Hamas War

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Yes, Rape

It's very rare for me to say this. This article is one I had thought of writing, and Sarah Honig did it even better. She described Disengagement as rape, gang rape.

You should see the TV people salivating on the screen. For this is an event, the destruction of Jewish settlement, Jewish communities, religious communities. They were hoping for violence, a civil war, and they seem very disappointed.

The cameras were allowed to accompany the soldiers bringing the eviction notices, reality TV reaching new heights, and the innocent people being thrown out of their home aren't being paid for the privilege of their pain being broadcast worldwide. Reality shows generally pay well to exhibit people losing their dignity. Oh, that's the rub. There was no loss of dignity, except for soldiers crying as they "obeyed orders."

Terrible headlines and repeated showings of what the media considered a disgrace, when families including young children left their homes with orange stars pinned to their clothes and their hands in the air in the pose of a famous Holocaust photo.

And the media considers it "damaging to children" for them to be crying and shouting at the soldiers: "Take off your sunglasses and look me in the eyes, when you force me out of my home. Look me in the eye; take off those things!" "You should have nightmares from this!" "What will you tell your children?" and similar things.

Honestly, I think that these kids may have an easier time. If ever there was justification in saying that "repression is bad," this is it. The families walking out of their homes in silent dignity may have much worse problems. Trying to be nice, holding in the anger, are known personality causes of cancer and other health problems.

It's known that it's healthier to fight back. In many law systems, a woman isn't considered raped, unless she can prove that she fought back.

So it's davka those whose dignity wasn't silent who are disturbing the public the most. All those "public psychologists and media experts," who are busy claiming that the disturbing scenes of the children reacting in anger at being thrown out of their homes are damaging, are wrong. These are the proof that at least some of the population fought back, tried to defend themselves, though without violence.

Those who shouted were not passive victims. They won't be plagued by the guilt: "If only I had at least said something."

As usual, at least so far, everyone seems to be condemning those parents, but I think that the parents were right. When you are in pain, you can and should cry out. Those who didn't may need extra emotional help, just because of their silence.

2 comments:

Luboš Motl said...

I mostly agree with your description. And yes, silence can be emotionally hurting afterwards.

See http://motls.blogspot.com/2005/08/disengagement-is-mistake.html for what may be considered a balanced viewpoint.

Batya said...

Thanks,
afternwards I spoke to our local doctor who agreed with me for medical reasons. Holding in these feelings are bad for one's health.