Rape? Legitimate or Illegitimate?

Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012 is a day that I hope people will remember.  On this day a recorded interview with Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) was broadcast by KTVI-TV in St. Louis.  Within a few hours, Rep. Akin released a statement that he had "misspoke" without much clarification.  Today he released a statement, that included more information, and shows that he truly doesn't understand.  In case you haven't heard about the issue, I'll give the basic rundown.

During the interview, Rep. Akin was asked if abortion should be legal in the case of rape.  His response:   "From what I understand from doctors, that's really rare," Mr. Akin said of pregnancy caused by rape. "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let's assume that maybe that didn't work or something…I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child."

Any question about why some people are upset over this gem?  After these remarks every person capable of rational thought should be outraged.  You know it is bad when the GOP pulls all campaign funding, which it appears they have done.  Perhaps there are a few politicos with some sense.

Using the word "legitimate" with "rape" is just the beginning of Rep. Akin's misconception.  Rape, like the pregnancy it apparently won't cause, doesn't require any qualifiers.  Let's leave the abortion out of this for a moment and just examine Rep. Akin's reasoning.  If a woman claims rape, and becomes pregnant from the alleged rape, then it seems unlikely she was actually raped, since "the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."  So instead of punishing the rapist, who couldn't have committed rape (see above), you create a situation where he has parental rights.  This puts us one step away from requiring a rape victim to marry the rapist.  I guess that takes the trouble out of trying to find the right woman to marry.  All you need is good, active sperm (eat lots of walnuts). 

To illustrate that rape does not require any qualifiers, here are a few incidents from my past that make me appear to be a much better person than I am.  I have had some good moments.

Twenty years ago, at a friend's house for dinner and drinks (mostly drinks), in attendance were the friend (G), his wife (T), one of his co-workers (J), and co-workers girlfriend (V).  Also there was the friend's 5 year old son (C), who does not figure in the story other than he was in the house.  During dinner V mentioned drinking us under the table.  Let the games begin!  J was first out, so I fixed up a bed for him in the motorhome.  Soon after, T called it quits (C was already asleep).  G was the next to bow out leaving me and V still standing (staggering).  Shortly thereafter V let me know she was attracted to me by taking off all her clothes and climbing on top of me.  I finally persuaded her to postpone sex indefinitely and managed to get enough clothes back on her to keep me out of trouble.  In my mind, if I had taken her up on the offer, it would have been rape.  And yes, I actually thought that at the time.  Five years earlier, my clothes would have been off as quick as hers.

Five years later found me with 5 days to kill in Daytona Beach, during spring break, waiting on a load.  One beachfront hotel with truck parking and I was ready to relax and enjoy.  Night 3 brought a very drunk young woman into the hotel bar where I was shooting pool and enjoying a few beers.  I'd seen her around, usually drunk and rather flirtatious with the college boys.  This night she had on a very short dress and nothing else (which became obvious every time she staggered and fell to the floor).  One of the other hotel guests/bar patrons, decided that she needed a place to stay and he needed a drunk 21 year old in his bed.  At this point I stepped in, took her to the front desk and asked the clerk for another room, took her there, left her a note to call me when she woke up, and told her to lock the door and not to open it for anyone.  I then stood watch until the opportunist decided I was not letting him have his way and went off to my own bed.  In my mind a rape was prevented.

In both cases, in my opinion, the girl involved was not in a position to make a decision involving sex.  Therefore any sex becomes rape.  Does a man have to hold a knife to a woman's throat, or beat her senseless in order for rape to occur?  What about cases where the threat is only implied?  Rep. Akin's comments, especially from someone hoping to become a Senator, show considerable empathy for rapists.  When you start talking about "forcible rape" or "legitimate rape" you open the door to a rapist going free because the victim had been kissing him earlier, or because she was dressed provocatively and flirting or because the gun he held to her head, wasn't loaded.

Now to the abortion issue.  In my mind, and apparently, I'm in the majority here, there are situations where abortion, may be appropriate.  No need to qualify them.  Put yourself, or your daughter, into the situation and see if there is some combination of circumstances where you would choose abortion.  If you can honestly think of no circumstance where abortion would be the lesser evil, you've wasted considerable time reading this far, because your mind is closed and therefore of very little use to anyone.  If, on the other hand, you can think rationally, you've now determined your boundary regarding abortion.  Are you willing, or qualified, to sit in judgement over every single woman, every single pregnancy?  Definitely not.  Probably shouldn't try to require others to accept your judgement then.

If this has offended anyone (other than grammatically) you'll either get over it, or die pissed off.  I'm tired, this is long and tedious.  Enjoy it if you can.