http://thecurvature.com/2007/07/29/native-american-rape-victims-go-ignored-by-authorities/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:47:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://thecurvature.com/2007/07/29/native-american-rape-victims-go-ignored-by-authorities/#comment-955 dew Mon, 30 Jul 2007 02:17:03 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/2007/07/29/native-american-rape-victims-go-ignored-by-authorities/#comment-955 I lived on non-pueblo land inside a pueblo for a year and a half, and if anything, we had the opposite problem, which is that the BIA cops would stop people looking even remotely suspicious, so that you could end up spending half an hour getting your plates run just because you decided to turn around in the parking lot of a closed business or stood around talking too long on pueblo land. But, other than the BIA cops (which maybe would not be the organization responding to a rape report), it really was a very long wait. One day, our neighbor's house burned down, and I swear I spent 5 minutes just trying to get the person who answered the phone to understand my directions. And then it took so long for the fire fighters to arrive that we were in fear of our own property catching fire! I lived on non-pueblo land inside a pueblo for a year and a half, and if anything, we had the opposite problem, which is that the BIA cops would stop people looking even remotely suspicious, so that you could end up spending half an hour getting your plates run just because you decided to turn around in the parking lot of a closed business or stood around talking too long on pueblo land. But, other than the BIA cops (which maybe would not be the organization responding to a rape report), it really was a very long wait. One day, our neighbor’s house burned down, and I swear I spent 5 minutes just trying to get the person who answered the phone to understand my directions. And then it took so long for the fire fighters to arrive that we were in fear of our own property catching fire!

]]> http://thecurvature.com/2007/07/29/native-american-rape-victims-go-ignored-by-authorities/#comment-954 Jolie Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:54:39 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/2007/07/29/native-american-rape-victims-go-ignored-by-authorities/#comment-954 I heard this article on NPR in its entirety. I was struck by the story of one victim who stated she never reported her rape knowing that no one would ever help her. She went on to say that in her work as a bartender she has heard men bragging and describing the rapes they have committed against other women similar to what happened to herself. She stated simply with little affect, "I don't ever say anything." I often wonder when I attend church or sit on volunteer committees, how it is that so many Americans cannot understand that there is nothing safe, secure or civilized about this society. Below the very thinnest of veneers lies the hell of every nightmare right beside us. This victimized woman is a paradigm of women everywhere in our society. Because we are "Well Behaved Women" we too do not speak out against violence. We fail to recognize that it is so easy for any us to be raped or killed or brutalized. I don't understand what comfort we derive from ignoring the costs of this countries economic/class structure that leaves so many so desperate, emotionally stunted and brutal. Please be awake, be aware, violence is not only happening on that tribal land. Its everywhere in this society. I heard this article on NPR in its entirety. I was struck by the story of one victim who stated she never reported her rape knowing that no one would ever help her. She went on to say that in her work as a bartender she has heard men bragging and describing the rapes they have committed against other women similar to what happened to herself. She stated simply with little affect, “I don’t ever say anything.” I often wonder when I attend church or sit on volunteer committees, how it is that so many Americans cannot understand that there is nothing safe, secure or civilized about this society. Below the very thinnest of veneers lies the hell of every nightmare right beside us. This victimized woman is a paradigm of women everywhere in our society. Because we are “Well Behaved Women” we too do not speak out against violence. We fail to recognize that it is so easy for any us to be raped or killed or brutalized. I don’t understand what comfort we derive from ignoring the costs of this countries economic/class structure that leaves so many so desperate, emotionally stunted and brutal. Please be awake, be aware, violence is not only happening on that tribal land. Its everywhere in this society.

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