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Rallying against violence

Why stop at domestic violence?
Rally against illegal, immoral, and bankrupting wars too.

In response to Anonymous' comment, sometimes you have to pick a cause to rally against. Illegal, immoral and bankrupting wars is a topic for another day. No one is saying this is the only injustice that exists. This is simply an effort to educate the public on one issue.

Statistics such as these should be read with great skepticism. Most such data are wildly exaggerated in order to garner attention or to stimulate change. I recall hearing a counselor say that fifty percent of the people in that room (probably a thousand people) had been victims of sexual abuse. WE all looked around at all the people we knew and just knew that figure was absurd. It turns out it was absurd, the guy just threw out a big number to get everyone's attention.

I would stake my life on the fact that Utah's true rape figures are no where near what this group claims. Do your own research, poll people you know, dig up your own data--you will find reality is far, far from what single issue groups like these claim.

Reminds me of claims that Superbowl Sunday was the most violent day af year against women. Ofcoarse, stats did not back those claims up, not that NOW and other organizations who made those claims were ever held accountable.

War is the most violent act mankind as ever invented.
"Put away your swords."
"Beat your swords into ploughshares."
"Turn the other cheek."
"Love your enemies."
- From the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

Christy above, is far too political in her comment.
Just because the country is divided on The Bush Doctrine's war, does not mean the violent act of war itself should be swept under the carpet as she is suggesting in her political correctness.

Women live longer than men. If that's not gender inequity, what is?

Hmm.. an unlikely place for a gender equity rally.

40 students? Must have been a slow news day. And this isn't news.

Anonymous 8:02 is right: There's alot more to this than just the standard "men bad, women good" paradigm that most anti-rape advocates use.

Google "rape rates Utah US" and you'll find a wealth of interesting sources that show it's a rather complex issue. For example, did you know that South Salt Lake has the highest rape rate of any major city in Utah, and is roughly 10 times higher than Sandy's?

Why is that so?

Only at BYU would a rally against sexual abuse of women be met with reactions that included skepticism and outright hostility. Well, perhaps simliar reactions might be expected from some students at Oral Roberts University, and also from students at most Pakistani madrassas.

To Anonymous @ 8:02: You advise to take statistics with "a grain of salt". You then suggest that we "poll people we know" about the topic of sexual abuse. Finally, you assert that the anecdotal evidence we collect through informal conversations with friends and family about their history of sexual abuse will be the most reliable information from which to form opinions.

So, um, what year did YOU graduate from "the Y"?

I agree that stats can be biased and not always true. The TV ad that states that 1 out of every child in Utah is addicted to alcohol is simply not true. However, rape and domestic violence is a problem in Utah. That any student at BYU would consider this a joke and make comments belongs at another university.

Hatuletoh: Well said!!!

Sure, as long as you can believe that statistics are misused, you can ignore the problem. The reality is, abuse does happen and lives are damaged and destroyed. It's war on a personal scale. It happens right here in Utah.

Ignoring it does not stop it or make it go away. Sometimes bringing the issue out in the open allows its victims to gain affirmation that they can overcome the pain and shame, and seek healing.

Fact's don't matter, it's the feelings that count!

Utah needs to clean up it's act and do some house cleaning around and about this town. This state has been on the decline for the past 20 years.

With all the illegals, crime and drug trafficking that is being introduced to our children things are looking quite bleak! The cleanup needs to start first with the government. I think it well past time for some good to happen, and we need are desperate to get some real men running this country again. This wimpy stuff is getting to me a nuisance!

To Anonymous 8:02

One rape is one too many! One domestic violence attack is one to many!

And furthermore, what difference does it make if the statistics are inflated? Please describe the level of sexual abuse against women with which you are comfortable.

If the inflated statistics said that 1 in 50 women was abused, but it was really only 1 in 100, would that be acceptable? How about 1 in 1000? Would you still be comfortable if that "1" was your daughter?

Please explain why there is any response to this rally other than general support for the idea of reducing sexual abuse, regardless of the numbers? That's an honest question. That such abuse happens at all is an abomination and shameful to the community; that it is dismissed as an unimportant topic by some in the community is exactly why such efforts to educate the public are needed.

Back in the day when I was sexually molested, I was constantly reminded that I was now "damaged goods" and I was counseled to repent because of the outfit I had been wearing when the incident occurred.

I'm glad to see someone making a stand, and hopefully making a difference.

Even in Utah, rape really DOES happen!

Ours is a violent society.
Even our sports have violent terminology such as, " the bomb," "blitz," "Soldier's Field," "War MemorialStadium," "hitting," "clipping" "blocking," "piling on," "shotgun," etc.
The connection between campus violence, rape,and domestic violence must surely come from a culture that thinks nothing of nuking or shock-and-aweing innocent women and children during wartime.