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RSS FeedLet ‘Em Know: Rape’s Not Fun & It’s Not a Gift
Think these comments about “legitimate” rape and rape that “God intended” are a fluke? Think again. Gayle Sulik, whose excellent book Pink Ribbon Blues just came out in paperback, sent me the following, which went around on A Critical Sociological Discourse Listserv:
GIFT-FROM-GOD-RAPE
“When life begins with that horrible situation of rape, that is something that God intended to happen.” -Richard Mourdock (R), candidate for Senate in Indiana, on October 23, 2012
“The right approach is to accept this horribly created, in the sense of rape, but nevertheless…a gift of human life, and accept what God is giving to you.” -Rick Santorum (R), Senator and Presidential candidate, on January 20, 2012
“Richard and I, along with millions of Americans…believe that life is a gift from God.” -Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas voicing his support of Richard Mourdock’s statement about rape-induced abortions, on October 24, 2012
LEGITIMATE RAPE
“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” -Republican Congressman & Senate candidate Todd Akin of Missouri on August 20, 2012
HONEST RAPE
“If it’s an honest rape, that individual should go immediately to the emergency room, I would give them a shot of estrogen.” -Republican Congressman & Presidential candidate Ron Paul of Texas on February 3, 2012
EMERGENCY RAPE
“It was an issue about a Catholic church being forced to offer those pills if the person came in in an emergency rape.” -Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon of Connecticut (also confusing churches with hospitals) on October 15, 2012
EASY RAPE
“If you go down that road, some girls, they rape so easy.” -Republican State Representative Roger Rivard of Wisconsin, on December 21, 2011 and endorsed by VP Candidate Paul Ryan on August 9, 2012
FORCIBLE RAPE
Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Paul Ryan, Todd “legitimate rape” Akin and 214 other Republicans co-sponsored the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act”, which would prohibit federal funding of abortions except in instances of “an act of forcible rape or, if a minor, an act of incest.” -H.R. 3, 112th Congress, January 20, 2011
ENJOYABLE RAPE
“If it’s inevitable, just relax and enjoy it.” -Republican Gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams of Texas on March 25, 1990
Me, I’m with the legendary Lesley Gore:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M_hcioeOyk
I don’t understand how any politician thinks he can score political points by being dismissive of rape.
Wow, Peggy, I’m glad I sent you that list. Fantastic commentary by Leslie Gore. Recorded in 1964??? It’s astounding. This shall be my new theme song.
Gayle Sulik
As usual, Gayle, your contribution is invaluable.
Excellent piece, Peggy. Someone created a chart (similar to the post 9-11 terror threat levels) that illustrates all of these ‘definitions’ and is making the rounds on Facebook. What is equally appalling is that candidates that want our votes refuse to take a clear stand on the issue or (heaven forbid) denounce these morons and throw them out of the party (as Joe Scarborough, a vocal and pro-life Republican) suggested just this morning: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/joe-scarborough-mourdock-gop-candidates-are-driving-away-swing-voters/
As a rape and incest survivor, I cannot even begin to describe how physically ill this makes me. Not to mention enraged, horrified and scared.
And these politicians are worried about sharia law?
The news pointed out that 31 states give the rapist PATERNAL RIGHTS. That means if you carry the baby to term this monster will be in your life FOREVER. If these people get elected we might as well go back to being property rather than people. Isn’t that what “traditional” marriage was anyway. Then rape won’t be an issue at all.
I am horrified by this article. It just goes to show that rape is not taken seriously in our society and how uneducated the US population is about it. I personally have actually seen a young girl in front of my high school saying loudly that she wants to get raped and I was the only one to say something to her. We all need to work together to help create a society that treats the issue of rape with the seriousness it deserves.
No means no. Maybe means no. Too drunk means no. Underage means no. No in the middle… still counts as no.
The only things that means yes, is yes. How the hell is this an issue?
Thank you Peggy for posting this. We need more feminist voices and I’m with you all the way. I live in Indiana and am vigilant about waking women up to who they are voting for and the long-term consequences of certain politicians in office. I’m connecting this post to my Feminist Friday post at http://www.clstambush.com. Thanks again Peggy.
[...] been a spate of male politicians espousing views that should enrage every human within earshot, and Peggy Orenstein has put some up on her site. If politicians will so thoughtlessly express views condemning entire [...]
Well, they are simply STUPID. For me, those quotes shows they don’t understand what the are talking about.
As a believing Christian, I cannot understand why some people can say that a rape is a “gift from God”. Violence is AGAINST God’s law (from a religious point of view, of course).
Though, for me, crime is no excuse for another crime. So, it is obivious raper cannot have prental laws. I am against abortion – I think it is enough harmful for women, and I think babies (even the smallest) are the same human beings as grown ups.