I’m sorry. I could have used one of Kevin Tipple’s reviews today, but I’m not. I spent most of yesterday watching “I Am Jane Doe” reels and videos. I don’t know when I’ve been so angry, and for so long. Actually, we should just remain angry. This behavior by Cornell, the police, the DA, shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s always a slap on the hand. It took a female governor and a female Attorney General to finally speak up.
I answered one question yesterday on the Internet. Were you told to yell “fire” instead of calling for help or yelling rape? I don’t know that I was “told” that, but I knew it. I can tell you the story that always stuck with me, although facts were exaggerated in the news story itself. I was only seven, but I remember the Kitty Genovese story, the one that put me on notice that it’s better to call “Fire” than to call for help. Yes, that isn’t the same as the Cornell 7 (or Cornell 57) case, but it was the story that stuck with me. Does it really matter that The New York Times had the story wrong? No, because the question wasn’t about the news story. It was about whether or not I was told to call “Fire!”.
The subject really is anger. While time and again, it’s been said, oh the man’s life will be ruined. What about the woman who endured seven hours of rape and trauma? Why is it always, oh the poor man? And, let’s find out what the victim’s name is so we can attack her.
I’m angry. I know my mother and sisters won’t think this sounds like me. I’ve watched countless videos. I’ve downloaded two very angry songs. If you’re really angry, you should hear Lilith Max’ “Salem Witch” or her song “Bears & Wolves”. Oh, women get it when she says she’d always choose the bear. She’d always choose the wolves. Then there’s Iluka’s “Wings”. I do like the comment I saw somewhere saying what would the world be like if we had burned rapists instead of witches.
They’re calling it feminist rage. I’d rather call it being empathetic and human.
