When I first began writing my novella, Vengeance Is Mine, I tried to put my female characters into the worst possible situation I could think of. And the situation was bad, women trapped into a Christian cult where the men ruled with iron fists. They had no rights, no hopes, no dreams of ever escaping the men that ruled over them. I never dreamed of a world as bad as the world I had created. At least not until lately.
What I've seen since before last November's elections is a group of angry (mostly white and rich) men declare War on Women. I am so ashamed of the legislature of my home state of Arkansas passing laws that are not only unconstitutional, but making women once again chattel subservient to their demands.
I see a Federal Congress where the Republican majority thinks it's just fine to hit a woman - all because the Violence Against Women Act included Native American Women as well as Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered people. 138 Republicans, including all from my home state, voted against this - effectively saying, Beat Your Women - It's okay by us.
While I have tried to stay out of Politics, I feel I can no longer do so. Any form of Rape is a REAL RAPE. Abortion is a constitutional right and women should not feel like second class citizens - EVER. Let's be real folks, abortions are going to happen, no matter how much you try to legislate them away. Let's not send women back to the dark ages of back alley abortions - where safe and sanitary were not usually the norm. We have the right to live our lives, safely and peacefully, just like any man.
If we continue on this path that these so-called "Christian" lawmakers are laying out - I can see the situation in Vengeance Is Mine becoming a reality for many women. What I don't get, and just can't understand, is how there are so many "Christians" who do not follow the words of Christ. If they did, none of this would be happening.
We would have no poverty, no homelessness, no hunger. We wouldn't have returning service men and women living without treatment and losing their homes. We wouldn't have an elderly population terrified that their benefits (NOT entitlements, since most of have paid into Social Security and Medicare since the day they began working) are going to be lessened or taken away. No child in this country would go to bed hungry at night or be alone while Mom works two jobs to try and make ends meet. And if she needed food stamps or other help to make ends meet, we wouldn't classify her a low-life living on the public dole.
What we would have is a country where everyone (including corporations, since they want to be classified as 'people') paid their fair share in taxes . No one would get 'rich' by being a politician and playing class-warfare games against women or any one else the Right-Wing Christian politicians feel are beneath them.
I'm all for making the United States of America a better place for all of us. But what is happening is we are allowing a few to dictate to the rest what is good. And they are wrong.
Vengeance Is Mine is quickly becoming a reality. And I'm scared.
And before you ask, NO, I've never had an abortion. I would have never chosen that option for myself no matter how hard things got. That thought never played in my psyche - ever. But, that said, it's not my place to decide for other women what is right for them in their situation. Never. But, I'm old enough to remember when they were illegal and that didn't help anyone.
And just a mild reality check, in 2012 a report was released by the Children's Defense Fund that showed of over 3400 children in the Arkansas Foster system, only 595 were adopted in 2011. So don't give me the line about parents waiting to adopt. Yes, they are out there, but they only want healthy, pretty, little, white infants. The rest they could not care less about.
http://www.childrensdefense.org/child-research-data-publications/data/state-data-repository/cits/2012/2012-arkansas-children-in-the-states.pdf
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I share you fears, Kat. I know that isn't a comforting thing to hear but your fears are well founded. The only thing which gives me hope is that these crazies are emboldened enough, or more likely enough, frightened enough to be blatantly open. Their prejudices and ignorance quite visible for all to see on display. In other words, they've come out into the open and hopefully the electorate will finish them off in the years to come. They are desperate and that's why the push to ram through as much extreme legislation as possible as quickly as possible and circumventing democracy in every case they can. The damage they are doing is extreme but hopefully it will be the end of them. They are loud and ruthless - but they are in the minority. Its the good new and the bad news. They are dangerous, but few in number.
ReplyDeleteEd,
DeleteSure hope you're right...because I see a lot of people out there cheering them on. :(
Why else the sudden voter suppression laws, gerrymandering of districts, and other frantic attempts to undermine democracy. They know they are a dying breed. Just remember a wounded animal is dangerous and vote in all elections. Local school boards, city council etc....these fruit cases get in any door and they try to storm the building.
ReplyDeleteSo true Ed. I guess my biggest question is why are people ignorant enough to elect them? Especially women. (Did I just answer my own question, there?) Is it simply ignorance or is it something more?
DeleteIgnorance plays its role, for sure. Ignorance is a great tool if one is inclined to exploit fear to gain power. Or to keep it. I'm glad you spoke up about it, BTW. I don't see your post as political.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ed. I figured it became political when I mentioned the Republicans. Maybe not, I don't know. I do know I don't want the world that Vengeance is set in, not do I want a world similar to Atwoods The Handmaid's Tale. Not for me, not for my kids, not for future generations.
DeleteYet, like I said, it seems that's where we heading - unless people wake up to what is happening.
Good thoughts, Kat. I've tweeted it. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Billie :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent, Kat. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lori :)
DeleteIgnorance is the biggie. After all, what do you remember from high school civics class?
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Timely, relevant, and needed.
R.M.M.
Actually, I remember quite a bit from high school civics. Unfortunately, for many people, they've either forgotten or no longer care. So yes, I agree, ignorance is the biggie.
DeleteThanks for your comments.