Willkommen!

In Modern Western Civ today, we got a double-whammy of WTF. First, Professor Morris mentioned to us that in the early nineties, he did research on the properties of orgasm. Um, AUGH, AUGH, AUGH, AUGH, AUGH, AUGH. Only Mel really understands why this is so horrific, but you must trust me: IT IS. And, as Mel put it, the worst part about it is that it's really not that surprising. And then your brain goes and PICTURES it and AUGH, AUGH, AUGH, AUGH.

And then he was all, "Weimer Berlin is well-dramatized in a film called Cabaret, which I'm going to show some of to you today..." Cabaret. Cabaret. So we got to watch the opening number of the original Cabaret movie.

P.S. Joel Grey wants your soul.

(no subject)

I waited and looked for online confirmation of this story. A news article or something. I found it.

I'm reposting what jet_loves_juu said in her journal.

The three Orange County men who gang-raped an unconscious girl and videotaped the atrocity have each been sentenced to 6 years in prison. With credit for good behavior and time already served, they’ll probably only spend another 18 to 24 months in jail. It’s a sign of the times that this is generally seen as a good result, since there was widespread expectation that the judge might sentence them to probation only.

Let’s review what the men did to the girl:

The men filmed themselves repeatedly shoving a pool cue, Snapple bottle, lit cigarette and apple juice can into the girl’s vagina and rectum. At several points during the video, they laughed and noted that the girl was unconscious. At another point, they felt her abdomen to gauge how far the pool cue had penetrated.

Six years? Jesus Fucking Christ with a pool cue. How about life imprisonment?

This entire case has been one insult after another to the victim, whom the defense attorneys have variously accused of being a slut (of course), of faking unconsciousness, of agreeing to the video-taped gang-rape so she could be a porn star, and of enjoying the use of sex toys (lit cigarettes?). In one cross-examination, the defense attorney actually asked the victim if she liked to swallow.

The sentencing hearing was yet another charade, as the gang-rapists got up to “apologize” to the victim. Here’s what Greg Haidl, the lead rapist and videographer, had to say:

“It was never my intention to hurt you and cause you pain. I can’t take back any negative feelings and emotions, and I’m sorry for that also.”

So apparently Greg just didn’t realize that being impaled on a pool cue might hurt. He had no idea that a lit cigarette in the vagina or anus might cause pain, not to mention permanent scarring. Poor Greg. He just didn’t know.

And in case you’re wondering if there’s any ambiguity about what’s on the tape, here’s what the jury foreman said about it:

“The tape proved they were guilty. If you show that video on the news, everybody’s view would be that these guys should hang. People would go crazy. You know what I mean? It was primal. It looked like savages having their way with a piece of meat.”

Six years.
__________________________________________________

A lot has been said about how to prevent rape.
Women should learn self-defense. Women should lock themselves in their houses after dark. Women shouldn't have long hair and women shouldn't wear short skirts. Women shouldn't leave drinks unattended. They shouldn't dare to get drunk at all.

Instead of that bullshit, how about:

If a woman is drunk, don't rape her.
If a woman is walking alone at night, don't rape her.
If a women is drugged and unconscious, don't rape her.
If a woman is wearing a short skirt, don't rape her.
If a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don't rape her.
If a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you're still hung up on, don't rape her.
If a woman is asleep in her bed, don't rape her.
If a woman is asleep in your bed, don't rape her.
If a woman is doing her laundry, don't rape her.
If a woman is in a coma, don't rape her.
If a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don't rape her.
If a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don't rape her.

If a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don't rape her.
If your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don't rape her.
If your step-daughter is watching tv, don't rape her.
If you break into a house and find a woman there, don't rape her.
If your friend thinks it's okay to rape someone, tell him it's not, and that he's not your friend.

If your "friend" tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.
If your frat-brother or another guy at the party tells you there's an unconscious woman upstairs and it's your turn, don't rape her, call the police and tell the guy he's a rapist.

Tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it's not okay to rape someone.

Don't tell your women friends how to be safe and avoid rape.
Don't imply that she could have avoided it if she'd only done/not done x.
Don't imply that it's in any way her fault.
Don't let silence imply agreement when someone tells you he "got some" with the drunk girl.
Don't perpetuate a culture that tells you that you have no control over or responsibility for your actions. You can, too, help yourself.

If you agree, repost it. It's that important.