by Natalie OConnell

Created on: September 09, 2009

To be perfectly honest, I'm angry right now. I just read the debate on the topic "are some victims of rape irresponsible?" I read the yes side and it just infuriates me. There is no other way to put it. I can't believe that anyone can write that someone who is RAPED is irresponsible! It just astonishes me that people can be so blind.

If you want to talk about irresponsibility go to the monsters who would do such a thing to a man or woman. Where is their sense of responsibility? They take away their victim's freedom of choice and right to feel safe and be safe. Is that responsible?

Yeah, maybe he/she shouldn't have walked down the dimly lit back alley or meet a stranger for drinks or however it came about but that doesn't make them responsible for being raped by a monster. Bad decisions do not equal rape.

"There are no victims, only volunteers." How can a woman/man possibly "volunteer" to be raped? Rape is defined as intercourse forced upon someone. How can someone be forced AND volunteering? Just because they are making a bad decision automatically makes them a volunteer? So when I walk down the street late at night, I become a volunteer for rape? It's ridiculous.

Bad decisions are made by people every day. That doesn't mean they should suffer for it or be judged as a volunteer of rape. They ARE a V-I-C-T-I-M. Victim is defined as "one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment ." Does that not describe a person who was raped? They are mistreated in one of the most brutal ways. They don't get a say in what their raper is doing to them! Saying NO doesn't do the trick. They are FORCED, beaten and left there like garbage! How is that volunteering?

Yes people should be very careful. Don't walk by yourself at night, no alleys, and don't meet a stranger for drinks by yourself. Yes, be aware. But a bad decision like that doesn't make people volunteers and it sure doesn't mean that they should suffer horribly for a mistake. No one should have to go through something so horrible, so unbelievably life shattering. No one should ever have their choice taken away from them. No one EVER, no matter what the circumstances, asks to be raped. No one deserves that. No one.

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