I Felt Fire I Felt Cold - Like The Devil & The Lord Wanted My Soul

[redbrunja]

These last two days have given me emotional whip-lash. I feel like I need a nice long crying jag to feel okay again.

Some links from my flist and surfing the web:

Obama's speech in Cairo

Describing characters of color

Except from 'Men On Rape' (warning: there is an interview with a man at the end of this that is incredibly triggering.)

Also, I want to point out, because I don't think that this statistic is not talked about as often as it should be, 60 percent of women who fight back against attempted rapists are successful.

Also, flist? *hugs*

Comments

[hieronymousb.livejournal.com]

Glad to see you sharing that third article. I've been trying to spread it around.

[Edit] Yeah, I can see how that could be potentially very upsetting. I just really believe that article needs to be shared, for the insight it offers into the subject. That interview disturbed the hell out of me. It also made me, in some unfortunate way, realize what must go through a guy's mind who rapes, or considers rape. Really disturbing as hell, but eye-opening. I felt like I was seeing into another, darker world.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

It's really informative, if disturbing as hell.

And it is totally the kind of information that needs to be talked about.

[hieronymousb.livejournal.com]

Also, wow, it seems like you're taking this hard -- though I completely understand and sympathize. I get the same way when a significant deluge of bad rl/political and/or LGBT/women/race-phobic-fail hits. My personal suggestion would be to balance the rage/sadness over more serious woes with some sleep and a dose of your favourite + most enjoyable fannish things. I firmly believe a little harmless relaxation is needed to keep us all sane.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I am. It was the combination of awesome real word things and terrible read world things - I couldn't get desensitized to it at all.

And after I finish going through my inbox I'm going to post a couple of fun, fannish things to talk about, because yeah, times like this you need happy!shiny! things to stay sane.

[syl-luvs-silver.livejournal.com]

I was pretty sheltered before I friended you. And now I'm getting confronting updates about the world - left, right and center. I am still smarting from reading 'Men on Rape'. I love you for this. *hug*

And... I find that watching Susan Boyle's audition always gives me a little hope in the human race. Which I lose ten minutes later, but anyway. Phew, it's been a trying week. I'm going to plant myself in front of the TV and watch Love Actually.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Honestly, this is incredibly unusual for me. Normally it's all fandom and memes and smut.

But I'm glad you're enjoying the informations.

Personally, I love Love Actually.

[syl-luvs-silver.livejournal.com]

Oh, Love Actually. I think anyone with a heart can't not get touched by it. It never fails to get me teary eyed, especially where Emma Thompson finds out about her idiot husband's indiscretions. I didn't actually end up watching it last night, so I think I'll do so NOW.

Note: icon is being used not because I am ranting, but because it's from Love Actually. Just so you know.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wanted the Emma Thompson and the man who's wife had recently died to get together in the end.

And I recognized where that icon is from.

[syl-luvs-silver.livejournal.com]

They would've been so good together. They had this rapport, you know. And, and, and, the guy who was secretly in love with Keira Knightley? What a sweetie. :'(

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Exactly. They have EXCELLENT rapport and he would never have hurt her the way her husband did. Actually, I'd love to see his reaction to finding out about that whole situation.

[syl-luvs-silver.livejournal.com]

Agreed. IMHO, they should've cut out the bits with the porno people (not enough development there) and worked that in.

Yeah, I just remembered another part that touched me. Remember the heartbreaking scenes between Laura Linney and the Carl guy? Just... *sigh*

Oh, I could talk about that movie forever. Feel free to tell me to shut up anytime.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Oh, that would have been so awesome! And I agree. While the idea of them awkwardly having a first date after all that was cute, there really wasn't a lot of development.

Oh, don't stop on my account!

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

I ♥ Obama.

I've also been realizing that I need to make my writing more inclusive, and kind of stumbling about which descriptors to use that are respectful but also understandable.

And the third: ... Fuck, society, why. That interview is so disturbing, I don't even... ugh. I feel like I need a shower. But that is a very well-written essay and I'll be bookmarking it for future reference.

Everyone seems to have that response.

[digthenym.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links, I caught a recording of Obama's speech and I was definitely impressed and sort of in a gooey-starry-eyed state and it's strange but I still can't really accept that the same country that voted for Bush twice put someone as awesome as Obama in office <3 it's a good sort of surprise.

The second and third links were really thought-provoking, the third one especially because it called attention to all those little things you do without realizing you do them. It was kind of strange and Twilight-zone esque to have an outsider's perspective on internal, and often subconscious, thought processes.

"If there were no rape," said one woman, "I could dress the way I wanted and walk the way I wanted and not feel self-conscious about the responses of men. I could be friendly to people. I wouldn't have to wish I was ugly. I wouldn't have to make myself small when I got on the bus. I wouldn't have to respond to verbal abuse from men by remaining silent. I could respond in kind."

That quote really struck a chord, especially the bit about 'making yourself small'.

And the interview.../cringes.

Thanks again, I definitely feel like I've gained something by reading <3 :o)

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when I read his speech I could hear his voice in my head and it make me all gooey and happy inside.

"If there were no rape," said one woman, "I could dress the way I wanted and walk the way I wanted and not feel self-conscious about the responses of men. I could be friendly to people. I wouldn't have to wish I was ugly. I wouldn't have to make myself small when I got on the bus. I wouldn't have to respond to verbal abuse from men by remaining silent. I could respond in kind."

That quote really struck a chord, especially the bit about 'making yourself small'.


*nods* Agreed. To a certain extend I'm aware of all the things I do to stay safe, but it's certainly not all conscious. It's kinda horrifying to realize how our experience of the world is limited by the threat of rape.

[wicked-seraph.livejournal.com]

Thank you for these links - the first two helped boost my faith in humanity a few points.

... and the third took those away, and then some. Quite easily one of the most disturbing things I've read in a while, as well as one of the most insightful and informative. While it's interesting to read the interview and get into one's mind like that... fuck. It gives me the heebies (for lack of a better word at this moment) to think that, more likely than not, many, many men probably think that way as well. It makes me feel a little paranoid, to tell the truth.

*hugs*

So... um, I found some amazing cosplay that might help in the way of cheer... a little~? ♥

Naruto Cosplay (http://www.cosplay-ftw.com/naruto-cosplay.html)

Final Fantasy Cosplay (http://www.cosplay-ftw.com/final-fantasy-cosplay.html). I'm not quite so sure you're an FF nerd... but as an FF nerd myself (or not!) it worth admiring ♥

Soul Eater Cosplay (http://www.cosplay-ftw.com/soul-eater-cosplay.html), just for you. :D

edited for HTML fail.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Same. I kinda makes me want to wear unflattering clothes and then it makes me want to fucking scream at these guys for imposing that threat on me - fuckers, why can't you just take care of your sexual needs with your freaking hand?!?!?!

And those links help A LOT. *fangasm* That Soul Evans? I just about died. And those Naruto cosplayers were fabulous. And no, I'm not an FF fan.

[cynchick.livejournal.com]

Man. That interview just personified the truth that men are terrified of the power of women and femininity. Extremely disturbing.

If I were going to rape a girl, I wouldn't hurt her. I might restrain her, but I wouldn't hurt her....

That. Right there. Just...Wow. Its sickening that someones thinking could be so backward.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Man. That interview just personified the truth that men are terrified of the power of women and femininity. Extremely disturbing.

I know. It's sad and really fucked up.

That. Right there. Just...Wow. Its sickening that someones thinking could be so backward.

I know. I wanted to yell at him, 'do you honestly think holding some poor woman down and forcing bits of yourself inside her wouldn't hurt her?

[cynchick.livejournal.com]

not to mention that while bruises and cuts and tearing will heal...the emotional/psychological scarring will never go away.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Yep. I just - I shudder to think about how much that man DOES NOT understand what rape does to women. At all.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think you misread what I quoted. 60% of women who fight back get away (and women who fight end up having less psychological trauma over all). That is NOT 60% of the women who men attempt to rape fight and get away.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

*nods*

I'm personally very, very conscious of where I am and how late I'll be out for exactly that reason. Women are HUGELY constrained in what they can do simply base on their gender.

[okroginator.livejournal.com]

Oh, that last one made my head hurt so much. Ohhhhh god, what world are we growing up and living in. I graduate high school in six hours, and I'm afraid of the world already.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on graduating.

Carry mace.

[sowell.livejournal.com]

The "Men on Rape" article has some really upsetting things in it.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

No argument here.

[despairinbeauty.livejournal.com]

;_____;...

That last article really kills me (as in, makes me fearful and breaks my heart). Because of it, I keep wondering about how many things are wrong in this society in perspectives on relationships between men and women.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I don't even think it's possible to list them all.

[qualapec.livejournal.com]

Obama is the awesome. I love how he's reaching out to communities that were ostracized by...previous...presidencies. I'm also a big fan of his speech to the Muslim world. He heralded their culture, religion and history, but also said that women's and other human rights were important. What I got from it was that Islam and human rights are not mutually exclusive. Unlike Bush, I don't get the feeling that "all Muslims need to convert in order to embrace democracy and human rights". I don't get the imperialist/crusader vibe from Obama, and I adore him for it. Huzzah.

The last article...what I don't like about it is that it seems to say that's how MEN feel about rape. I think any male that's worth his weight in boxers DOESN'T feel that way, and I'd say that's a healthy portion. That ONE GUY they interviewed should probably go see a therapist.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Word to everything you said about Obama. I adore how he respects other cultures without backing down from his principles. It's amazing. And he's utterly an anti-imperialist, it's fantastic.

Well, it's an except from a book called 'men on rape'. I haven't read the whole thing, so I don't know how representative that one interview was. But yeah, he seemed likely fucked in the head to me.