Rape Is An "Occupational Hazard" In The Military
By C.T. Aretz, 8th Jul 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutReviewsFilm & TVDocumentary
Rape is a serious matter but, what if you were raped and you reported it, however, when you reported it you were told to suck it up. You were told that you shouldn't have been there in the first place and it was your fault. What would you do if you weren't taken seriously? "The Invisible War" is a movie about people being overlooked by choice -- it's a documentary that reveals the absence of justice for the ones who protect and serve America.
"The Invisible War"
You're in your barracks getting ready to go to bed, a bunch of men walk into your room without you noticing. You feel a fierce blow to the back of your head -- knocking you to the floor. When the blur leaves your eyes and the pain starts to throb -- your warm blood is saturating the hair connected to your lacerated scalp -- that's when you felt the knees pinning your arms and head to the ground. You feel your pants and undershorts being pulled to your ankles, and shortly after you feel the hard flesh of a fellow soldier penetrating you from behind. You try not to scream out, but, the pain! A sock is jammed into your mouth -- "For the love of God who's doing this?! What have I done to deserve this abuse!?" -- Your voice screams loudly in your mind while your weeping grunts of pain is muffled by an article of clothing made for feet. They take turns raping you, raping you so bad that you have to stay lying on the dirty, blood, and fecal matter spilled floor for a while before you could even think about getting up.
"The pain! oh the pain is horrible!"
Your motivation and/or initiative has been tainted: You've been sexually assaulted by your comrades but, you've heard of this horror before and you know the drill. You can't report it. You'll be called a "butt buddy", scorned by your fellow soldiers as a man-whore, and shunned because you tattled on the guys in your particular company, but, who? You didn't even see what they looked like.
"Suck it up, I must suck it up!" You pull yourself together, clean yourself up, and try to live with it. The scars run deep though, who do you talk too? Who will listen?
Welcome to the approximately 1% of males who have been sexually assaulted in the military, and because there are far more men than women, there are more individuals raped in that 1% than the 20% of women that have reported being sexually assaulted, just like you.
Name calling isn't even the problem in trying to report a rape in the military: apparently, the problem is, the people who these crimes are reported too (commanding officers) either sweep it under the rug -- accusing the victims of bringing these crimes upon themselves -- or they are the assailants (the ones who committed the said crimes).
Picture Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/21/12304042-documentary-film-the-invisible-war-takes-on-military-sexual-assault-epidemic?lite
See The Movie
"The Invisible War" is a documentary that tells the story of women (men weren't shown taking action) that are trying to get justice for the crimes that have been committed against them. Unlike civilians, people in the military have given up their rights and belong to the job they volunteered for. They belong to the government -- they are property, and rape on the U.S military's record is considered an occupational hazard. This is an emotional, powerful, and riveting movie that will bring tears to your eyes and rage to your heart. These life changing accounts of rape against these men and women; the way it effected them and their families everyday life hurt me to witness on the silver screen. But, I pray that these victims get the justice they are fighting for. And I think everyone should see this movie because it exposes the hypocrisy within the military. The military is there to protect and to serve, these soldiers are enlisted to protect and serve the United States of America, and this same military turns their back on the ones making sacrifices for their country -- keeping their safety from crimes such as sexual assault to a minimum. Why? So the U.S. Armed Forces won't lose face.
This is an important movie... I give it -- 4 Stars!
Comments
8th Jul 2012 (#)
I can so relate and this is one thing that really makes me mad, the injustice being had to any individual. When we lived in Guam I was molested by a neighbor and the husband of my babysitter, that babysat me and my brother while Mama worked. Dad was busy, as Guam was a busy place during the early 70's, VN was still happening. Well, I never told anyone and then one day a MP came to our home and it was a woman, she interviewed my sister and I about this man, after a few, I broke down and told the women. Come to find out, I was not the first nor the last one he molested. We all went to court, I remember being so young and scared. Also we never talked to a attorney so when I was on the stand I was confused by it all. Well needless to say they let him walk and before they said he was free, we had to listen to a speech how a man that rank and that many years in the AF would not do that. Funny thing though, he was honorably discharged and he and his family were sent back to El Salvador the very next day. Nothing in the papers, it was just dropped. Decades later a friend of mine that also lived in Guam during this time got a hold of me and he informed me that this monsters kids and wife finally left him and are now living in the US. I am glad they got away, as he would beat his wife and kids regularly and in the worst way you could imagine. The bottom line is... the USAF did this to save face, just disgusting I tell you. Nice review. Thank you for sharing.:)
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8th Jul 2012 (#)
Thank you so much for reading and sharing Dennis. That sucks that that happened to you. Hopefully karma caught up to that monster.
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8th Jul 2012 (#)
It did, as goes life. When I get back to working (after my grandson leaves) Wednesday, I will tweet this, it needs to be shared. I have just taken a few months off from wikinut, as we must prioritize and also, my camera was misplaced so there goes half my work equipment. I would also like to say that I have the up most respect for those that serve. The men and women I have come across in my life time are above and beyond the best people we have on this planet. It is the few that ruin it for all. My dad did 23 year stint USAF and I live next door to one of the biggest but also, one of the top Army posts we have in this country, Ft. Benning. I have been around Ft. Benning since the late 70's. Well my grandson is here and of course, he gets my attention. Have a wonderful day.:)
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8th Jul 2012 (#)
I'm glad that you have love in you heart still, and it appears that you have the tools to get over that struggle one day at a time. I'm glad that that SOB got what he deserved by his wife leaving with their children. And El Salvador is NO joke. He probably fits in perfectly (rough place). Anyway have a great time with your grandson and I hope to see you around soon. Thank you again... :-)
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9th Jul 2012 (#)
That's why every two months interval they should be allowed to go home to stay with their wives.
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9th Jul 2012 (#)
That is definitely a good idea, Mr. Karim.
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10th Jul 2012 (#)
Words fail me. Thank you for so bravely sharing your ordeal with the rest of the world. People need to know that there is another dark side to Gung Ho.
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10th Jul 2012 (#)
I agree with you Tranquil, these things should be exposed.
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12th Jul 2012 (#)
oh dear me!! it seems so terrible that this happens...thanks for your bravery in sharing this. send it to Huffington Post and let the world know what is going on....
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12th Jul 2012 (#)
Well now, this never happened to me cnwriter but, it has happened to soldiers in the armed forces. The statistics are scary. I wanted people to feel what these people made me feel when I was watching the documentary -- empathy, compassion, and sad, with the want to find a way to help. Whether that be bringing it to other people attention, or writing a letter to the people that can make a difference (congress).
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