In 1975 or so, an acquaintence reported that she was
volunteering alone at a counseling center in midway
area one winter evening. She related that the drunken
Vulcans came into the office, chased her and groped
her body in various ways.
Can you imagine what must have run through her mind
and what a terror it must have been as these masked
and drunken men embarked on an outrage that might
have, but fortunately did not, end in an even more
serious sexual assault?
That instance should have been charged as a crime, as
the most recent event has been. My recollection is
that this woman filed with the St Paul Dept of Human
rights or maybe it was the state, and that the case
was concluded with an agreement that the Vulcans would
no longer grope and would restrict their "markings" to
people who invite this kind of "fun."
Is that restriction enough? I say "No."
First, because the rule evidently is not followed.
How many other women have been assaulted?
Second, because the very essence of this part of the
Vulcan story is emblematic of rape, of male dominance
over women through violence. The masking, the phallic
bulging on top their uniform cap, the carousing, the
chasing, the "marking" with black, all seem inherited
from Celtic fertility rituals in which versions of
these activities can be clearly understood as barely
disguised symbols of pursuit and rape.
Is this a culture we should be celebrating in St.
Paul?
Let V. Rex and his "Krewe" (don't get me speculating
about why this clan is spelled with a K.....) continue
but let them do symbolic battle with the cold and
death of winter and herald the return of spring and
warmth and life.
Leave the women and children alone and leave aside
forever the celebration of rape.
from Mac Groveland.
=====
Shalom, Salaam, Peace .... Jay Wilkinson
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less.
http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250
_____________________________________________
To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
____________________________________________
NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [email protected]
To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit:
http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul
Archive Address:
http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
