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Merry Christmas 2020: Images, Quotes, Messages, Wishes, Cards, Greetings, Pictures and GIFs
Tags: History Of Christmas, Quotes, Images Of God, Funny Story, Christmas

Merry christmas

Christmas Day, on December 25, is one of the most festive Christian holidays in many countries around the world. It celebrates Jesus’ birth.

On Christmas day, many people plant Christmas tree and decorate it with a shade. Christmas is mostly celebrated in the Christian country, on this day people ask for their favorite gift from Santa. People consider it as the birthday of Jesus. Jesus is also called the child of God. On this day, there are good decorations all over the world, Christmas is decorated everywhere.

On this day, thousands of people remember them by burning candles in front of Jesus. On this day, the children are happy about Santa Claus because they think that Santa will bring their favorite gift.

History behind Christmas

The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and

for more read about it please visit https://mayopinionworld.blogspot.com/2020/12/christmas.html

and also for images quotes and funny messages
An Illustration and A quote
By: Priyanka Srivastava
Tags: Paper Poetry, Quotes, Illustration, Proust, Writing

An Illustration and A quote

Illustration done by Author

This is just one of the many quotes which I loved from the book, Painting in Proust. I returned this book to the library, but if I come across it, I will borrow it again. I believe there are poems hidden in those paintings, but we humans are always in a hurry; if only we could pause and soak it all. While turning the pages of the books, I did the same; I soaked in the stories quietly.
Find Your Happy Moments in Tiny Daily Events — Daily Quote
By: Jo Hawk
Tags: Snow, Motivation, Quotes, Gratitude, Writing

The weather forecaster says it will snow tomorrow morning. I listen to people groan and complain about the inconvenience it causes and the need to fire up the snowblower. I commiserate with the traffic issue, but my soul loves when it snows. Shoveling the driveway is an enchanting occasion. My favorite time to complete my cherished chore is late at night, while big fluffy flakes float from the heavens and slowly settle to the ground.

The neighborhood is quiet. On the main road, heavy-duty dump trucks, equipped with giant blades, scrape the pavement. The plows won’t venture down my tiny residential street until they clear and salt the major arteries. For now, it is me and the astonishing comfort of silence. The snow shovel grates on cement, cracking the brittle cold air as I erase any evidence of the white powder. The temperature gauge hovers around freezing, but I am warm, and I couldn’t be happier. These are the minutes I live for.

What are your happy little moments?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer
We Are The Same
By: Vivi Kurniawati
Tags: Quotes, Life, Writing, Flowers

Jl. Dr. Sutomo, Randusari, Kec. Semarang Sel., Kota Semarang, Jawa Tengah 50244

Blooming with various characters gives them charisma. Their aim is not just to spoil our eyes with their beauty. One thing we may forget about their purpose, they bloom because they are symbols of life.This important thing makes them work to help life go according to plan.

A process that they go through is very important to achieve their goals. The courage of the charisma of each of their characters makes us learn to appreciate them even more. But to appreciate them requires a lot of energy because it is not an easy thing. They are beautiful and offer meaningful beauty, we cannot treat them with just looking and greeting. We need to go through the deepening more closely or we will run into a misunderstanding.

Even though they grow with the same purpose, sometimes they grow with different processes and make them something unique. By knowing what the process is for treating them well, we have to look at what we have and what they need.
5 Insightful Books To Have On Your Holiday Shopping List
By: Peter Burns
Tags: Wisdom, Life Lessons, Quotes, Self Improvement, Books

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . The man who never reads lives only one.” — George R.R. Martin

As a kid, the holiday season was my favorite part of the year. The songs, the bright lights, the food, all these things sparked my imagination. There was a spirit of joy in the air, one that gave that warm fuzzy feeling in your heart.

Coming from a multi-cultural family, my parents always mixed different traditions, which made our Christmas a bit different from everyone else’s. While the spirit of togetherness that you get at the Christmas dinner table was very touching, secretly it was always the presents that I was looking forward to the most.

I would always try to be the first one to race to the Christmas tree in order to find out what Santa brought me this year. I loved everything, but there was one type of gift that rose above all the rest: books. I love reading! I am a voracious reader, often literally devouring books. My mom actually had to hide them from me, since I spent so much time with them.

For me, there is nothing better to give as a gift than books. You are literally gifting people wisdom, and a look into another person’s soul. This year, books will be the things that I will be putting under the Christmas tree as well. If you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, New Year’s, another holiday, or even nothing at all, books are something that will always warm up another person’s heart, and open up their mind.

If you don’t know what books to buy this holiday season, here are 5 books that I have read, and that I highly recommend. I am sure that when your family and friends unwrap them, a wide smile will appear on their face. That’s what life is all about, making other people happy.
LESSON I LEARNT FROM TWO BASTARDS
By: The History Guardian
Tags: Brutalism, Relationships, Quotes, Life Lessons, Love

A LESSON I LEARNT FROM TWO BASTARDS

— — — — — — — — — — — — — This evening I was sitting under the pavilion with two guys beside me. And there was a lady standing right in front of me waiting patiently for some one.

As I was sitting, I was also observing every move of the two guys sitting beside me towards the girl. Those two guys keep disturbing this girl, asking her series of ridiculous questions but the girl did not reply them. Questions like; Where are you going, Who are you waiting for, Are you waiting for your boyfriend, Do you want to call your boyfriend, you can take my phone and call your boyfriend.....etc. Hope you understand when guys are like this, but I found it disgusting with their lack of mannerism.

After few minutes later,her boyfriend arrived and apologize to her for his lateness. then instead of keeping quiet, the guys continue to embarrass the girl in the presence of her boyfriend and this nearly cause a big fight.

THIS IS WHAT I LEARNT FROM THE TWO BASTARDS.

QUOTE...." Sometimes we human are the cause to the problems of our life, simply because of our STUPIDITY AND ARROGANCE.

https://www.facebook.com/100014572420492/posts/1035843333578071/?app=fbl
Better Slogans
By: John Gonzalez
Tags: Better Slogans, Quotes, Quotes About Life, Slogans, Nike

Nike: “Just do it.” → Make it automatic.

Lays: “Betcha can’t eat just one.” → You will eat this entire bag. Choose your bag size accordingly.

McDonald’s: “I’m loving it.” → I’m loving it for now.

Apple: “Think different.” → Reflect alone.

California Milk Processing Board: “Got milk?” → Drink water.
The Alchemist
By: Diksha Chaudhari
Tags: Reading, The Alchemist, Quotes, Books, Book Summary

A fable about following your dream

by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho is one of my favorite author. He had a different way of writing that inspired me. Here are some of my favorite quotes from his book.

“When you want something all the universe conspire in helping you to achieve it.”

“If you start out by promising what you don’t even have yet , you’ll lose your desire to work towards getting it.”

“The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world , and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.”

“People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want.”

“Omens are the individual language in which god talks to you.”

“Because there is a force that wants you to realize your destiny; it whets your appetite with a taste of success.”

“You must understand that love never keeps a man from pursuing his destiny. If he abandons that pursuit , it’s because it wasn’t true love.”
Socrates: On the Secret of Change
By: John Kremer
Tags: Socrates, Quotations, Quotes, Change Your Life, Quotes About Life

Change | Socrates Quote | Book Marketing

Socrates: On the Secret of Change

Socrates: On the Secret of Change

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. — Socrates

Book Marketing Tip

In marketing your books, don’t worry about the way things have been done in the past.

Don’t worry about the rules. Don’t worry about the obstacles. Don’t worry about the naysayers.

Do something. Then do something more. Finally, do one more thing. Do this every day: 1–2–3.

Build the new. Build it every day. — John Kremer

Socrates: On the Secret of Change

Check out these stories as well:
6 Lessons From Marcus Aurelius That Will Help You Become a Better Leader
By: Clément Bourcart
Tags: Quotes, Self Improvement, Philosophy, Advice, Mindfulness

Marcus Aurelius, known as the “last great emperor,” ruled over the Roman Empire for nearly two decades, until his death in 180 AD.

At this time in history, Marcus Aurelius was holding the most powerful position in the world. He was leading the world’s most prominent Empire.

During his time as ruler, he wrote his thoughts down in journals which eventually came together in his “Meditations”. These are a collection of thoughts he produced for his own sake and in the pursuit of becoming a better human being. And, a better leader.

These insights are available to you now. Strive to implement them as Aurelius did, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a world-class leader.
The Difficult Task of Selecting A Simply Perfect Present — Daily Quote
By: Jo Hawk
Tags: Writer, Gifts, Quotes, Holidays, Inspiration

There are few tasks as rewarding as choosing the perfect gift. Gifting to special people is our way of expressing admiration, respect, love, or sometimes disdain for the recipient. We invest careful consideration, weighing each selection before we make our decision. The process doesn’t stop there. The holiday wrap must have significance and coordinate with trims, bows, and name tags. We cut the wrapping paper, trimming it with precision, tucking edges, and folding precise corners to create a visual masterpiece. If we succeed in our goal, discovering the treasure inside is an event to be remembered.

There is a great joy in watching a beloved family member unwrap a festive package decked with sparkling decorations. The box’s mysterious contents pique their curiosity. Some take forever dissecting tape and unraveling ribbons. Others can’t stand the suspense, and they rip, tug, and tear until the item lays in their hands. Surprises, delight, joyous squeals, and heartfelt gratitude are the payoff for the giver of fabulous presents. When we consider the emotion we long to convey, we discover selecting an ideal present is rarely contingent on the monetary value. The best gifts often require investing time rather than spending money.

What is on your wish list this year?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer
Relationship Quotes — for healthy relation
Tags: Quotes, Relationships

Every relationship is unique, and people come together for many different reasons. Part of what defines a healthy relationship is sharing a common goal for exactly what you want the relationship to be and where you want it to go. And that’s something you’ll only know by talking deeply and honestly with your partner. However, there are also some characteristics that most healthy relationships have in common. Knowing these basic principles can help keep your relationship meaningful, fulfilling and exciting whatever goals you’re working towards or challenges you’re facing together.All romantic relationships go through ups and downs and they all take work, commitment, and a willingness to adapt and change with your partner. But whether your relationship is just starting out or you’ve been together for years, there are steps you can take to build a healthy relationship. Even if you’ve experienced a lot of failed relationships in the past or struggled before to rekindle the fires of romance in your current relationship, you can learn to stay connected, find fulfilment, and enjoy lasting happiness.

I used to advertise my loyalty and I don’t believe there is a single person I loved that I didn’t eventually betray. Albert Camus Relationships dont always make sense. Especially from the outside Sarah Dessen
TOP 30 Social Anxiety Quotes: Inspirational Quotes to Overcome Social Anxiety
By: Healthy Lifestyel
Tags: Anxiety, Quotes, Mental Illness, Social Anxiety, Mental Health

Home Social Anxiety Quotes

“That never wrote to me” ― Emily Dickinson “I’m not anti-social. I’m just not social.” ― Woody Allen

“I’m wearying to escape into that glorious world, and to be always there: not seeing it dimly through tears, and yearning for it through the walls of an aching heart: but really with it, and in it.” ― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights “Self-consciousness is the enemy of all art, be it acting, writing, painting, or living itself, which is the greatest art of all.” ― Ray Bradbury

“A man will be imprisoned in a room with a door that’s unlocked and opens inwards; as long as it does not occur to him to pull rather than push.” ― Ludwig Wittgenstein, Culture and Value “For someone like myself in whom the ability to trust others is so cracked and broken that I am wretchedly timid and am forever trying to read the expression on people’s faces.” ― Osamu Dazai, No Longer Human

“I have packed myself into silence so deeply and for so long that I can never unpack myself using words. When I speak, I only pack myself a little differently.” ― Herta Müller, The Hunger Angel “I see at intervals the glance of a curious sort of bird through the close-set bars of a cage: a vivid, restless, resolute captive is there; were it but free, it would soar cloud-high.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“He could only consider me as the living corpse of a would-be suicide, a person dead to shame, an idiot ghost.” ― Osamu Dazai, No Longer Human “What is society but an individual? […] The ocean is not society; it is individuals. This was how I managed to gain a modicum of freedom from my terror at the illusion of the ocean called the world.” ― Osamu Dazai, No Longer Human
New Twists in Preparing Your Annual Great Holiday Movie Marathon — Daily Quote
By: Jo Hawk
Tags: Motivation, Quotes, Christmas Movies, Holidays, Inspiration

The last-minute madness of the holiday rush begins at 5:01 pm Friday. With lists and reminders by my side, I set to work. In the wee hours of the morning, tired but happy, I collapse into bed, knowing my reward is near.

The enormous pile of nondescript delivery boxes will have transformed. Purchased presents, festive holiday paper, sparkling ribbons, glittering bows, and decorative tapes are magical ingredients. Wrapped gifts will soon pack Santa’s bags, ready for distribution to friends and family. I plan to add the trays of countless dozens of themed cookies to the neatly labeled piles first thing in the morning. Only a few select treasures will lie tucked beneath a twinkling Christmas tree, waiting for our scheduled Zoom call. I review my notes, check the list once more, and smile. Tomorrow morning is drop off day.

Saturday’s remaining agenda calls for pajamas, naps on the couch, and the traditional family movie marathon. There are no surprises in this lineup. The list contains classics, both new and old, with some added, just for fun. The stories haven’t changed — we know every word. A watch party is a new twist, but I expect the films still have the power to evoke nostalgia kissed delight. Friends will text to compare movie trivia, bet on the likelihood of a White Christmas, and make plans for the New Year. When the pizza arrives, holiday stress is guaranteed to dissolve into holiday cheer.

What is your favorite holiday movie?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer
“ Inflation is prejudiced, as it benefits a few and destroys others.” Adam Tabriz, MD
By: Adam Tabriz
Tags: Quote Of The Day, Quotes, Inflation, Economy, Prejudice

“Peace of mind would come to all people through the universal respect for the basic human rights of everyone”
10 Amazing Lion King Quotes
Tags: Lion King, Quotes, Movie Quotes

Here are 10 Amazing Lion King Quotes (2019) that are funny, witty, motivational and full of life lessons and will change your life forever.

#1. “I’m only brave when I have to be. Being brave doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble.” — Mufasa

#2 “Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe with you.” — Mufasa

#3. “The past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.” — Rafiki

#4. “Any story worth telling is worth telling twice.” — Rafiki

#5. “Look beyond what you see.” — Rafiki

#6. “As you go through life, you will see that there is so much that we don’t understand. And the only thing we know is things don’t always go the way we plan.” — Simba

#7. “Love will find a way, anywhere we go. We’re home if we are there together.” — Simba

#8. “Truth is in the eye of the beholder.” — Scar

#9. “You got to put your past behind you. Look kid, bad things happen, and you can’t do anything about it, right?” — Timon

#10. “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” — Pumbaa

For more amazing Lion King Quotes, visit: https://mythgyaan.com/lion-king-quotes/
10 Best Godfather Quotes & Dialogues Filled With Life Lessons
Tags: Quotes, Godfather, Movie Quotes

The Godfather trilogy is arguably the best crime/gangster movie trilogy ever made. These dialogues & quotes from the godfather trilogy is an attempt to give you all the major themes shown in the trilogy and the life lessons you can get from it.

#1. “A friend should always underestimate your virtues and an enemy overestimate your faults.” — Don Vito Corleone

#2. “I have learned more in the streets than in any classroom.” — Don Vito Corleone

#3. “Great men are not born great, they grow great.” — Don Vito Corleone

#4. “Never let anyone know what you are thinking.” — Michael Corleone

#5. “I respect those that tell me the truth, no matter how hard it is.” — Michael Corleone

#6. “Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” — Michael Corleone

#7. “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” — Michael Corleone

#8. “Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger.” — Licio Lucchesi

#9. “The richest man is the one with the most powerful friends.” — Osvaldo Altobello

#10. “Good health is the most important thing. More than success, more than money, more than power.” — Hyman Roth

For more Godfather Quotes, visit: https://mythgyaan.com/the-godfather-quotes/
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”
By: Roman Mikhail
Tags: Quotes, Wisdom, Portraits

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”

— Albert Einstein

Source: photograph taken in 1921 by Ferdinand Schmutzer / Wikimedia Commons.
3 quotes for Dec 18
By: Arvind Ashok
Tags: Discussion, Mindset, Quotes

More than purpose, we also need realism. Where do we start? What do we do first? What do we do right now? How are we sure that what we’re doing is moving us forward? What are we benchmarking ourselves against?



– Ryan Holiday

When I moved back, I thought passion and purpose were all one needed. If these two were present, then nothing else mattered. Well, sure. Except there’s the small matter of what should one actually do and how does one go about doing it?

Are we doing the right thing? Are we staying true to our mission and values? Or are we going against what’s true to our hearts to make more money or get more clients or whatever?

Purpose is important. Passion, I’d rank much behind purpose. But like Ryan says, realism is crucial.
Get out of your own head.
By: Kevin Alexander
Tags: Life, Motivation, Quotes, Self, Inspriation

Get out of your own head. With the benefit of hindsight, things that caused us to die a million little deaths, really weren’t that big of deal. Letting go of those can be one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.”

— Michel de Montaigne
30 Lessons Turning 30
Tags: Life, Quotes, Happiness, Reflections, Lessons Learned

I turned 30 last month! 🥳

Thanks!

This past year has been an adventure. I spent most of my time indoors, perfecting my introspection, gathering thoughts about the first 30 years of my life. Much of me has been shaped by the things I’ve read, the experiences I’ve been fortunate to have, and the people I am privileged to call my friends.

The best way to remind myself of the lessons I’ve gathered so far would be to write them down. I hope you’d be able to relate and find some relevance in a few of these. If it doesn’t help you now, I hope it will help you in the future :
The Controversy of Pleasure During Sexual Assault
By: Matilda Swinney
Tags: Rape, Feminism, Women, Sexuality, This Happened To Me

My co-workers wanted to know where I had been.

They had lost me at some point in the night out and couldn’t work out how. Next up, my manager apologised privately to me, telling me he often got too rough during sex. My blurred, probably still drunk self, nodded and smiled.

An uninvited flashback to Friday night surged into my head.

The feeling of my manager forcing himself inside me, as my drunken mind told me I liked it rough with my boyfriend and all was fine, I was still in control, this was a wild experience. I was being wild.

Plus, who would want to lose their job? I was onto something good with this company. My manager had said, minutes before having sex with me, he would make sure I would never work again if I continued to refuse him. A nightmare image of all companies blacklisting me, made me realise sex was the best option.

It was a small price to pay for job security

And so, it had been my decision. But, as my body physically responded to his cock inside me, a strange thing happened. Instead of the normal wave of pleasure, nausea overwhelmed me and my body became stiff.

At that moment my manager slapped me hard across the face and I felt his resentment. I have never seen a man look at a woman with so much hatred in his eyes. It spilled out and momentarily reached my core, spreading the hate deep within me.

He hit me again, but I was no longer present. Lots of people like to be hit during sex, I told myself. It was just rough sex amped up a little. I was fine. I felt the familiar beginning of an orgasm, just as he pulled out. My near orgasm told me my dignity, control, and freedom of choice hadn’t been taken from me. It was normal sex, not rape. And I had a near orgasm to prove it.
Did You Tell Your Rapist to Stop?
By: Adan Kovinich
Tags: Rape, Relationships, Self, Feminism, Mental Health

When I turned 15, I was talking with my school counselor. I saw her once a week at school on Friday mornings. It was part of a program for children with alcoholic parents.

I started talking to her and then stopped. And she looked at me quizzically. Almost puzzled that my mouth had stopped moving and that I had spaced out. I was having a flashback to the moment when my rapist had cum.

“Can I tell you something?” — I told Alleta.

“Always.”

I stopped and was afraid. I didn’t want to bring it up and then have to go through the process of telling my mom again. I didn’t know the repercussions of me telling her.

“Adan, you can tell me anything.”

“I don’t want to get into trouble again.”

“Adan, I am going to preface this by saying, if you tell me about anything illegal, thoughts of suicide, or any acts of violence at home, I will have to report it.”

“Okay”

I just stared at the clock in front of me. Fifty-six minutes and 37 seconds until this session is over. I can sit quietly for 56 minutes and then go back to class and pretend like this never happened. I can act like I never brought it up.

“Adan, what’s going on, girlfriend.”

I started to cry, and Aleta got up and hugged me. The biggest hug I had ever gotten. Something was so special about the way Aleta wrapped her arms around me. She reassured me that it’s going to be okay.

I collected myself and then told her everything. From the beginning, what happened eight months earlier, who he was, his name, the teacher that disregarded my trust I had in her, and the way my mom had been treating me.

Aletta looked at me as she shed a tear. She smiled and grabbed my leg, and leaned close to me. She looked me in the eye and told me that I would be okay. I wouldn’t need to carry this guilt anymore. I could let it go.

“I am going to have to report this, Adan.”

I knew that she would have to tell someone; I knew it because she told me earlier. I needed to give her all of the information because I couldn’t carry this anymore, and I was having flashbacks. I was shaking when I would see him in public. I panicked every time I thought of him ejaculating. It wasn’t going away.

Aletta picked up the phone, dialed the local police phone number, and told me that everything would be fine. As she clicked each number, I shuttered, knowing what was going to happen next.

“Hello, may I speak with an officer?”

I started to cry, and she grabbed my arm. She smiled and nodded, indicating that I was doing the right thing. At the time, it didn’t feel right. I was petrified my dad would know that I would be all over the newspaper as the stupid girl that let a man ten years her senior rape her.

Then an officer picked up the phone.

“Hello, My name is Aletta; I would like to report a rape.”
Charges filed in 2002 murder, 2018 rape investigations
By: King County Prosecuting Attorney S Office
Tags: Rape, Criminal Justice, King County Prosecutor, Cold Case Murder, King County

On Dec. 21, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed a first-degree murder case and a first-degree rape case against 45-year-old man already in prison for another felony crime.

The murder victim was found in February 2002 behind a Federal Way grocery store.

The rape occurred in May 2018 near Burien City Hall.

The defendant was charged by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in a separate attempted robbery case and sentenced in May 2019.

As part of that felony sentence, his DNA was entered into a criminal database (CODIS). That database led to matches in the 2002 murder case and the 2018 rape case.

Additional DNA testing was completed in summer 2020. The murder and the rape investigations were referred to our office on Dec. 18.

The 2002 murder was investigated by Federal Way Police and the 2018 rape was investigated by the King County Sheriff’s Office.

As noted in the public court documents, in both instances in this current case the defendant targeted vulnerable, middle-aged, small-in-stature women who were strangers and who lived and/or worked on the streets.

His arraignment on the murder charge and the rape charge is scheduled January 7. The defendant remains in the Monroe Corrections Center on the earlier conviction (case 18–1–04795–8).

This post is current as of December 22. It is not expected to be updated, but updates in the case can be found using case number 20–1–06793–4.
A Sad world
By: Nirbhya Singh
Tags: Rape, Life, Feminism, Women, This Happened To Me

Photo by Motoki Tonn on Unsplash

A butterfly dies

A bird dies

A dog dies

A fox dies

A tree dies

A jungle dies

A flower dies

Wind dies

Sky dies

Water dies

We say “No worries”.

When a woman or a girl dies; raped, butchered,

molested, harassed, abused…

Still no worries?
Everyone Should Know About This Story (Rape)
Tags: Rape, Unfair, Girls, Boys, Horrifying

Meet Divyansh Gaur A 17-year-old Teen, He has something to tell you about how life Is so Unfair to him.

This is horrifying, and heartbreaking to know that at such a small age he had to go through all this.

This is not acceptable.
According to former Amish woman and feminist activist Torah Bontrager, Amish women and girls are…
By: James Finn
Tags: Rape, Prison, True Crime, Missouri, Incest

According to former Amish woman and feminist activist Torah Bontrager, Amish women and girls are uniquely vulnerable to sexual abuse. She says she was raped by family members when she was a girl and that her tragic situation, like the one you’re writing about, is ordinary.

She says Amish women and girls are at high risk of sex abuse because Amish children are kept uneducated as a matter of “religious liberty,” and lack English language and other skills that would allow them to reach out for help. Because they’re denied education past the age of 14, they don’t have ordinary resources like teachers and guidance counselors to turn to when family abuse them.

Instead, they remain isolated in insular communities without the education that would allow to advocate for themselves or achieve independence.
Being Gifted is a Curse that Hunts You, and People Don’t Understand
By: Kambiz Shabankare
Tags: Rape, Bullying, Gifted, Big Bang Theory, Depression

Image Courtesy of smart parents.sg

A couple of months ago, a lady asked me, "why are you implying that you are gifted, so everyone is gifted."

There is a lack of understanding of what gifted really means. And for a starter, when someone tells you he or she is gifted, it is not like the person is trying to intimidate you; it's more of giving you a heads up, like someone who has cancer, PTSD, or AIDS.

Personally, I'm not too fond of the term gifted because it does not represent what it stands for. Being gifted is more pain than glory; that's my opinion, not a fact.

Less than 2.5 percent of the world population are called gifted. It means these people are born with a particular condition/ability. Their brain comprehends, analyzes, and grasp information and knowledge more and faster than anybody else.

Not everyone has the exact same brain functionality, but all of them have the sleepless brain uncommon.

Some of you are now trying to apply this fact to yourself, but slow down tigers, 97.5 percent of you are not even close by any means. And believe me, you are so lucky that you are not.

Image Courtesy of familyeducation.com

As I said, giftedness comes with special brain functionality. It means you know more than everyone else around you because your brain works like a vacuum cleaner. It sucks everything around you, and it is not like you have a choice. You have to feed this hungry monster all the time, or it begins to crazy.

I remember when I was a child, my mom took me to the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) in our city, Bandar-e Anzali. The institute had a huge library, which was good for a normal child, but I found the books too stupid even to try. So I forced my mom to sign me up at a public library. I started reading the books based on their titles from A to Z (in Farsi alphabet, of course, Alef to ye). I was reading everything, and I literally mean everything, from gardening to sociology, novels, physics, philosophy, history, etc.; the only subject I tried to stay away from was biology because I was afraid of seeing blood or the torn apart human-body. At my elementary school, I was the weird kid because I talked about things like Max Planck's theory of thermodynamics, or Einstein’s theory of relativity, which other elementary kids did not understand. Then I was completely isolated, and my hell of being bullied began something that is still chasing me, although I am 47 years old.

As a gifted child, one of your most important challenges is your parents. The majority of parents have no idea what does it mean to be a gifted child. They think their kids have a wild imagination. When I was four, my aunt was babysitting me, and she was fascinated by my imagination. I tried to explain how traveling to space works, but she thought I am a stupid child with a funny imagination. Later that they, my parents and my aunt laughed about it, but none of them realized I was talking about the real thing, how a rocket traveling to the moon functions.
The man with no name
By: Daniel A. Teo
Tags: Rape, Rape Culture, Poem, Victims, Prose

A poem about rape culture

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

Her skin still remains

skin even under

the countless attachments of his

sexual metaphors.

Why does he refer to her

by the curvatures of her bottoms

and her appearance that would one day rot,

instead of the beauty of her heart?

It’s although “women” and “respect” can

never be written in the same sentence.

As girls

all tremor on knees before heavy-set men,

the words

slut resounding in the head —

derogated by boys whose names never revealed

because of the fear of supposedly ruined futures

receive football scholarships instead of

jail sentences.

Where are the men

who bring you on candlelight dinners,

whisper romance poetry in ears

because instead of “How was your day”,

her phone is bombarded

with nude requests and drooling emojis.

Does she wear that much makeup

to be referred to as a ragdoll

solely to be

male purpose?

Maybe girls too

don't see past the

charm and sex appeal

before they’re pulled into a cage they can't get out

How is it so

in the span of a month

the confidence of her body

completely stripped away piece by piece

use cloth to hide stretch marks

and stomachs with flaps

under callous skin

eyes devoid of innocence.

But who is she to speak up

when the men always win

no matter the battle

if she keeps talking

what makes you think

her barely healed over scars

won't bleed again.

Either tied to ropes or cuffs,

pants not in the vision

her body is for his pleasure

she sits in silence

threatened to not say a word

never open her mouth

don't flinch when he touches her thigh

for him

she has to bleed dry.
Sexual Assault. Rape. Breaking Down a Meme.
By: Danielle Louise Leukam
Tags: Rape, Rape Culture, Sexual Assault, Women, Metoo

“Women urged to carry keys between fingers. Women urged to cover their drinks at all times. Women urged to not get drunk around men. Women urged to not walk alone at night. Women urged to carry pepper spray. CAN WE PLEASE URGE MEN TO NOT SEXUALLY ASSAULT WOMEN.”

I came across this meme on social media this morning on Instagram; I follow #metoo posts. How great is this that we are acknowledging the one cause for being sexually assaulted: THE PERPETRATOR! But this meme is SO NOT inclusive. And maybe that’s the point of it. It would be more inclusive if the last sentence could be true without having to say ANYTHING about the victim.

I also want to add that men/women are used here based on statistics. But there is a small statistic of men that are sexually assaulted by women. She/he/they sexually assault or rape her/him/they. Sexual violence can go any combination of that previous sentence.

But what about children? How should they be protecting themselves from sexual violence? Hardly anything in the above meme pertains to children.

What about a woman intentionally going on a date with a man, not knowing what he is capable of or what his intentions are? What about girlfriends that experience sexual violence from their boyfriends? What about wives that are raped or sexually abused by their husbands? Having keys between their fingers, covering their drinks, and not walking alone at night wouldn’t necessarily apply.

What about athletes that experience sexual assault by their coaches? What about nurses that experience sexual harassment by doctors? What about students that experience sexual harassment by their teachers?

I think this meme is a phenomenal example of why survivors need to be heard. When you hear about rape, what do you think? Oh, they must have been drunk. They must have been grabbed on the street. They must have been wearing a slutty costume at a Halloween party. *Cue the buzzer* — EH, wrong! It. Is. Not. About. The. Survivor. It is simply, only the fault of the perpetrator/rapist. They are the ONLY one to blame. Being raped doesn’t always happen because a woman is grabbed while walking home alone drunk in the dark from a bar (but even if this is their story, and even if the woman was drunk, it is still only the rapist to blame!). The things mentioned in the above meme could help a percentage of women who are raped, sure. But I mean, what if a woman was sleeping in her own bed with the doors locked? *shrugs*

Gracefully steps off soapbox… in sparkly red heels*

You can find more articles on my blog: https://minnesotalioness.wixsite.com/survivors and eventually my book, when I find a publisher. =)

Of note, on November 18th of 2018, a masked, armed man broke into my home. I woke up at 1:27 am to a gun pointed at my head, was tied up, and raped 3 times over the course of 5 hours with my son sleeping in the room next door. (You can Google the media’s version of the story: Zane Robert Pederson).
Another Trigger…
By: Jodi Richard
Tags: Rape, Emotional Triggers, Recovery, Rape Victims

No

I remember saying “No”. Over and over again. “No” when you kissed me….you were my first kiss, did you know that? “No” when you lifted my nightgown. “No” when you told me I was beautiful. I didn’t feel beautiful, I felt scared, terrified, trapped. Saying “No” is all I remembered for 34 years. The rest I blocked out. The rest I hid so deep inside me I figured I’d never remember it.

I thought I was fine with that.

I wasn’t.

It rotted me from the inside.

I had no power, no control, no self-esteem, no sense of self. I was spinning out of control for 34 years. So many thoughts of self-hate…so many. How could I whine about such a thing, you didn’t REALLY hurt me, did you? I had no bruises, no black eyes, no broken bones. Did I ask for it? Did I, in some naive 16-year-old girl way, ask you to do that to me? Was there a part of me screaming “hold me down while I struggle and fuck me on the bathroom floor….RIGHT NOW, PLEASE” that only you were able to hear?

I was aging, my two daughters were maturing, and you were still there, always there. A dark stain on my heart, mind, and soul; keeping true love, true joy, true happiness from me. That stain was growing, making it darker, pulling me into a hole and further away from the light. This hole was so deep it seemed impossible to escape. And that word I uttered so many times to you, that word “No” was getting louder. I would close my eyes and “No” would get louder still. It haunted me everywhere I went. Running, sleeping, dreaming, having sex, drinking tea…it was always with me. You were always with me even though I blocked you out. Although I never really blocked you out, I was never in control, you were always in control. From the moment of that first kiss when I said “No” the first time, you owned me. I was yours because I had nowhere else to go, no one to talk with, no one to tell me it was going to be ok eventually. I only had the memory of “No”. And that word meaning nothing to you. So I covered the memory in darkness, not knowing then, that the darkness would eventually consume me.
Are Men Really Helpless?
By: Chidera Ochuagu
Tags: Rape, Rape Culture, Men, Women, Consent

So, a woman get raped and you begin to hear people say things like,

“Why was she alone with a man?”

“Why did she go to see him at night?”

“Why didn’t she cover her body properly?”

When people justify a woman being raped because she was alone with men , I often wonder why maleness is associated with stupidity.

I have slept on a bed with a male friend, alone in his house and he did not touch me. No he didn't. I wore his clothes to bed that night.

So why do people think men are helpless?

Why does society think it's not okay to stay alone with a man, just because, He is man?

Does being a man equal being an animal?

Even animals don't rape.

Don't justify shit in my presence.

I have slept in a house with three men, I was the only woman. Just four of us in the house and None touched me wrongly, none made silly jokes.

I was in the house braless and on shorts. They treated me like a human and a woman.

So what do you mean when you say "a woman shouldn't stay with guys alone"?

What do you mean when you say "she didn’t cover her body properly"?

Just what do you mean?

Are you saying men have no self control?

Are you saying rape is okay?

Are you mad?

It’s okay if you get mushy and wants sex, all to do is ask for consent.

If you get a yes, have a nice time.

Once she says No. Stop. Just stop it.

No doesn't have another meaning or interpretation, It is No.
I’ve had a lot of time on my hands to think lately and, I think back to times when I shared my life…
Tags: Empowerment, Rape, Rape Culture, Rape Victims, Survivor

I’ve had a lot of time on my hands to think lately and, I think back to times when I shared my life experience with what I thought were “safe” people. When it comes to the subject of rape, it’s interesting how when it is something that is not controlled by the victim; people always lay blame on the victim, for putting themselves in dangerous situations, by, drinking too much, or, wearing a revealing outfit when in fact most of the time it has nothing to do with that. It has to do with another persons sense of entitlement to their fellow humans, body. It is the culture our society creates that somehow, if you wear the right clothing, don’t drink, go to church, do ABC, you should be ok. It’s deplorable. I remember all the times after mine how I talked myself into believing it was consensual because I was too terrified to face the truth. The truth being that my first time having sex, was not consensual, I said no, several times. The first boyfriend I ever had, raped me the first time I ever had sex. It is something that has been engrained in my mind for nearly a decade. You can do everything right, you can say no, you can try to be in control but when fight or flight hits… you can’t control how your body will react, you float off into the deepest parts of your mind and disappear. It’s interesting because a lot of my old friends know this guy, they hangout with him, shit, their probably friends with his sleazy ass. I just know it’s been weighing on my mind quite a bit lately, and, I have nothing to be ashamed of. Nor should any other victim of rape. No is no, no matter what. If you know who I’m talking about, just be weary because he’s a disgusting human being, and, also stalked me for 2 years after we broke up, we only dated 6 months. Isn’t it crazy ? The lies we tell our minds because we’re just too ashamed to admit the truth because the truth is just too much to face sometimes. It’s been 9 years, and yet there are days where I’m so disgusted with my own body that I can’t get out of bed because of this fleeting moment in my life that was stolen from me. Yet, this man probably never even has a second thought of me.

I’m just sharing this because I have so many friends who have shared in this same trauma but are too ashamed. I’ve been ashamed for so long and felt so bad making others uncomfortable that I just try not to ever mention it. There is nothing to be ashamed of. You survived, you are still here and still somehow carrying on with your life after such a soul crushing day experience. Love and light, and I’m proud of you for still going and still trying to do better for yourselves.

No more silence from me, let’s talk about it.
Allison,
By: Bassey Elimian
Tags: Rape, Rape Culture, Life Lessons, Self, Personal Growth

Allison,

Remarkable story. You took your power back — way to go🦅

Your right, rape culture is unspeakable and we must call it out.

Be proud of yourself and seek help as needed.

Thanks for sharing!
Should we teach them that Muhammad was a rapist, as well?
By: Hans Gruber
Tags: Racist, Rape

Should we teach them that Muhammad was a rapist, as well?
Pulling the Trigger
By: Katherine Grace
Tags: Rape, PTSD, Self, Sexual Assault, Mental Health

“So many years past being raped, I tell myself what happened is ‘in the past.’ This is only partly true. In too many ways, the past is still with me. The past is written on my body. I carry it every single day. The past sometimes feels like it might kill me. It is a very heavy burden.” — Roxanne Gay

On a Facetime Thanksgiving call with my in-laws this afternoon and my mother-in-law pushes her husband to tell us a story about the he wandered into a human trafficking/forced porn situation.

It’s important to note here that she knows I am a sexual harassment and assault survivor.

She knew this would be hard for me to hear.

She pushed it through anyway, or maybe because of it because, really, she always seems to resent that we are happy and living our lives in spite of the harm she’s caused since my husband was too young for words.

When I realized where the story was going I first froze.

“NO!” I screamed inside, “this cannot be happening. NO! Make it stop…”

I sank further into my panic for what felt like ions…

And I felt myself begin to dissociate and shut down and I fought like utter hell to stay present and leave the situation to protect myself. “NO! Get up! Get up! Get away!” I heard the voice of my fiercest inner protector screaming at me.

I walked out on the call. Went to the bathroom. Splashed a LOT of icy cold water on my face and then walked out, past the facetime call and into the kitchen to focus on something I could control — our Thanksgiving meal preparations.

My night is shot.

I’ve been living in three worlds since that call: this one, the ‘real’ world I am living in today, the world where those women where victims of human trafficking and the third, where I’m trapped in an endless, horrifically looping memory of being r*ped…

Goddammit.

And thank god for my husband, for his furry and his fierce protectiveness and his constant, calming presence as I try so damn hard to stay here, locked into my current life, my safe life…

If you know somehow who lives with the demon that is PTSD — learn how to love them safely.

If you are somehow living with the perpetual haunting that is PTSD — know that you also have to permission to get up, to walk out of the room when someone chooses to trigger your worst memories, nightmares and fears.

Here are a few resources for learning more about living with PTSD after being sexually assaulted: