When I last mentioned the idea of utilizing rape as a weapon amongst what I admitted, privately, were generally naive people during a recent wargame I participated on ‘irregular threats’, people became uneasy. Our group’s moderator had asked us to think of divergent ways that we would foment unrest in a malevolent manner, and this was the first thought that popped into my head. To avoid further exposition, I impressed upon my group’s participants that they should consider the effect that rape could take in fomenting either ethnic or other unrest, but they were too focused on utilizing a dirty bomb or other typical theoretical fluff that people suggest when they want to make themselves seem important (trust me, they really wanted to seem important!). They definitely looked at me askance, to some extent ostracizing me intellectually, and I felt awkward but, nonetheless, I was surprised by their lack of understanding.
Looking back at those people, and the similar type that allow rape to occur without address, it is very disappointing that the people around us don’t consider the effect that rape has on its victims. Yes, I’ve turned my eye to infractions and I have always chosen when to act. I’m definitely no saint, but why isn’t the rest of the world up in arms about how women are so victimized (just look at what occurs in Libya and Bangladesh, for instance)? It is so sad, but nobody seems to react. Really, what does it take for our country to react?
In the end, who is the monster – me or those who allow rape to go unaddressed? Amongst my peers, the answer was quite evident…
