Monday, March 21, 2011

The Rape of the “Unnamed Girl.”

The Rape of the “Unnamed Girl.”

Shannon Ivey
All human beings are sacred gifts from God; America has lost this truth.
Our people are no longer people – they are nouns who are categorized and labeled to the point of a “dead identity”.  There is a grave danger in subscribing to a filing system for human beings.  It cunningly creates a disconnect between us and an actual living breathing human being who is full of love, sorrow and history.  It reduces God’s most precious creation to the attributes of their labels – mere words on a page.
For example:  when a minor is involved in a sexual abuse case, it is customary for the authorities and the media to label the victim as the “unnamed boy/girl.”  I realize that this protocol is to protect the identity of the child, but how well are we really protecting our young?

Last November in a “blue house” and then in an abandoned trailer in Cleveland, Texas, an unnamed eleven-year-old girl was repeatedly gang raped by an undetermined number of men whose ages ranged from fourteen to twenty-seven.  After, this “outgoing” middle school girl, described as a straight-A student, said nothing.  It was only after a video and several images surfaced that an investigation, first led by the school and then by police, was undertaken.  Since that time, eighteen men have been arrested and an attorney for the case says that as many as twenty-eight could be charged.
Let me say that again:  so far, eighteen men have been accused of repeatedly raping one unnamed eleven-year-old girl and, in an uncanny display of ego, these bastards filmed and photographed their demonic brutality on cell phones and posted it on the internet.
One would assume that the community would naturally envelop this unnamed child and her family.  One would assume that the community would rage against the men who destroyed this unnamed girl’s relationship with men, sex, herself, her body and her world for the rest of her life.  One would assume that the community would place blame appropriately and relentlessly seek justice for all.  Sadly, one would assume wrong.
It appears that many in Cleveland are outraged that their men (whose backgrounds range from two star athletes to the son of a school board member to a drug dealer) are being held accountable for their actions.  It appears that many in the community believe that the unnamed girl had the gang-rape coming to her because of the way she dressed, what she posted on her Facebook page and that she (as a MINOR) was a willing participant.

So, after repeated death threats, the community has won:  the unnamed girl has been removed from her family.  For her “protection”, she has also been placed on “restricted contact” with the only support system that she has ever known and has been placed in foster care because the authorities fear for her safety.
Or, do the authorities fear those who we are allowed to name?
On March 12, 2011 the leader of the New Black Panther Party of Houston, Texas, Quanell X,  staged a self-serving, fame-whoring demonstration where, to a jeering crowd, was quoted as saying:
“She lives in another community.  You mean to tell me that the only men who had sex with that girl were black men, locked up in that jail?  It was not the young girl that yelled rape. Stop right there — something is wrong, brothers and sisters. . .Where was the mother? Where was the father?”
Mr. X even took up a collection to help pay for the legal fees of several of the accused.
Let me begin by setting the story back on course. This case has nothing to do with the label of race and those who have allowed the facts to be distracted by race should be ashamed of themselves.   This is a case (with photographic and video evidence) of rape, child molestation, abuse and a mind-blowing lack of a conscience.  This little unnamed HISPANIC girl and her family are living in a state of constant fear because the system has been bullied by labels, rhetoric and guilt.
I have a few words:

To We the People:  this girl has a name.  She is your daughter, your mother, your sister, your aunt, your cousin and/or your friend.  She has the same name of every woman you know and love.  She breathes, fears, loves, cries, screams and bleeds.  If the media insists on using a disconnected label, then we as a people must FIND a way to connect to this young girl.  A connection is the only way to right this savage wrong.
To Cleveland, Texas:  you know this child’s name.  I don’t care if she was walking around naked in a pair of stilettos at 3am, your men should have kept it in their pants – NO ONE deserves this level of carnage.  She was 11 and by law CANNOT be a willing participant.  How dare you blame her for your ignorance?  In no way is she at fault for your men’s lack of boundaries and utter disregard for women.  It is time to look in the mirror and consider how you are raising your young.
Help us, Lord.
To the young girl whose name is written on the palm of His hands:  I’m so sorry.  It was not your clothes, your smile, your body, your make-up or your Facebook page that are at fault in this case.  The fault lies solely on the men who yielded to their disgusting lust for an underage girl.  I’m so sorry that we as a nation have become so corrupt and weak that we were we unable to protect you from these monsters.  I’m sorry that your community lacks the courage to form a barrier between you and ignorance.  Take peace in knowing that you are worthy and that there are tens of thousands of us who stand by your side.  You are treasured in the eyes of God and your birthright is that of wholeness.  I pray for your recovery, your reunion with your family and – on my knees – I pray that justice prevails.

***Because this site has a fairly heavy traffic flow, it is possible that your words may reach the “unnamed girl”.   Please use the comment section below to encourage this young one and stand with her in solidarity. ***

No comments:

Post a Comment