Comments on: Every 26 seconds a woman gets raped, it was my turn last Thursday night

By: Alfred Makomoto

Alfred Makomoto — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:26:43 +0000

Charlene,your a great suvivor,powerful beyond measure and i wish you health throughout your life,mama.Please share this story to educate those that have become victims to this unscrupulou,selfish men and show other men that what they are doing is so wrong and it hurts women.As for these private clinics and the so-called surgeons i wish they could put lives beyond this rhetoric economic terms.Thank you Charlene,keep spreading this massege to the rest.

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By: Shaakira

Shaakira — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:01:59 +0000

I have to admit I found this very hard to read because as a female, I felt everything you went through like it happened to me.

It made me feel so angry and helpless.
Helpless in general with regard to how little power women have in these situations and helpless like it’s a certain certainty(especially by the title) where you’re just bidding your time till it happens to you.

It all completely flattened me and filled me with fear. Loathing as well for the country I live in that makes this a reality and is doing so little to ensure these heartless men are punished in such a way that they never even think of doing it again.

And it’s the same with every crime.
They have no fear of the consequences.
Its evident in the cavalier way the perpetrator picked things from your house as you noticed yourself.
He didn’t need to do it.
Its like he just saw it as a recreational activity.

Our government isn’t harsh enough and some of our laws just seem to accomodate the violation of so many basic human rights on so many levels and this seriously needs to change.

We shouldn’t have to live our lives trying to bypass that gnawing sense of constant fear every day.
Every South African woman feels it.
Victim of rape or not.

And we shouldn’t roll over and take it.
We need to show our anger.
Demand changes.

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By: Saberah

Saberah — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:30:56 +0000

I’m really sorry it happened to you also. I’m at a loss for words. Unfortunately, it’s something you have to live with for the rest of your life. But it definitely makes one stronger

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By: Mymoena

Mymoena — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:51:55 +0000

charlene, reading this you took me back to the age of 20, 1995. your story has moved me to the point that after my horrific ordeal, i finally have the courage to speak out for the sake of other ‘Muslim’ women out there - you see in our Muslim society it is not the ‘done and proper’ thing to let people know that you were raped … i just want to add-what about those spouses who sleep around and come back to share you bed with you, when you find out often it is too late - i commend your courage and perseverance in the face of such traumatic adversity which leaves an etched reminder in our souls whether we lke it or not - very painful, sickening feeling reminder - now divorced with two kids to take care of my biggest fear is rape since we stay on our own - i look at my young son and tween daughter and just the thought consumes me with dreaded panic but i have to retain my strong positive outlook and not allow any part of myself fall victm to their criminal acts for then they have won half the battle - and i am out to win the war - my heart bleeds for fellow victims - the feeling of being violated, invaded and abused is worse than someone knifing you to death - at least then you know you are going to die - with rape a part of you auto dies a little every day - thx!

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By: Azad Essa

Azad Essa — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:13:23 +0000

thank you for putting your story out here Charlene.

It was so very very painful to read, but so important…the manner in which you handle race/identity in narrating your story is also constructive and empowering.

Rape, like everything else, is often turned into a race issue, which is a cop-out…(But)we have to got find ways to change the type of men we are creating in our society…

God keep you safe.

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By: Chillipeppa

Chillipeppa — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:24:21 +0000

Charlene, my heart goes out to you. Until now I’ve never been reduced to tears by any literary account of many horrific acts that I’ve read before this. I fervently hope and pray that none of my family ever have to go through something like this in their lives. And I feel desperate pain for those 156 women who have been raped while I’ve been writing this………

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By: Phillipa Lipinski

Phillipa Lipinski — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:10:01 +0000

@Refilwe: the skin tones were mentioned to indicate race-not ethnic grouping.
But that does not matter, rape is a truly horrendous thing and Charlene is a hero.

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By: Tumbleweed InAWindstorm

Tumbleweed InAWindstorm — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:57:33 +0000

Us men need to realise that women are individuals with equal talents and aspirations. I believe that many convicted rapists experience great difficulty in conforming to the rapid changes taking place in society in regard to women and children’s rights in particular. It take a real man to say “Hell, she earns more than me, she’s brighter than I am and far more efficient … and I love her for it.”

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By: Scarface

Scarface — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:18:47 +0000

I share your pain, the humiliation and the instant “Post traumatic stress” flashbacks I still get after 32 years. But you know what, stuff them, if they thought they had the power to break your spirit.

In the end, it just makes you stronger and value life even more. Never doubt yourself and remember there is a thing such as Karma.

Don’t worry about the purp, he will get his day.

Good luck and remember that if you could survive this, nothing should scare you.

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By: 16 Days of Activism: Every 26 seconds a woman gets raped, it was my turn last Thursday night « the ChirpRoom

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:40:48 +0000

[…] For the rest of the blog piece visit Charlene’s blog, here. […]

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