Personhood Amendments

[BoMac]

Originally Posted by MrsSpringsteen

“Ethel Waters, for example, was the result of a forcible rape,” Huckabee said of the late American gospel singer. One-time presidential candidate Huckabee added: “I used to work for James Robison back in the 1970s, he leads a large Christian organization. He, himself, was the result of a forcible rape.


“My mother was a practical nurse and was raped by the alcoholic son of the elderly man she cared for,” Robison said. “It was a forced -- I don't think we would call it violent -- but he forced his affections on her, and at age 40 she conceived me.”

I really hate people sometimes. All rape is horrible, no matter how you try to phrase it. By qualifying it with "forcible", you're trying to somehow create varying degrees of rape, which is downright wrong.

[Moonlit_Angel]

Thank you for sharing that, MrsS. That is beautiful .

[MrsSpringsteen]

from CDC.gov-don't know why they only have that stat going back to 1996

Sexual Violence: Consequences

Sexual violence can have harmful and lasting consequences for victims, families, and communities. The following list describes some of them.


Physical

More than 32,000 pregnancies result from rape every year (Holmes et al., 1996)


Some long-term consequences include (Jewkes, Sen, Garcia-Moreno, 2002):
Chronic pelvic pain
Premenstrual syndrome
Gastrointestinal disorders
Gynecological and pregnancy complications
Migraines and other frequent headaches
Back pain
Facial pain
Disability that prevents work

Victims of sexual violence face both immediate and chronic psychological consequences (Felitti et al., 1998; Yuan, Koss, Stone 2006).

Immediate psychological consequences include:

Shock
Denial
Fear
Confusion
Anxiety
Withdrawal
Guilt
Nervousness
Distrust of others
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
Emotional detachment
Sleep disturbances
Flashbacks
Mental replay of assault

Chronic psychological consequences include:

Depression
Attempted or completed suicide
Alienation
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms

Social

Sexual violence also has social impacts on its victims, such as (Clements at al., 2004; Golding, Wilsnack, Cooper, 2002):

Strained relationships with the victim's family, friends, and intimate partners
Less emotional support from friends and family
Less frequent contact with friends and relatives
Lower likelihood of marriage


Health Behaviors

Some researchers view the following health behaviors as both consequences of sexual violence and factors that increase a person's vulnerability to being victimized again in the future (Brener et al., 1999; Lang et al., 2003).

Engaging in high-risk sexual behavior including:
Unprotected sex
Early sexual initiation
Choosing unhealthy sexual partners
Having multiple sex partners
Trading sex for food, money, or other items
Using harmful substances
Smoking cigarettes
Drinking alcohol
Drinking alcohol and driving
Taking drugs
Unhealthy diet-related behaviors
Fasting
Vomiting
Abusing diet pills
Overeating

(Basile et al., 2006; Champion et al., 2004; Jewkes, Sen, Garcia-Moreno, 2002; Raj, Silverman, Amaro, 2000)

[Pearl]

The Republican Party is once again set to enshrine into its official platform support for "a human life amendment" to the Constitution that would outlaw abortion without making explicit exemptions for rape or incest, according to draft language of the platform obtained exclusively by CNN late Monday.
"Faithful to the 'self-evident' truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed," the draft platform declares. "We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children."

TRENDING: First on CNN: GOP prepares tough anti-abortion platform – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs

I truly do not understand how anyone, especially a woman, could still be willing to vote Republican for as long as this issue is on the GOP to-do list. It smacks of complete ignorance that borders on dehumanizing women.

P.S. - thanks Mrs S., for posting the effects of rape. Anyone who reads that and still thinks a woman should not, and cannot be allowed, end her pregnancy as a result of rape seriously lacks compassion.

[anitram]

Originally Posted by MrsSpringsteen

from CDC.gov-don't know why they only have that stat going back to 1996


More than 32,000 pregnancies result from rape every year (Holmes et al., 1996)

Keep in mind that this only refers to confirmed pregnancies and doesn't include the women who report the rape and take the morning after pill to prevent pregnancy.

Astounding that in this day and age we are even having this discussion. The man is a complete troglodyte.

[BVS]

Originally Posted by Pearl

seriously lacks compassion.

Unfortunately, I have found this to be a prerequisite to be a Republican as of late. I find their platform stances in 2012 to be absolutely abhorrent when it comes to healthcare and social issues.

[Pearl]

Originally Posted by BVS

Unfortunately, I have found this to be a prerequisite to be a Republican as of late. I find their platform stances in 2012 to be absolutely abhorrent when it comes to healthcare and social issues.

Not only that, I also think some people believe so firmly in their political beliefs that they can't see its flaws. Like their party can do no wrong. Its very dangerous in a democracy for some people to have blind faith in their affiliated party.

[BVS]

Originally Posted by Pearl

Not only that, I also think some people believe so firmly in their political beliefs that they can't see its flaws. Like their party can do no wrong. Its very dangerous in a democracy for some people to have blind faith in their affiliated party.

Absolutely, personally I'm always weary when people associate themselves with labels. I normally don't trust people who call themselves Republicans, Democrats, or Libertarians. I may vote this way, but I am not this party.

I feel the same way about denominations too, but that's a whole other issue.

[BEAL]

Why do I have a feeling that we're going to be discussing different forms of rape soon within the media and talking heads?

[Diemen]

Originally Posted by Pearl

Wow, Akin is a true coward:

Todd Akin Piers Morgan Interview Fail: Embattled Senate Candidate Bails On CNN Host

Way to elevate the discussion, Piers.

[KhanadaRhodes]

Originally Posted by Liesje

Yesterday Phil (husband) and I were talking about something and he said something like, "I guess if Romney wins, things probably won't change for us anyway..." and I said, "Maybe not for YOU but they might for me...."

exactly! i'm not knocking phil at all since i think he's a nice guy and all, but i've heard other people make similar comments. they're all guys.

Originally Posted by BoMac

I really hate people sometimes. All rape is horrible, no matter how you try to phrase it. By qualifying it with "forcible", you're trying to somehow create varying degrees of rape, which is downright wrong.

exactly. there's non-forcible rape?

"hey girl can i rape you?"
"uhhh no i don't think so"
"aww come on, please?"
"well....okay"

no. all rape involves a man forcing himself on a woman. if we've got to put labels on "kinds" of rape then fine, there's violent and non-violent, but even that i think is a bit ridiculous. no matter whether the woman was passed out drunk or some jerk broke into her home and beat her into submission, she's traumatised. to make it out to be some sort of contest or something as to what's bad rape or good rape or something is unnecessary. whatever happened to just saying rape is wrong no matter what?

[Diemen]

I love when the Onion tackles current events:
Pregnant Woman Relieved To Learn Her Rape Was Illegitimate | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

And in related news:
Republicans Condemn Akin's Comments As Blemish On Party's Otherwise Spotless Women's Rights Record

[BEAL]

Originally Posted by KhanadaRhodes

exactly! i'm not knocking phil at all since i think he's a nice guy and all, but i've heard other people make similar comments. they're all guys.


exactly. there's non-forcible rape?

"hey girl can i rape you?"
"uhhh no i don't think so"
"aww come on, please?"
"well....okay"

no. all rape involves a man forcing himself on a woman. if we've got to put labels on "kinds" of rape then fine, there's violent and non-violent, but even that i think is a bit ridiculous. no matter whether the woman was passed out drunk or some jerk broke into her home and beat her into submission, she's traumatised. to make it out to be some sort of contest or something as to what's bad rape or good rape or something is unnecessary. whatever happened to just saying rape is wrong no matter what?

I think someone might consider statutory (is that the right word??) rape a non forcible rape situation. A 17 year old male has sex with his 15 year old girlfriend while parents are downstairs. Parents find out....

I agree though, rape is rape. Regardless of it being extremely violent or if the gal is drugged.

[corianderstem]

Originally Posted by Diemen

Way to elevate the discussion, Piers.

Yeah, that was my reaction, too. Oooh, you're so bold, sitting there with the camera pointed at his empty chair! One of the TVs at the gym last night was on CNN, so that's the only reason I saw it.

I can't stand that guy.

Another TV was tuned to MSNBC (not a channel I watch often, to be honest; I'd even say I see more of Fox News than I do of MSNBC, but ANYWAY), and on Rachel Maddow's show, she was demonstrating how public figures have had many appalling things to say about rape over the years. So gross.

[Pearl]

Originally Posted by Diemen

Way to elevate the discussion, Piers.

Even so, for Akin to leave an empty chair like that was cowardly to me.

[anitram]

Originally Posted by KhanadaRhodes

no. all rape involves a man forcing himself on a woman. if we've got to put labels on "kinds" of rape then fine, there's violent and non-violent, but even that i think is a bit ridiculous. no matter whether the woman was passed out drunk or some jerk broke into her home and beat her into submission, she's traumatised. to make it out to be some sort of contest or something as to what's bad rape or good rape or something is unnecessary. whatever happened to just saying rape is wrong no matter what?

I know! So if somebody rufies you at a bar and then rapes you that's somehow a less bad rape because they didn't also beat the shit out of you at the same time? Then again if you were at the bar, obv you were dressed provocatively and deserved it according to some of these enlightened individuals.

[deep]

this is something to watch

Todd Akin reaffirms decision to stay in - won't pull out


time is running out, Akin says his entry is legitimate

if he does not pull out the GOP will have to take extreme measures to abort him

[deep]

Originally Posted by Pearl

Even so, for Akin to leave an empty chair like that was cowardly to me.

not his fault, an assistant was supposed to remove the chair

[corianderstem]

Rep. Steve King: I’ve Never Heard Of A Girl Getting Pregnant From Statutory Rape Or Incest | TPM2012

Sigh.

Yes, so apparently he meant "I don't know anyone PERSONALLY this has happened to."

Well, then I'm so glad he decided to make a statement about it.

Please alert the media: I've never heard of a man raping a woman.




.... oh sorry, I meant I didn't PERSONALLY know any men who raped women. Jeez, get the context right!

[Danny Boy]

Originally Posted by deep

Todd Akin reaffirms decision to stay in - won't pull out.

Probably a poor choice of words there.