From PoliticusUSA: http://www.politicususa.com/steubenville-rape-war-on-women.html
By: Rmuse
Jan. 9th, 2013
In a nation as large and diverse as America, it is difficult to encapsulate society in one snapshot, although there are some broad generalizations that could be made about the nature of what it means to be American. There is, though, a particular aspect of American society that stands out as noteworthy and remains a blemish on the national character that remains unchanged over the past century, and became an overriding issue in the 112th Congress. The horrendous events surrounding the vicious assault and dehumanizing treatment of a 16-year old girl in Steubenville Ohio have shocked decent human beings around the world, but Americans should not be the least bit surprised because the patriarchal mindset of the rapists, and their supporters, are a microcosm of conservative Christians and their legislative arm – the Republican Party.
Americans joined citizens of other countries who were outraged after a young Indian woman died from her injuries after being gang-raped and beaten on a bus in New Delhi by six men, and despite the opinion that “it could never happen in America,” a young woman was gang-raped in a similar situation by well-respected football stars. The only difference was the 16-year old in Ohio was not beaten to death, but she was brutalized and certainly the victim of violence at the hands of a group of young men. The violence against the young woman, and yes, rape is the worst act of violence possible against a woman, is beyond the pale, but the response and support the savages guilty of the crime are receiving is typical given the recent attacks on all American women at the hands of Republicans.
Whether it is the hideous legitimate rape, rape by medical instrument popular among pro-life Republicans, or the House’s failure to pass the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), there is a mindset in this nation that protects men who violate women. It is no wonder the rapists are flummoxed by the outrage from decent Americans at the severity of their crime, or that supporters in the Steubenville community are attempting to portray the rapists as victims. It is what a patriarchal society does when men victimize women with impunity and tacit approval of so-called Christian conservatives, and why America’s society is no better than any male-dominated tribal society.
Continue reading at: http://www.politicususa.com/steubenville-rape-war-on-women.html
