There are more difficult scenarios, though. If the attack is slow or stealthy or devious or indirect — say through persistent administration of poison, or if it involves a more powerful person destroying the reputation of a less powerful person and using influence to prevent the less powerful person from getting work and surviving — the social acceptability of fighting for one’s own life is reduced considerably. Direct action against the more powerful is always disreputable and scorned, even in cases of self defense. Here one’s response is supposed to be as slow and stealthy and devious and indirect as the attack — and this rule automatically favors the more powerful party, who has the resources and social contacts to enable and conceal indirection. The attacked person in this scenario is expected to call in third parties, such as the police — but these third parties are generally part of the institutional structure that favors the powerful over the regular joe or jane. (Hence the popularity of outsiders like private detectives and superheroes in stories about righting wrongs.)

Rape is an indirect attack on one’s life. It is performed by a stronger individual against one not strong enough to physically fend off that individual. And precisely for that reason, the achievement of rape is always seen as a a victory for the attacker. If lip service is paid to the deplorable nature of rape, the discourse immediately shifts to some variant of “but this wasn’t really rape.” The underlying emotional assumption is simply that might makes right. And you can see this in the contrary possibility as well: should the assumed weaker party beat off the attacker successfully, the physical winner is seen as the dominant party and is supported as the victor, often with much praise. This is a basic animal pecking order instinct at work, plain and simple.

In civilized societies — meaning societies built around cities and large populations who have to get along with each other — we have successfully socialized a general repugnance toward fast or direct attempts at murder. But slower or less direct attacks have escaped this sanction. It’s time to fix that.

I further agree that women’s rights are ignored for either political and/or financial reasons or because of ignorance and prejudice. The only way to fight corrupt politicians is by raising enough voices that they cannot deny the will of the people. Of course, in this hectic life, and with the overload of information, getting people to band together and expend effort for any cause is difficult. I will raise my voice to my elected “representatives”, but how many will join me?

In 2012 . Paula Bennett . Minister of Social Development .
“The Government is considering forcibly removing new-born babies from mothers convicted of child abuse. The announcement came while Social Development Minister Paula Bennett was defending comments she made in an interview about sterilisation.
Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Removal-at-birth-or-sterilise-mothers/tabid/1607/articleID/256899/Default.aspx#ixzz28Y7s0Ijz
New Zealand has come a long way . By going backwards .

I’m not actually American, but I’m married into a pretty conservative family in Kansas that always votes Republican. Interestingly enough, those who don’t mostly seem to have moved abroad or have definite plans to do so as soon as possible. They are actually really nice people, but when we visit my sisters-in-law in Europe there’s always the conversation about the American side of the family using the same kind of language as you would use if a close family member had joined a cult. I’m pretty sure Broun’s strategy would actually work with them – if you claim to be an outspoken Christian loudly enough, you will get support from certain churches. I’m sure some are seeing through it, but I don’t see any evidence from family Facebook updates.

Somewhat topically, the UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt shared his personal opinion yesterday that he would like to see the abortion limit halved to 12 weeks. He does seem to have more nuanced Christian views in general and denies that this is religiously motivated, but the issue of religion in government seems quite important there too.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19854465

As somebody from outside the US, I just cannot believe that there are still people in this day and age who actually out loud, in public, and in writing, say that they believe in a young earth. Yes, I know you have lots of those… but…

Although I would write it hatetheists… people who worship and spread the word of hate.

Do you have any links to similar sites with more info?

The troll is now buried out back beneath the Boing Boing garden.

Huh, I always thought it was a cornfield. 

Lizz, why do you want to make Todd Akin’s smelly, little cock so red, white and blue?  Oh, the humanity…