Reflections Of My Life

The changing of sunlight to moonlight   
Reflections of my life
Oh, how they fill my eyes
The greetings of people in trouble
Reflections of my life
Oh, how they fill my eyes

Oh, my sorrows
Sad tomorrows
Take me back to my own home

Reflections of My life is the adopted song of every war weary soldier since the Vietnam crisis. Men fighting a war that seems to take a toll on their minds and spirits. The sad part was they knew that they weren't popular back in America for being in what was called the most unpopular war ever fought.  And as they fought on, their bodies wracked with weariness and minds drained from sleep, would long for the fighting to end. 

The World Is A Bad Place

Rachel Weisz as Kathryn Bolkovac in the Whistle Blower

The WhistleBlower is a book written  by Kathryn Bolkovac who went to Bosnia as part of a UN mission. She discovered kidnapping of young girls, sex trafficking and other crimes - and refused to stay silent about it. I saw the movie with Rachel Weisz, who played Bolkovac. It must have been unnerving to find the very system you were working with was almost as corrupt, and the victims were silenced by brutality and death. Going against a corrupt system has its price to pay and that's where we make a decision. Are we going to help? Or stand by doing nothing?

There are women and men who are beginning to share their stories of sexual assault with me on many levels. As I have said previously, there is nothing funny about rape. Yet some person thought it was clever to call a cocktail "Date Grape Kool-Aid."  Jamie Pendelton, the owner of the establishment "The "Daiquiri Factory," apparently couldn't help himself in promoting this drink. Mr. Pendelton has no idiot-filter, cause this was a stupid thing to do. 

"There are some serious topics you can joke about: Life’s unavoidable death sentence? Hilarious. The frailty of man in the face a cold and unforgiving universe? Knee-slapping good fun. But naming a drink after the very serious, unfunny subject of date rape? Nope. Tell that to a bar in Spokane, Wa., where a new “Date Grape Kool-Aid” drink is now on the menu." -Consumerist February 4, 2014

Date Grape Kool-Aid mocks the plight of Sexual Assault Survivors

 "As someone who has survived raped twice, most recently being three months ago--- it tells me and other survivors that our experiences don't matter--- that people either don't believe us or they don't care about us, and that all we are is a punchline" -Taylor Malone Protest Organizer

Protesters of Daiquiri Factory and Date Grape Kool-Aid

The owner's response on Facebook has been extremely cavalier. He remarks on Facebook that "It's a bar, not a candy factory. Persons 21 and over are welcomed." Obviously he belongs to the stupidity without borders team, because this has nothing to do with age, and everything to do with respect of rape survivors everywhere.  You would think that establishments like this one, would show respect to their patrons. Instead they pull an offensive stunt in order to get curious customers to come in and sample their misogynistic brew. There's a lot of great things about Spokane WA, but this isn't one of them.
It takes courage stand for the truth rather than for popularity. You can stand outside this establishment with a sign speaking out, or go inside where it's warm, belly up to the bar and order a glass of this purple Judas swill.  No doubt you'll have lots of company. You'll even think, this isn't so bad. The laughter and music will drown your thoughts of rape survivor's cries, and the alcohol will make you numb to people like Stacey Thompson who was a Military rape victim in 1999.

Feel Like I'm Dying

Stacey Thompson Speaks out in support of MJIA

Stacey was an eager 17 year old who joined the US Marines with her parent's signed permission. She was sexually harassed by a senior marine and drugged and raped by her sergeant, both of who were in her chain of command.

"However shortly after reporting the rape I was retaliated against by the very people I trusted to execute justice--- to maintain good order and discipline---  Even after filing a report with the Naval Criminal Investigative Services and speaking with the commanding general of the base--- the Sargent who assaulted me was able to separate from the Marine Corps during an open investigation for the crime of rape." - Stacey Thompson

A person who joins any branch of the service, should never have to stand alone when she is attacked and raped by a so-called battle buddy. But Stacey was. Her story became as predictable as the direction the sun would rise and set. Stacey was ostracized by other Marines, and she found herself at the center of a separate investigation for drug use stemming from that night. Six months later, she was kicked out with an other-than-honorable discharge — one step below honorable discharge — which means she lost her benefits. And yet Stacey Thompson, like the Whistle Blower in the movie, refuses to keep quiet. Because rape is no joke, Mr. bar-owner, and victims are not the punchline. She is speaking out with other victims against a system of betrayal and a system that is broken.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

I'm Changing Everything

On February 6, 2014, she added her voice to others who have been attacked and fallen upon by a system that was suppose to honor their service to their country. Now these men and women are joining together to establish a new order for those who serve. They're promoting the Military Justice Improvement Act. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's Bill is up for voting soon, with a threat to be filibustered by Claire MacCaskill, whose own bill became part of the new NDAA package for 2014.

Paula Coughlin, the mother of military whistle blowers and the face of the Tail Hook scandal in 1991, spoke along with Stacey Thompson and others at a recent conference on Thursday of this week.

Paula Coughlin

"The calls from military leaders and their supporters for more time ring hollow.  And history shows that these promises are really a veiled defense of the status quo. No more excuses, no more delays. Congress must act now. They must listen to our servicemen and servicewomen--- the victims who are directly impacted by this crime. These brave members of our armed services, who raise their voices and are calling for an independent impartial military justice system must be heard. Last year Congress passed a series of reforms but they do not go far enough. They do not instill trust, and victims need more." - Paula Coughlin

Indeed we need to add our voices to those already speaking out. Get the word out to your Representatives or Congress persons of your state. Persuade them now.  Most want to get re-elected. Tell them to vote for the MJIA. We've tried it the military's way, now let's do it the right way.

But in case you think that naming a Daiquri after a crime against women is still funny, before you order another tall, cold one, drink this video in.

Men Let's Talk

To remain silent while our culture and our military is steeped with victimization and unpunished crimes, only adds fuel to an already out of control epidemic. We all need to speak up and take action now. Please share this blog with your friends today.

Thank you Twitter family for you resource help! verasantaclara Rosie Palfy GeeeBeee Barbara Jackson
Sources: Consumerist Blog- Bar Debuts Drink Called “Date Grape Kool-Aid,” Outrage Inevitably Ensues
               KQH NBC- Date Grape Kool-Aid Sparks Protests
               Protect Our Warriors- Stacey Thompson Speaks Out

               You Tube- Masks Off- A Challenge To Men