How do we fight resident evil?

 

Below is a reflection from Monica who works up the hall from me at the CTM. She is amazing. These thoughts appeared in Crosslight (UCA Vic/Tas church magazine) follow the link to read it all.

How do we fight resident evil? by Monica Jyotsna Melanchthon

Protesters call for an end to violence against women in India

Violence, particularly sexual abuse, is perhaps one of the most common human rights abuses in the world that leads to the death of many women. It has been said that in India, a woman is raped every 25 minutes and Dalit women are direct victims of many of these rapes.

On the night of 16 December, six drunken men on a joy ride brutally raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern who boarded the bus along with a male friend.

Because rape in India is considered a crime so unspeakable, so disgraceful

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and shameful to its victims, the victim was cloaked in protective anonymity.

Popularly named Damini (lightning), Braveheart, and Nirbhaya (Fearless), Jyothi Singh Pandey – young, ambitious, determined, with a strong resolve to live – lost the battle against the physical injuries inflicted upon her. She died two weeks later.

There were no flowers where she was found, but candlelight vigils were held in several cities while she fought to live and after her death.
There is still a small resilient group, striking, seeking faster and more stringent action against rapists.

The brazen rape and murder made headline news in many parts of the globe. Unprecedented crowds gathered, perhaps joined by a shared sense of loss, vulnerability, anger and fear, protesting on the streets of Delhi.

The incident generated debate in all circles of Indian society, the likes of one never seen before.

New reasons were suggested for the increase in sexual crimes against women ranging from the usual – provocative attire, western influences – to the use of mobile phones, education of women, late marriage, consumption of chowmein (believe it or not!) and the alignment of the stars.

Suggested remedies included separate schools for girls, dressing young women in overcoats, marriage for girls before 16 and banning of mobile phones.

Billboards were created offering tips to women on how they can be safe. The onus of keeping safe was placed on women. They needed to find ways to avoid being raped.

The incident left a deep scar on the nation’s conscience and exposed the ugliness; a disease in the culture which has not been adequately addressed – the failure of the legal system, the apathy of the public, the insensitivity of the police force and the incompetence of the political forces all leading to a lack of fear for the law.

Amidst the many voices making their opinions known was the deafening silence of the church.

But what it also brought to the fore is the power of the people, for something about this case touched a nerve, similar to that of the thousands who gathered to mourn the abduction, rape and murder of Jill Meagher in Melbourne.

The response of people reminded me of the call of Isaiah in 60:1 – “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

The word, ‘Arise’ indicates that the nation had been ‘lying down’ in some sort of servile and calamitous condition; of depression, disenchantment, insecurity or despair.

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