, but self-defense is self defense. I think, in the middle east, the belief in male relatives rights/control over female relatives is ingrained from birth and accepted practice by most people who live there. I see how infinitely sad that is, because when someone has control over another the risk for abuse is high. Bear in mind, this is just what my understanding of the situation. On the other hand the culture in America, I believe is quite different. Most women in the US are not taught that men are above and better than women. We are taught to think for ourselves and not be under the control of men. I am very glad I am an American, even though our current government officials embarrass me to no end. I could not live the life of a middle-eastern woman.
• What Alnedra said. I always try to keep in mind the old, true wisdom that you should be careful not to sink to your enemy's level, but when I come across stuff like this I just want to call for an ol'-fashioned beatdown.
• Those stories are hard to read, and make me sad and angry when I read them. Good post, rodgerd.
• the worst I have to fear from my closest male relatives is second-hand smoke. Unfortunately, that's not always true for many women and children in our "civilized" countries. There may be legal sanctions, but first the perps have to be discovered. But yes, I agree, I am thankful, and lucky, to have been born here and now. I'd google for statistics on US violence against women, but after reading this post, I'm too disgusted. Evil does exist.
• Evil does exist. You're right there. But if I do get hit by my male relatives, and I get up the courage to go to the police about it, society won't lash out at me for 'betraying' my family, or think that I deserved to get beaten. I think, to me, the most frightening aspect of this is not the beatings themselves, but the fact that the social opinion is that women can and should be beaten or even killed, because somehow we are wanton and evil by nature. Minor grouse: The second girl wasn't even a hooker! Just a poor girl who was in love with someone she thought loved her.
• I don't understand why middle-eastern men are so angry. Granted, the only stories I hear of are the horrible ones (no doubt perpetuated in the USA to convince us we need to invade), and I am sure there are plenty of men there that are kind and loving. Still, it seems like they are an extra-special kind of sadistically enraged. People are sick and stupid. /misanthrope