While the comment I'm writing about in this post can be found on any number of different sources, I'll just put one here for reference: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/us/politics/todd-akin-provokes-ire-with-legitimate-rape-comment.html
Dear Mr. Akin,
What year is it where you're living? Where I'm living right now, it's the year 2012. Where I'm living, the United States of America is one of the leading nations in the politic sphere - a nation other countries look to as a model on which to base their own public policy. Where I'm living right now we clearly have different standards than where you're living. The only thing that I can really conclude from your statements in regards to rape is that you must have gone into a coma in the 60's and just now woken up, because you're clearly living in a world where rape is a vague concept that is open to your own misogynistic interpretation on a case-by-case basis. I've got news for you, sir - that's not how we play anymore.
There are so many things wrong with your statement. First of all, it's not at all true that women's bodies have ways of shutting pregnancy down in the case of rape. (Not even a little bit!) Clearly you actually don't understand what those doctors are saying, because you're just plain wrong. Check your facts! Second of all, I can't believe that you actually dared to use the phrase "legitimate rape." Wake up! We're living in the 21st century. Rape does not need to be a violent act. Rape does not need to be an act by a male on a female. Rape doesn't even have to be an non-consensual act based on statutory rape laws. I think you might want to visit a law library sometime very soon.
I'm sure that you've heard many negative remarks in regard to your statement. Mine is not going to be any less negative than the others. However, it might be different. Many people have said they find your remarks (and your entire person and personality) to be disgusting, sad, abominable, horrendous, etc. I, on the other hand, do not find your comments to be accurately encompassed by any of these colorful descriptors. I find your comments to be just plain frightening. America is a country that is founded on the principle of individual human rights. It's founded on a principle of equality. It's founded on principles of freedom to choose how to live your life - religiously, fiscally, politically, spiritually, etc. Body autonomy should be part of those rights. Body autonomy includes things like how to dress, whether or not to get tattoos and piercings, with whom to have sex (ahem.... rape victims are classified as such because this right of body autonomy was stolen from them), etc. I find it terrifying that our country that is supposedly so forward thinking and whatnot has actually elected and supported candidates like yourself who support victim blaming as a legitimate form of dealing with rape cases. How am I, as a young woman living on my own, supposed to feel safe if you and other like-minded political leaders are going to say that it wasn't "legitimate" rape if I were to be drugged to the point of having no physical control over my own body while I'm out on the town with friends?
You have dug your own political grave in my opinion, Mr. Akin. I really, truly hope that the rest of America listened when you opened your fat mouth to make that comment. And, further, I hope that they think about their daughters and sons when they consider your comment. I would love to see you explain to the parents of a 17 year old mother-to-be that their daughter is pregnant because her rape wasn't legitimate or violent enough, and that the traumatic sexual assault that will torment all of them for the rest of their lives is really something that they should celebrate. Try saying that to one of the members of the Tea Party that so proudly supports you. Most of them are NRA card-holders and would probably have no problem with vigilante justice. Mr. Akin, you disgust me, you frighten me, and you need to withdraw your candidacy from both the political race as well as the human race.
Sincerely,
Bee
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