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.

[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.

[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.

[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)

[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.

[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.

[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.

[sowell.livejournal.com]

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

[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.

[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.