not for the squimish...U.N. workers say thousands raped in Congo

[Mona]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa....ap/index.html

I could barely make it through this article. Very very sad.
I have no words.

[Marlena]

The Washington Post had an article on this subject a little while back that was so disturbing that I didn't post it.

What gives rise to such depravity, and how can it be stopped? Living conditions are harsh and horrible in other places, and Congo's hardly the only country in the world that was colonized. In many places, you find a combination of the two. So why is this happening in Congo, in such a barbaric manner and to such a hideous degree?

[Curandera]

I've heard so many horrible stories about Congo - children being stolen, given drugs and forced to do attrocious things, children being accused of being possessed and undergoing exorsisms where, if they survived, they still might be just set out on the street - I think I emember reading something a while back about some pygmy clans being attacked and killed because eating their hearts was supposed to help them become repellant to guns (?) - was that in Congo, too?

[Marlena]

Yeah, the Post also had a companion article about cannibalism in the Congo. Truly sadistic stuff, like armed troups going around killing and cannibalizing people (Pygmies are a particular target, apparently) and then forcing survivors to eat the bodies of friends and family, as well.

It goes beyond magical thinking. Rather, it appears to have a genuinely sadistic and deliberately cruel intent, as with the rapes (which are often particularly horrifying, even as rapes go).

[isleta]

This is truely sad, but not surprising to me. I have followed the congo and other parts of Africa within my cultural genocide classes. It seems that some of the practices stem from magic-like the heart eating, but know they have assult rifles to do the job.


Women have always been treated poorly and I am just sad in my soul for these beautiful people who are facing the most henious atrocities in our world today. It has been difficult for other countries to help stabilize this region, but I feel that with actions such as these, we need to do our best to help and stop the violence on these girls and mothers!

[isleta]

Originally posted by Marlena
The Washington Post had an article on this subject a little while back that was so disturbing that I didn't post it.

What gives rise to such depravity, and how can it be stopped? Living conditions are harsh and horrible in other places, and Congo's hardly the only country in the world that was colonized. In many places, you find a combination of the two. So why is this happening in Congo, in such a barbaric manner and to such a hideous degree?

You know Marlena I really do not have an answer. However, if you study places that faced colonization, it seems that the break down of a culture is apparent across the world. Many traditions and cultural specific religious and governing systems are broken and people tend to do actions that are disturbing becuase of what was inflicted on them.

I was at a seminar on Native Americans studies, and one man spoke about his "broken culture" He said, "before the white man(ie the Rez, colonies) we didn't beat our wives and children, we did not have sex with our children(pediphiles), what is going on and how can we stop this from continuing" It might not fit this right on, but it brings in the perspective of a people who's culture has been assulted and the sometimes horrible effects on itself.

[Marlena]

Interesting - I'm no psychologist, but what you wrote bears at least a superficial resemblance to tendencies towards self-destructive acts that survivors of significant physical and emotional abuse can suffer.

[isleta]

You are absolutely right marlena-all these people and more around the world have suffered these very henious acts over and over. Unfortunately, human beings for some reason cannot stop dehumanizing each other

[pie]

too bad the congo doesn't have oil. Maybe we'd be there to stop all this if it did.

[mahdokht]

i dont know what to say. there are just too many horrors. What have we, as women, done to be so hated and so abused? Why do we suffer the brunt of humanity's problems?

Is it not enough to be beaten and raped and watch our children starve and shrivel and die? Is it not enough to see them be kidnapped? It is not enough that we are silenced and stoned and our genetalia mutilated and our bodies paraded like so many market goods to be bought and sold? I just dont have the words...

[Mona]

mahdokht - those were my exact thoughts. and it goes beyond women in the human form, as Mother Earth is being raped each and every day, and her creations destroyed as well.

It can be very overwhelming at times....

[TiredX2]

too bad the congo doesn't have oil. Maybe we'd be there to stop all this if it did

When does cynacism stop being cynical and start being reality?

[merpk]

:

Where are the UN resolutions condemning these atrocities?

Where are the speeches on the floor of the General Assembly deploring this situation?



Oh, yeah, right.

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