Today, BROADSIDED presented perhaps one of the most difficult programs ever – talking about the epidemic of Military Sexual Assault, Part II in the series. The original program aired August 11, 2011. We spoke of the issue in the abstract, fact and figures. While we did have a victim on the program, Panayiota Bertzikis, she had laser-like focus on The Military Rape Crisis Center, of which she is the founder and Executive Director. Ms. Bertzikis is admirably far more interested in getting help for other victims. It was our impression that’s how she copes with her attack. A very healthy response and we applaud her and her work.
But our listeners made sure we knew our job wasn’t finished. They wanted to hear the voices of the victims – to know what’s really happening and to hear what the United States Armed Services was doing about it. Sadly, they learned that the military in our country was doing something worse than nothing – they were giving most of the perpetrators a pass and punishing the victim, in a variety of ways. We were bombarded by service women and men who weren’t exactly anxious to tell their story, in all it’s rawness in a public forum, but they needed to talk, to get it out. We listened and listened and listened and what we heard was so unbelievable, no one could ever make it up. We asked two brave souls to come on and tell their story – and tell it they did. The response on our chat line was what took us aback, more than a little.
We personally know several of the people on our Live Chat line and know them to be kind, loving and generous people, not to mention socially conscious. It was an experience to watch their kind and loving embrace toward the victims mixed with a near mob mentality in wanting the names and addresses of the perpetrators to extract some justice. Their empathetic pain for the victims and the feeling of helplessness as the stories went from bad, to terrible to unspeakable was palpable. If you missed the program, you can listen to the archive here.
We would like to apologize to our listeners for the technical difficulties – the portion of the program featuring Nancy Parrish, President of Protect our Defenders, did not originally air. The best Engineer in radio, Dustin Gilder, was able to splice the interview into the archive where it was originally meant to be, so please take the time to give it a listen. She had some valuable information to share. She’s a kind, generous, well-spoken lady who does fine work on behalf of the victims and she shared what you can do to make a difference.
Most importantly, we give our most heart-felt thanks to Terri Odom and Heath Phillips. If you ever wondered what heroes truly sound like, you need only listen to them bravely tell their stories. Radio has it’s advantages. Our listeners can’t see us wipe away the tears and they don’t know that we’re muting our mics to muffle the sobs. When you look up the words “brave” or “survivor” in the dictionary, if their photos aren’t there, it’s a misprint.
Finally, we beg of you, on behalf of those who serve in our military, be an advocate for the victims. 19,000 sexual assaults were documented in 2010 (the latest available figures). Of those, less than 3 percent resulted in any substantive punishment for the sex offenders. A woman serving in the United States military is more likely to experience sexual assault from a fellow American soldier than she is to be injured or killed in the line of duty. That’s 1 in 3 women and that doesn’t even address the men who are assaulted. Think about those figures. Digest them for a moment. The longer you think about it, the worse it gets.
So, the question is, what can you do? It’s pretty simple, actually. Go to www.protectourdefenders.com. Watch all of the videos on the main page. All of them. Educate yourself on the pending legislation that will take the power out of the hands of the commanding officers and place it in the hands of an outside party. It will protect the victims and make the offenders accountable for the first time. There are petitions you can sign. Please do so. “Like” their Facebook page and share it with your friends. We encourage the use of social media to spread the word. Finally, take a moment to contact Representative Jackie Speier. Congress may have a 9 percent approval rating, but this woman is the very definition of a public servant. She is sponsoring the legislation that will make the lasting change needed. Too many politicians take a whole lot of flak for doing nothing. She deserves our thanks for her work on behalf of our service personnel.
We know this is not the end of the story. Once we have some progress on the pending legislation, we’ll be providing updates. We will also keep in contact with Terri and Heath. They are officially part of our BROADSIDED and Here Women Talk family. We love them dearly and we take care of our own.
Don’t just sit there! Go to the Protect Our Defenders website and make a difference!
A step in the right direction?
http://news.yahoo.com/senate-oks-bill-combat-military-sexual-assault-222432135–politics.html
THanks for posting that Carol and ruining a perfectly good Friday night. First of Conservative Concerned Women for America is an absolute oxymoron. There are no Conservative women concerned for women’s health AT ALL. It is stupid for women to stand for something so incidious. You tell me how many women would have their child be raped (brutally or not) and not think that their child should be able to decide to abort that child rather than suffer through a pregnancy carrying the child of her rapist? I’m not talking about a boyfriend who would not take no from his date(although that is bad enough). I am talking about a brutal, tortuous rape from a serial rapist. Or whatever horrible, awful, horrendous situation you can imagine. If you conservative women think it is ok for any woman to be required to carry that child if she can’t bear to do it you are crazy fucked up. Our women in the military suffer rapes sometimes at the hands of their military superiors and then they should have to pay for their abortion? Hell NO! First of all the bastard who raped them should be punished by jail/trial/prison and then pay for it himself in blood, sweat, tears, and cash. If this is not possible, the military medical facility should have to perform it at no cost to the woman.
You crazy bats from this so call Concerned Women for America are neither concerned nor women in my opinion. You are morons with no real concern for our military women. If a woman who is raped gets pregnant from her rapist you should have NO say in the matter. It is none of your business. And to all of you military women – please be advised that if you are being raped, ask for a condom because a bunch of men in the U.S. Senate don’t want to pay for your abortion. Better yet, just send them the bill for the abortion or for 18 yrs. of child support.
I want just one of these women from this oxymoronic group to come on our show. I dare you.
Amen
Well, its not like it didn’t come with a disclaimer.
And you really need to stop stuffing your emotions and tell us how you really feel. And for the record, I agree.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/12/08/385097/conservative-womens-group-applauds-senate-decision-to-deny-military-rape-victims-abortion-coverage/
Think you were pissed off before? Read this.
WTF??? Let’s get them on HWT and give ’em a go. Idiots!!!
Thank you Carol and Vicki… Heath and I are both profoundly blessed to have had the honor to serve our country! People like you both are now helping us serve by getting this most important message out to the public… Thank You and May Peace Follow You All The Days of Your Lives,,,,, Terri J. Odom
And profound peace to all of the victims… Those who have come forward and those who, for whatever reason, cannot. We hold them and you close to our hearts.
Kay, I have been feeling the outrage since I first heard about this. My business is the judicial system and I cannot begin to tell you the frustration I feel that these victims have been treated like dogs in a 3rd world country when it comes to having their cases handled properly. It is a blight on our military that rapes have been swept under the rug, suicides have resulted, rapists have been promoted and allowed to continue service unpunished, and good men and women have had to live with unresolved pain and mental anguish. I really am ready to poke the soft underbelly of these horrible people. I am ready to spread the word and get people to pay attention. Like Carol, I am very proud of this show, but want to do so much more. I hope we can get Rep. Speier on to talk about it. I want someone from the Dept. of Defense to tell us why the military has been so complacent about this. I want to look up some of these rapists and call them out on it. These victims are still being traumatized by the VA. It is insane! If the victims want to find these people, I will do it for free. I will call them up on the show and ask them ????? Watch them squirm.
Yes, yes, and yes. Let’s do it. I’m 100% behind you.
I couldn’t have said it better. You read my mind.
Carol & Vicki – hope you can get on Representative Jackie Speier.
I had contacted her office and did not get a response. But in all fairness, couldn’t get upset – she’s one of the few people actually doing something about the problem.
I will say though, this is one of the shows of which I personally am the most proud.
Me too, Carol. Among ALL the shows and topics we’ve tackled on HWT, I can’t think of another about which I’m more proud.
I was there today, and I’m one of the ones who felt totally outraged and wanted vengeance. To hear these brave people tell their stories and to learn that nothing is done to the perpetrators is bad enough, but then to learn that the victims are further victimized for reporting the abuse made me furious. What is wrong with our military and government leaders for allowing this to happen? I am so hopping mad, I’m without words. Maybe when I cool down, I’ll have something of value to say here. For the moment, I’m overwhelmed with feelings of anger. And I’m going to stop there before I say something I regret.