Comments on: Rape is a Feminist Issue

By: steve

steve — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:19:35 +0000

why don’t you write about the female teacher who had sexual relations with a student under 15 and claimed it was love and is not charged the same as a man would. start a petition that treats rapists the same, then maybe the law would be fare except that only women get raped, its just that men are seen as worse than women in this situation which is unfair.

By: Angela Rose

Angela Rose — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:33:42 +0000

PROMOTING AWARENESS, VICTIM EMPOWERMENT (PAVE) CHALLENGES CELEBRITIES SUPPORT OF ROMAN POLANSKI

Nationwide Rallies on October 10, 2009
http://www.RAPEISRAPE.com

WHAT: On Saturday, October 10 at 7pm, rallies will be held in front of movie theatres across the country and abroad in response to the startling media and Hollywood support of Roman Polanski, the film director convicted of sexual assault and fleeing the country. These powerful demonstrations happening on October 10 are part of a global campaign, Rape IS Rape. PAVE is seeking support from all moviegoers to join in helping shatter the silence of sexual violence. People in cities across North America will gather signatures at movie theatres for a petition that supports survivors and a call to action to hold perpetrators accountable.
Visit: http://www.RapeIsRape.com

WHY: According to the US Department of Justice, every two minutes someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Sexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes, with 60% still being left unreported. The outcry of support for a sexual assault perpetrator is a strong message we are sending out to victims across the country that they will be forever silenced and blamed for these atrocious acts.

WHO: This collaborative effort is being orchestrated by the nonprofit PAVE: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, who was responsible for the 2007 nationwide “Call it RAPE Protest” that was held in over 40 cities and covered on CNN, TIME, and NBC’s Today Show. PAVE uses education and action to shatter the silence of sexual violence with targeted social, educational and legislative tactics. PAVE initiatives have been implemented in over 55 cities and in 3 countries. http://www.PavingTheWay.net

By: Constance

Constance — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:20:26 +0000

Thank you for putting your opinions out there for discussion. I know that women are deeply affected by rape, as well as men and boys. What concerns me is the multi-billion dollar porn industry and how people are objectified in our society. And, participation is the key, how do we each participate in denying our humanity?

By: Tammy

Tammy — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:03:18 +0000

Read the article below. The author is dead right regarding the “casting couch”.

http://moderateleft.com/?p=5775

By: Tammy

Tammy — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:49:06 +0000

At first I thought it might be a woman who had some personal experience in Washington she was trying to share with us. But Mr. Mega is clearly a right wing operative being paid to post on various “liberal” sites.

By: Rhea

Rhea — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:50:18 +0000

Thank you for taking on this issue. Every woman is affected by rape whether or not she is ever the victim of the crime. It’s an epidemic that has to stop!!

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:51:30 +0000

Don’t feel bad, Melissa! I’m sure many of us have read every post on this site even if we don’t comment very frequently. I, for one, usually only comment when I think it will add to a conversation, and keep my “Hell yeah!”s or “Good to know!”s in my head. It’s all still very much appreciated!

By: Thomai in L.A. (it rhymes)

Thomai in L.A. (it rhymes) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:32:37 +0000

gosh- lost of typos in that comment, but I hope you get the gist anyway.

By: Thomai in L.A. (it rhymes)

Thomai in L.A. (it rhymes) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:31:16 +0000

To the conservative who believes in “parity”, Bruce Nahin,
most feminists did not support Palin because, regardless of her gender, genitalia, the fact that she is a mother, sister and wife,
she is an idiot and a danger to our freedom of choice (among too many other things to list).

We’re more intelligent than that scheme. Good luck and may you grow in your understanding of feminism. May your “feminism” include not forcing any woman to be 2nd class to any fetus. May you understand that if you were to personally attempt to make me go to term with a pregnancy didn’t choose, I would attack with ultimate force.

I’m glad your against rape/sexual assault, but, you don’t have to reference your sisters, nieces, etc. Men and boys are raped DAILY as well.

By: Thomai in L.A. (it rhymes)

Thomai in L.A. (it rhymes) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:36:46 +0000

Keep on keepin on woman!

and this right here, “I believe that we need to see more women’s visions in film because it will expose us to a vast amount of important stories that are missing and will improve the cultural dialgoue.”

is gold.

thank you.

By: Helen Hill

Helen Hill — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:23:23 +0000

Mr. Mega,

You are right. I started to read your post, but stopped as it became more and more incoherent.

The more you write, the less cogent the argument, and the more revealing of the amount of rationalizations and hyperbole you employ.

Try again. And stay on topic.

By: megapotamus

megapotamus — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:06:03 +0000

Real good job at not reading a damn thing. Pathetic. I didn’t realize this was a childrens’ site.

By: Roman Polanski, Hollywood liberals, and the casting couch « Dating Jesus

Roman Polanski, Hollywood liberals, and the casting couch « Dating Jesus — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:08:50 +0000

[...] here by Melissa Silverstein at Women & [...]

By: Helen Hill

Helen Hill — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:47:41 +0000

Yes, Mr. Mega, you are a turd in the punchbowl.
Whether emotional or not, which I take as a compliment, rape is evil.

You cannot excuse it away but pointing fingers at others. That is a dishonest sleight of hand. It is not even an honest intellectual argument.

It is simply dishonest.

Quit being a turd. The only reason you are is to excuse your own conduct.

By: megapotamus

megapotamus — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:36:17 +0000

Helen Hill, thank you for that response. It is emotional, that is cool. It is an emotional issue. I don’t think I have to go to Whoopi-esque lengths here. No, I am in no way trying to excuse or justify Polanski, quite the reverse. It is certainly fine and dandy that you are unclear on the Clinton events though you brook that as no excuse for anyone on the Polanski side. I don’t say it is wrong to indict Polanski. Like most folks here I consider it essential, crucial, just and WAY overdue. But the original point, of course, to the Silence is Deafening post is that metaphysically important question… where are the feminists, so called, on this and why is this even an issue? Where does this hesitance come from? Why are these people saying these apparently mad things? Well, much of what is needed here is sadly a history lesson. Recent history certainly but if the proprietrix here and the commentors are truly amazed and baffled, I offer a simple explanation. The Polanski Defense is the Clinton Defense replayed. Those who were in knickers will not remember that and that is good, actually. I am glad your parents or simple luck spared you the 20/20 interview where a tearful Juanita Broderick relates how Bill Clinton invited himself into her hotel room at a state health conference, knocked her down and held her down by biting her lip while he raped her. You might have heard a mysterious turn of phrase, “Better put some ice on that.” and not know where it came from. According to Broderick that is what Clinton said to her as he left her, bleeding and weeping and expected to work as a lobbyist for the rest of the conference. Anyone shocked at the treatment of Polanski is ignorant of Clinton. Aren’t the “leaders” Melissa seeks all old enough to be on record in the Clinton years? Yes. Even if they want to indict Polanski these professional PR mavens know that the internets were invented before the Clinton admin and the record goes back forever. Verbatim. That is presuming of course that they DO NOT adhere to the arguments of the Polanski/Clinton defense; it was a long time ago, she really wanted it… we all know the drill. Believe it or not, Ms Hill, my purpose here is as a concerned friend. Sound funny? Maybe you could better call it a public service from this once-married, no kids fella with a current girlfriend of three years. I have never had any sort of aconsensual sex with another human and I have never struck a woman ever but was assaulted by my ex-wife on several occassions. I’m 44, laid off from my job as a researcher for a big firm in March and come from New Jersey where my father was a bigamist, contractor and unskilled gambler in that order. Did you think I was afraid to reveal myself? What was that all about, anyhow? You may check the name Kenneth Watson on the ssx offender registry if you like.

Anyhow, it is distressing to see my fellow citizens and, on the Polanski matter, my brothers in (rhetorical) arms so bewildered. A question was asked, basically, What’s up with that? Does being a great artiste trump being a rapist? Well, for some folks we know it does. This is not mysterious for the above stated reasons. We saw it all on CNN ten years ago. Or those of us who could drink and vote back then did. Your generation was the beneficiary, like Clinton, of a mass public aversion to the details of Clinton’s actions old and new. Children were largely and properly shielded from that but you folks are all grown up now and trying to make sense of a chaotic world. In the postings here we see a cry for a moral foundation and some consistency. I agree, wholeheartedly. I am not attacking anyone here and I don’t think you will be able to find such an instance but quote me if you like and I will stand behind, explain or apologize for those statements on the merits. All I ask is that you hold your so-called leaders to the same standard. Go a-googling and see what the evidence is to these attacks and how it was received by NOW, Susan Estrich, Smeals… oh, and Hillary Clinton as well. Her response to these unfortunate “Bimbo Eruptions” is truly disgusting. This is a dark, dark chapter in the nation’s history and friends it is not all written yet. Why? Because these same people, the authors of the Polanski Defense are still out there and, surprise! doing the same thing. “It wasn’t rape-rape.” is a clone of Clinton’s claim that Lewinsky fellating him was not “sex”. This kind of obscurantism is poison. It allows the talking away of monstrosities as demonstrated by Polanski. We MUST know what the meaning of “is” is. We must know what the meanig of “rape” is. And if you ask “why” about anything important you had better be prepared for an answer that makes you uncomfortable because if it wasn’t, you wouldn’t have to ask. Thank you all for your time, I know I am the turd in the punchbowl at this party.

By: GC Burton

GC Burton — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:42:59 +0000

You are a daily inspiration. You keep focused, on track, and encourage the rest of us to be better people, more active, and more thoughtful. Thank you.

By: GC Burton

GC Burton — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:41:22 +0000

You are a daily inspiration. You keeping focused, on track, and encourage the rest of us to be better people, more active, and more thoughtful. Thank you.

By: Annie

Annie — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:47:37 +0000

Way to go, Melissa!

I know one of the directors who signed the petition, and considering his views on everything else, I was shocked to hear he signed it.

This issue is 100% black and white. We don’t give other criminals a pass because they had a tough life (just ask a few prisoners how much they’ve “gone through”). We don’t give other criminals a break because they make great art. And we don’t give other criminals a break just because “it happened a long time ago” (unless the statute of limitations has run out, of course).

TO PORTIA:

I think you misunderstood Melissa’s comments on Sarah Palin. She wasn’t taking swipes at her; she was just using her as an example of someone she would not vote for just because she’s a woman. She didn’t say anything negative about her, just that she wouldn’t vote for her. So relax.

By: Ilse

Ilse — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:48:15 +0000

You go, girl!!
Hère in France, it’s the same. People with children, like Monicca Belucci still protect Polanski. Fortunately, we’ve got others reacting against it like Luc Besson

But, yet again, most so-called famous people want Polanski to run free so they will finally feel assured that their celebrity-status will keep them safe from being sentenced for past and future misbehavior and/or crimes. Caving for the petition will create a whole new perception on sexual assault and will allow the existance of a new, latent caste system in proceution.

Let’s go back 500 years where, for a similar crime, aristocrats paid fines and common people suffered corporal punishement.

By: TA

TA — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:35:01 +0000

Thank you for your posts. It is very refreshing to read this from a feminist perspective, particularly in Hollywood. I still cannot fathom how so many in the Hollywood community can defend someone like this. In any other setting, he would have been extradited over three decades ago from Europe, carted back to the US, and send off to jail. Why aren’t we asking of the artistic community, where were you for the past three decades in working with and defending someone who by his own admission raped a 13 year old? How can anyone with a child, especially a daughter, be so nonchalant about what he has done? Sad. Just sad.