http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/07/opinion/speier-military-rape/index.html? iref=allsearch
A sad case of life imitating art...
And it weighs on me
As heavy as stone and a bone chilling cold...
-Dave Matthews Band
When I was in basic training, two of the males in my platoon molested every single female in my platoon. When we told the drill sergeants, they had the entire company do several hours of PT while the aggressors were made to watch.
The drill sergeants were trying to get them confess through peer pressure. The only thing that ended up happening was the company peer pressured the females into keeping quiet about it as the assaults continued.
It's the reason I left the military. The coverups of rapes and the disregard towards assault victims made me sick and definitely disenchanted me of these "heroes." I've since come to reconcile the fact that soldiers are humans. Some are good yes, but some are downright evil.
...Don't look now, but I think the monotremes are out to get me...
I was raped in the Marine Corps six weeks after I arrived at my first duty station. You would not believe the amount of corruption and cover-up scandals I witnessed after I reported it to the MPs and my chain-of-command. My chain-of-command did not want to believe that it happened, especially among one of their "good Marines" who they felt would never do such a thing. Since I was not allowed to transfer to another duty station, I was left among his friends and peers who called me horrible names and said I got a "good Marine in trouble." I was the bad guy but yet he was the "good ole boy" and "peaceful person" who wouldn't hurt anyone. I guess they never saw this *beep* drunk.
The military court was a joke, NCIS doing the investigation did a terrible job, and my commanding officer, who is just like the Colonel from the movie tried to sweep it all under the rug. When I cried foul, I was condemned.
This movie holds so much truth and it remains very heartbreaking that many victims are denied justice.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." -Gandalf the Grey
I am so sorry to hear that.
As someone trying to join the armed forces (the USAF, to be exact), it shames me to hear what someone of else, who are sworn to defend this country, do to our mothers, sisters and daughters.
I like that recently, this has been coming out in the open so change can arrive sooner than later.
How are things on the West Coast?
I hear you're movin' real fine
-Interpol
Thank you Yorick. And I wish you the best of luck in the Air Force. Since this has come to light more than it was 10 years ago, it is handled a bit better than it was. I continue to advocate against such atrocities through the media and since I continue to blow the whistle, little by little, it's being taken care of. But just remember this: when you join, no one is your friend. Pick and choose your friends wisely. Never let your guard down, especially among drunk men. My assailant was drunk, but acted like my friend because we are both from Texas.
So just be careful. Please. Good luck to you.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." -Gandalf the Grey