It’s Not About The Clothes-It’s About Power And Perception

One of the myths of rape is that the victim was asking for it. She was probably wearing an outfit that was revealing and maybe she was also a little drunk.

Unfortunately, this disgusting myth has become ingrained in our overall culture. It’s an excuse that allows the rapists to get away with their crimes and blame the victims.

A woman could be wearing almost anything and be raped. She could be wearing anything from a nuns habit or a burka to the tiniest of bikinis and that wouldn’t mean damn thing to the rapist.

In short, it’s not about what she is wearing or not wearing-its about perception and power. The perception is that women are second class citizens and there to be a sex object for a man whenever he feels in the mood for sex. The power comes from the perception and his view that he is better than his victim.

Earlier in the year, as the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke, designer Donna Karan defended Weinstein and blamed the victims. Respected actress Angela Lansbury made a similar statement the end of November. Both women have since rescinded their statements.

Make no mistake, there have been amazing strides in both the feminist movement and recognizing the true nature of rape and sexual assault. But for every step taken toward true equality, there are men and women (which gets my goat like few things can) who blame the victims instead of blaming the perpetrators and making it clear rape/sexual assault are wrong and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 

 

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Thoughts On Lorde Cancelling Her Tel Aviv Concert

“A lie told often enough becomes the truth.”-Vladminir Lenin

Recently, Lorde decided to cancel her summer 2018 concert in Tel Aviv, bowing to the pressure from anti-Israel activists.

Her decision bothers me for two reasons: the first is that music is music is music. Music brings us together. It bleeds through the political and social boundaries of class, race, religion, etc. Second is that she fell victim to the haters whose only goal is to see Israel wiped off the map and her citizens either murdered or forced into exile.

Pallywood has won once again. Pallywood for those unaware is the purposeful creation of fake news to create a myth that Israel is the big bad in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Palestine is the innocent victim.

 

What’s worse than the lies being spread is the fact that millions around the world believe the lies. A rather sad example of this is the recent UN resolution in which most of the member countries voted against the US moving their embassy from its current location in Tel Aviv to a new location in Jerusalem.

I suggest Lorde and every other musician who is thinking about cancelling their upcoming concerts in Israel re-think their decisions and do their homework. Her decision shows (at least from my point of view), that hate and prejudice still rule and that human dignity and mutual respect/understanding are still being forced from the spotlight.