Contact us at: whispernthunder1@gmail.comTHE WAR CONTINUES
~ Orranhawk
Editor's Note: To be read with Orannhawk's other article in this issue: The War on Women
Twelve years ago, I wrote The War on Women.
Statistics at that time were appalling. As we
step once more to the ballot boxes across the
country, we must revisit this issue and truly
understand the ramifications of your vote,
because it does matter. More than ever, it
matters.
According to statistics from RAINN {The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network}, an American is assaulted every 68 seconds. Yes, read that again. Every 68 seconds. Indigenous people, from age 12 and up are twice as likely to be assaulted than any other race. There are no boundaries when it comes to these heinous attacks. RAINN data points out that 41% of the assaults on Native people are committed by strangers to the victims, 34% by acquaintances and 25% by an intimate or a family member.
Although females have the highest rates of recorded assaults, 1 out of every 10 victim is male. Individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ and people of color are at greater risk for sexual assault.
In the previous article, I mentioned the theft of women’s rights. Those rights, deeply personal decisions, were stripped away again when Roe vs Wade was overturned. Despite the influx of misinformation and outright lies circulating social media, the priority of Roe vs Wade is the fundamental right of all women to make their personal choices with health care and reproductive freedom. The repercussions have placed the lives of medical professionals and patients at risk, and with many, at a great cost. The inability to receive proper reproductive medical care has taken the lives of women from their loved ones. Listening to women speak about their loss of personal freedom is heartbreaking. There are countless validated stories of women, waiting in horrible pain in emergency rooms and no one will help them. Due to the
lack of medical care, some of these women will never be able to carry a child again.
How does that make you feel?
The reversal of Roe vs Wade is built on an aggravating and antiquated masochistic, fanatical belief of power and control. It is staggering to realize that a vast majority who embrace these beliefs are also the same individuals who continue to be outed for rape and sexual assaults, yet many of the charges are dismissed and swept under the rug, while blaming the victims.
This is the fundamentalist, Machiavellian power wielded by the elite … although now many of these elitists are not even American. Hitler’s reign of terror moving toward WWII included domineering rampant exaggerations, threats, distorted lies and control tactics to incite fear and
manipulate the public for his ultimate utopia for what he deemed the superior race. White hooded robes and flags bearing swastikas now openly and brashly promote their new ‘leader.’ January 6th, 2021 is a testament to that insanity to make everything ‘great’ again. Recent news posts outlined Putin’s idealized views for women to skip education and careers and have many, many children. As women, we are now under siege by none other than the political machine. No surprise to most of us, it is after all, an election year.
Tyrants build up false narratives, capitalizing on fear, insecurities and vulnerabilities of the ones they seek to control, by using known strategies of psychological warfare. They create outlandish scenarios to incite fear, anger and hate, to gain sympathy and adoration. It is pure narcissistic behavior. Although studies continue in regard to narcissistic behavior and sexual assaults and rape, the overall view is consistent with the definition of narcissism; self-centered arrogant behaviors and thoughts, lack of empathy and consideration for others and an excessive need for admiration.
To the tyrants, gender and race fall within a construct built around power, greed and control. Women, particularly women of color, and immigrants, regardless of their rightful legal status as citizens will always be seen as less than. This is unacceptable.
Indigenous women have always been an essential part of tribal communities. Traditionally, a woman’s sovereignty and independence, along with complementary roles did not include gender-based violence. It is vital that we remember this.
Racism is rampant again, and the flames are spreading, through outright lies and blame. I cannot tell you who you should vote for, it’s not my place to do so. So, I will ask you to consider this; Hope or Fear, Freedom or Control.
I am a survivor of domestic abuse and rape. I am a friend to other women who experienced the same acts of violence. I am a relative of several women lucky enough to be in a state where they received proper reproductive care after miscarriages, and ectopic pregnancies.
I know that every single vote will be a deciding factor when it comes to the War on Women.
I am a woman, I am Native, I am a survivor, and I will not be silent. And I will vote accordingly.
Additional statistics are available at https://rainn.org/