THE EDGE OF A CLIFF

 Life sometimes feels like you're standing at the edge of a cliff, and the negative words & attitudes are what will finally cause you to tip over the edge.

What has happened to the world? What  has happened to empathy and simple human decency? These are the questions that keep burning through minds. Since when did it become a thing of pride for the one gender to grossly violate the other and the brag about it?

 She says "NO" you insist that you heard "yes". She says "STOP" and you claim that you heard "proceed" What else does she need to say or do for you to realize that she is not interested in you and accept it? We live in a society that teaches women to be careful not to be raped and doesn't think it wise to teach men about consent. Where's the sense in that?

 Being afraid is the new thing. You call it taking precautions, we call it false imprisonments. We're imprisoned in our bodies because you say that it is how we dress that attracts you to act nasty. But, tell me, what do you say a person wearing a burqa? What was her own offense?  Was it her eyes that dragged you in? Or the toddler with diapers, was it her gurgles that reeled you in? 

  We are scared to move alone, thinking" what if he suddenly decides to jump me" Or " what if those group of boys say I don't greet them enough" or " what if he unilaterally decides that my refusal to give him my number is a slap on his face and ego" . We refuse to live in fear and we refuse to be blamed for what we have no control over. 

  No longer would we accept for the crime to be resolved "amicably and quietly". No longer would you pin your crime on us with statements such as "you tempted me". You rob young girls of a future and cause them to be excommunicated from the only homes they know and you think that your tears are enough? You think that a few words or some Money can heal the permanent damage? It is 5mins of pleasure to you, but a lifetime of torture to her. So, the next time you unilaterally decide that you want to touch a person without their permission, know that there are consequences for your actions and everyone who commits a crime, pays the price!  The culture of impunity has come to an end! 

Rape is a crime. A heinous crime. Why? Because it is a silent epidemic whereby the victim dies through the period she lives

The status quo must change. The narrative must change. Do better, be better, teach the future generation to do the same.

I'm not a slut, I'm just a girl trying to live her best life.

I'm not an object, don't objectify me.

I'm not a means for release, I'm human. Treat me as such.

It is not ok to touch me without my consent.

It is not OK to forcefully have your way with me.

We're tired of feeling like sub-humans and so, from now, we say "NO", "NO!!", "NO!!!"

No to you making it seem like we're the cause of your reprehensible actions.

No to keeping quiet and hiding in shame.

No to you making us feel like you own our bodies and can do as you please with them.

No to you hiding behind the curtain of "I love you and I want to marry you, that is why I did it". Shame on You! 

# RAPE IS THE FAULT OF THE RAPIST#