News The Great Rape Debate

[Britt.f7]

Over the last few months we have had a few Representatives basically putting their foot in their mouths about rape and pregnancy. Once they put in a qualifier for their stance on abortion it stopped being about abortion and more about the view on rape. The more I hear of individuals doing this the more my blood pressure raises. None of these men are doctors, but these were their views on rape and pregnancy:

That a women's reproductive system shuts down during a "legitimate" rape, making it unable to conceive.

With the advance of medical science a pregnant mother is never in danger.

That it(the pregnancy) is something God intended to happen.

Personally, I do not have a problem with their view on abortion. This is America and they have a right to believe in what they want. What I do have a problem with is their qualifying remarks on rape and pregnancy. To me they are putting the blame and responsibility back on the rape victim or the mother who has life and death decisions to make.

I do not believe there is a "legitimate" rape. Obviously women can get pregnant during rape. Not all of these women consider it a blessing, but some believe that is the only good that came out of it. That's okay, either way, they have a choice with how they view it not the people who have not endured it. I don't think it is something God intended to happen because I happen to believe that God wouldn't have gave his stamp of approval for the rape. Then, having been a woman with many health complications, medical science is not that far advanced that it protects every woman.

Again, this is not about abortion or politics or God. Though I believe in God, I realize not everyone does. I would have a problem with any person spurting these untruths.

Just wondering how others feel. If this is bringing back any harmful memories, I am truly sorry. I'm just hoping we can discuss this in the safety of this forum.

 

[aka]

Yeah I agree these representatives could not pass biology 101. I found it highly offensive that when congress was debating birth control the house brought in a all male parade to testify. Like a bunch of priests and male doctors can really give advice to a purely female issue.Todd Akin's comment that a women's body can prevent becoming pregnant due to rape is like saying a horse can vomit if it wants to which is biologically impossible.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I am the product of a date rape and my mother hated me and blamed me for her miserable life. She went on to have three other children that she did not hate.

I find those comments made by men about rape highly offensive. I am sick and tired of hearing things like that. Foot in mouth is right. It never ceases to amaze me the vast ignorance of the people in charge. They are heartless and have no mercy. I do not believe a rape victim should have her baby if she cannot handle it. I could have been a abortion if we lived in todays standards. I do not know what I think about that.

But my childhood was hell. She made me so miserable and all I ever wanted was her love for me. But I reminded her of what she wanted to forget. I learned about this from my father. The rapist was my dad! Their parents forced them to get married. And they were all catholic. I am so screwed up.

I would not force my daughter to have a baby if she chose not to if she was raped. I do not believe in abortion for myself. I think it is a womans right to choose. I think those guys are full of crap. I hope they really hear it from the public and get voted out of office. Just my two cents.

 

[Hashi]

At least there's been a big backlash against the comments. People might hold those views, but it's no longer possible to say them and fully get away with it. That's a big step towards change. It means people have to start behaving differently too. Whatever their beliefs, they're forced to restrict how much they act on them. Even if that's just a little, it's something.

Some people of that generation may always believe nonsense like that, but the next generation are hearing it being challenged and denounced.

 

[saffy]

I find it hard to comprehend this is actually the thought process of a human.

If they say it is gods work, they have a very warped view on what gods work is. If they say a womans system shuts down they are very ignorant of anatomy and physiology. If they say having the baby is safe, they are right, giving birth is not the problem, the problem is the phsycological damage done.

These 'men' have no idea and cannot ever understand what a person goes through when made to have, what is supposed to be intimate, sex through violence and force. So these 'men' obviously are out of touch with humanity. Why oh Why have these people been put into the position to represent humanity?

Views like this should be laughed at then ignored and thrown in the trash. People who have these views should be too.

Grrr
Saffy

 

[Barberian]

Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be a man (in context of being the same sex as these small minded people who think they can speak for women and decisions that should be left to the woman).

 

[Britt.f7]

All of these men did some sort of back tracking, saying that people were taking it wrong, blah blah blah. I found one to be truly arrogant, because, though he apologized he then said he stood by what he said. That is not a real apology. That these men were ever elected in the first place makes me cringe. I hope they do not get re elected. What they say is damaging.

Gizmo, I am sorry for what happened to you. You deserved to be loved. Your parent's decisions were not your fault and you shouldn't have had to pay for it. Some mothers of rape can love their children, but there are those who are just not capable of it. They should either abort or give them up for adoption. I was not a product of rape, it was consensual sex, but I was a "surprise". I prefer to say that instead of accident. They too got married because of that. When my parents got divorced my grandma said the hardest part for my dad was leaving me. I looked a lot like my dad. I think that all worked against me. I got the brunt of the discipline. She definitely treated me different then my sister. From what I hear she chose to get pregnant with her.

Thanks to everyone for contributing to this. I felt it needed to be talked about like the Sandusky trial. It really bothered me that they would talk like this without having all the facts. That they were that close minded. I felt it was really demeaning to the women they were referring to. All the women who went through it and had to make difficult choices, like they were blaming them all over again.

 

[aka]

Yeah I agree that these "representatives"are ignorant and sometimes just down right stupid. I found it highly offensive that when congress was debating birth control the house brought in a all male parade to testify. Like a bunch of priests and male doctors can really give advice on a purely feminine issue.Todd Akin's comment that a women's body can prevent becoming pregnant due to rape is like saying a horse can vomit if it needs to which is impossible. My opinion on the "its god will" argument is that it maybe, but that does not give you the right to force your religious beliefs upon someone else. That person should be allowed to make their own decision without being harassed and intimidated by others.

 

[aka]

Woops forgot I already posted last night :whistling:

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I wonder if these ignorant males also believe that males can't be raped by females. I mean if a woman's body can prevent pregnancy because of rape, surely a man's body can prevent an erection when a woman forces herself on him. *rolls eyes*

 

[HëllaBubz]

SOL.....have to admit that when I read this thread, my first thought was of a few things which *might* *accidentally* occur to them.........and then you out and said it!

I guess now it's just time for those of us who believe in God to ask that the men never breed because the good Lord help us all if that opinion is passed on in public view.