Mad World Part 2

And I find it kind of funny I find it kind of sad

The dreams in which I'm dying

Are the best I've ever had

I find it hard to tell you

I find it hard to take

When people run in circles

it's a very, very...   Mad World

It doesn't take an Einstein to figure out that people who run in circles get nowhere. They're showing to the world, they're making progress, but in truth they're stuck in a rut. And any farmer will tell you that's bad for progress. If you listen to the song Mad World with it's haunting piano and melodic tune, you feel the sadness of never expecting change in an unproductive scenario. "All around me are familiar faces, worn out places; worn out faces." Can't you feel the grayness?  But Mr. Einstein was speaking about those who refuse to accept that their method just isn't working, and the madness is that they refuse to give in and find another solution.

Tell Me What's My Lesson?

Denver ABC Call7 Investigative Reporter Keli Rabon

In part 1; you remember that a shocking scenario of routines and complacency was uncovered in Denver, Colorado (in 2012) when an investigative team lead by Keli Rabon, discovered that rape kits were not being processed and used to catch rapists. The "mad hatter" explanation from some Colorado law enforcement agencies at the time was "if the issue is consent and she knew who the person was, then we don't process the DNA."  Fortunately, Rabon and her team investigated the matter and found the explanation was weak and inexcusable. Can you imagine (if you're a woman) being poked and probed for what might seem like an eternity--- evidence collected from your body, only to have it bagged tagged and warehoused? Then you discover that justice takes a vacation in your case? At last count, some other the agencies are now taking steps to reverse their "going nowhere routine."

After a report of at least 26,000 cases of military sexual assault has been reported and it has taken an act of Congress to make something happen, it is a question of whether anything seems to be happening. The most favorable change among rape survivors, is to remove the decision to process sexual assault cases out of the chain of command. The change has been championed by both Republicans and Democrats. A sweeping common sense reform bill has been drafted by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.  But of course, the knees of the top military brass are knocking, as they claim that removing the authority from the chain of command would diminish their ability to command. The military's trickle down convictions make you wonder if they really care about zero tolerance.

And so a closed panel on this issue seems to think that "you can get from here to there" if you just put your foot on the gas and spin your back wheels.

"A strong majority of Subcommittee members agrees the evidence does not support a conclusion that removing authority to convene court-martial from senior commanders will reduce the incidence of sexual assault or increase reporting of sexual assaults in the Armed Forces," a preliminary report from the Subcommittee stated.  Seven of the nine members of the main panel supported the conclusion, while two opposed it.  The debate over removing commanders' authority to oversee sexual assault cases is one of the central points of the committee's deliberations. Thursday's meeting, which ran all day and followed a string of closed-door sessions, included testimony from those who support and oppose Gillibrand's proposal, as well as firsthand accounts from two women who say they were repeatedly raped and abused while in active duty.- From US News January 30, 2014

No One Knew Me

I call this; "disaster denial", where you've talked to the victims, seen the carnage, and you go away and think "Maybe it's not as bad as all of that. Besides doing something about it might make things worse."  I know I'm sounding snarky, but I'm trying to make a point that old Albert E. might agree with me on, if he was still alive. This problem won't stop by just warmed over predictability and public relations work.

"The Invisible War" showcases the efforts of the military to combat sexual assault with slick posters, and hip-hop, baby!

"You cannot prevent sexual assault with pretty posters--- Posters do not prevent sexual predators from preying upon women and men in the military--- No poster is going to prevent a criminal from barging in your room in the middle of the night. These are violent people."- Ret. Captain Anu Bhagwati, The Invisible War.

 This "hands-off approach" seems to be aimed at the potential victim. It implies that you can prevent your assault if you do these things that we tell you to do. Rather than that approach, we need to send a message to the perpetrators. Maybe a message telling them not to rape. That to rape a fellow serviceman is a betrayal, and will be dealt with severely! It needs to be a "facts of military life" speech that every commander needs to speak and mean it! With the money being spent on slick campaign programs that wouldn't help a bunch of middle school kids, just tell your troops: "if your rape another soldier, sailor or airmen (non-gender reference) you will be prosecuted."

And now in it's effort to help potential victims deal with this problem, or perhaps other issues connected with sexual assault, the Army Reserve Corp has unveiled it's downloadable app called "Battle Buddy!"  Technology strikes again. Can you imagine a victim using this handy little app in a time of crisis?

Free Battle Buddy App in case of rape

 I wonder if it has a button to report a sexual assault? I'm not going to poo-poo this concept altogether, or anything that can help someone who is a victim, but what is needed here is changes that will begin to root out the problem by sending a hard message to the troops, and then backing it up with some tough action. The fear of God needs to be put into the bad guys who harass, ostracize, obstruct, or rape, not victimize and re-victimizing a servicewoman or servicemen. Apparently Congress has again opted to keep the chain of command, and let the victims maneuver through the ranks and figure it out on their own.  Indeed they will need a Battle Buddy.

Look Right Through Me

Attorney Susan Burke

"And so this notion  that anyone could be a rapist so be on alert, --- it misses an opportunity for preventing rape. If they actually had a system of accountability that prosecuted and imprisoned perpetrators, you would rid of a lot of the rapes right away."- Susan Burke, Attorney The Invisible War

 

We've come so far since the "Tailhook scandal" and yet the

needle has hardly moved on the subject of sexual assault, because whatever courage our leaders have on the battle field isn't displayed in a dead-on fashion when it comes to having a tough talk to those under him. A "get out of jail free card" should not be standard military issue. So if the Mad World of politics, and Zero accountability, and trickle-down judicial system, is ever to be done away with, then we need leaders who can partner up with the right agencies to drive the problem out of the system. Military leaders should realize that the day's of the "Lone Ranger" Leadership when it comes to heinous crimes is a thing of the past. Keep your Stars, Bars, or Eagle. No one wants to dethrone you. We on want to elevate justice where it belongs for everyone. Hi Yo Silver!

Special Thanks to Twitter friends like verasantaclara and Barbara Jackson for their support and leads.

Sources

Keli Rabon- Justice Denied

The Invisible War- http://invisiblewarmovie.com/ 

PCAR-  The Battle Buddy App
US News- Powerful Panel Says Commanders Should Keep Sex Assault Oversight