|
|
Share your thoughts about the HBO Documentary Films' production THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO.
|
Posts:
275
Registered:
10/7/03
|
|
(42 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
May 14, 2008 11:44 AM
|
As hard as this was to watch, I sat through the whole thing. I am a big proponent that any man that feels he has to rape a woman or a child should be castrated no matter what country he's from. I am happy that so many people want to do something to address what's happening in the Congo but sadly, there's really not much. As a veteran of Operation Gothic Serpent (most of you might identify that with "Black Hawk Down") when it comes to military operations in Africa, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
To be truthful, these injustices won't end with military intevention, boycotts of products made from Congolese natural resources or anything else along those lines. No it will probally end when the last Congolese soldier with a functioning immune system finally dies and the infant mortality rate apexes. Sadly, the Congolese have started down the hard and brutal path to being the means to their own ends.
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
5/3/08
|
|
(41 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
May 6, 2008 10:11 AM
|
I have recently seen, "The Greatest Silence." This is a powerful documentry. I had no idea what has been occuring in Congo. I could never have imagined that people are capable of such savagery and total disregard for others while facing no punishment.
I feel so deeply for these women and girls. There are no words that can express my sadness. My heart goes out to them everyday. The fact is we are born into a world we do not choose. I feel so lucky to be born in the states. We do not have to deal with the degree of violence on a day to day basis that these women and girls go through. Could you imagine the fear, rejection, helplessness and pain.
I am a student and work at a non-profit in Maryland. This film has caused me to read as much material as I can about gender base violence. I urge others to spread the word and take action! Afterall, one person can truly make a difference. I plan to advocate, raise awareness and think of ways to assist these women and girls. I not only want to touch on treatment for the victims but also on preventative measures.
If anyone else feels as strongly as I do and wants to make a difference, please get in touch with me. We can come up with ways to ensure that the aid goes directly to the victims. I am sure I am not the only one who has concerns about the bribery, dishonesty, and corruption that goes on in these countries. However, that does not mean these victims do not need our assistance. I want to ensure that 99% of the funds directly impact these women and girls lives. My email address is jameyg0101@comcast.net I also have a facebook page and a myspace page for those who use these networking sites.
"Injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere" - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jamey Gaylor
--
Edited by jameyg0101 at 05/06/2008 7:11 AM PDT
--
Edited by jameyg0101 at 05/06/2008 7:12 AM PDT
|
|
|
Posts:
5
Registered:
4/9/08
|
|
(40 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
May 6, 2008 2:02 AM
|
I'm happy that Nickbo has recently watched the documentary, but aside from his one post, activity here has all but dried up.
I see that on the outreach page of the official site of Lisa Jackson's documentary (here: The Greatest Silence) that it is due to be broadcast in the DRC itself on national television. I sincerely hope that many influential people that are close to the problem will become outraged enough to join the cause.
Yet we see time and again how terribly hard it is to keep people shocked and angry enough over time to not let the attention wane into nothingness. I have great admiration for people that *truly* take up a cause and help make a difference.
I am shamefully aware that I cannot count myself in that category, but I am continuing to read about and follow events in the Congo, and I shall make a fresh effort to spread the message to people around me.
All the best to you all,
Gavin
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
4/29/08
|
|
(39 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 29, 2008 1:15 AM
|
|
I'm a swm, 60 years old, and I just watched this documentary, and was totally shocked. What a shame at what is happening to these females in the Congo. Why isn't the whole world doing something to stop this. I just can't find the proper words to really express how I feel. Young girls will grow up in trama, and women will live the rest of their lives in trama. Very, very sad.
|
|
|
Posts:
5
Registered:
4/9/08
|
|
(38 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 24, 2008 4:08 AM
|
There was some progress made at the highest diplomatic levels yesterday (April 23rd). ENOUGH.org released a news bulletin indicating how sixty-three different NGOs got together and met with the UN, the EU, the African Union, the US and others, to try to convince them to appoint a "Special Advisor on Human Rights" for the eastern DRC region, in order to help hold the various parties involved in the tenuous peace deal accountable, with specific emphasis on protecting women and children from sexual violence.
If this post is formed, it will be a definite solid step towards stabilizing the area and helping out the people who so desperately need it, but I do not yet know the outcome of that meeting, or whether the International community embraced the proposal.
Therefore I wrote to my elected officials this evening, urging that they look into the issue and speak out strongly for this position to be formed. If any of you wish to do the same, please find the ENOUGH.org announcement here:
http://www.enoughproject.org/node/776
Additionally, you can find out who your elected officials are, and write to them directly from here:
http://www.congress.org
Just put in your zip code, and follow the instructions. Now let's all go and spread the word!
Warmest wishes to you all,
Gavin
P.S. The article that GaDove highlighted below is definitely worth a look, but unfortunately the hyperlink was broken across two lines. You can reach it here:
http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=673
--
Edited by GavGavGav at 04/24/2008 1:15 AM PDT
--
Edited by GavGavGav at 04/24/2008 1:16 AM PDT
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
4/23/08
|
|
(37 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 23, 2008 9:00 PM
|
I thought I had seen the worst suffering on earth already - until this. It is utterly incomprehensible that there is no media coverage on this. I was even terrified to look this up on HBO, in case there would be no one else leaving comments. I see everyday over a thousand comments on stupid entertainment 'news' articles, and then zero about Darfur, the Environment, extinction, etc...Thank goodness there are other people as outraged and sad and I am. Today Nicole Kidman is in the news as spokeswoman for UNIFEM - a UN division devoted to stopping violence against women. There are so many countries with this awful type of warfare, but at least the Congo is on there! Also, Annie Lennox has a 7part series documentary on the BBC. Plz also read about this at
http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?
StoryID=673
I am going to email this HBO site to all of my Yahoo Groups and friends. I truly hope each of us tells at least a 100 people about this, and we can get more media for these Congo women. Is there never an end to depths of sadism that mankind can sink to?
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
4/21/08
|
|
(36 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 21, 2008 10:47 PM
Rate this post:
|
Anyone interested in helping these women from the Congo RDC or Rwanda should go to this web site:
www.futurehopeforwomen.org.
P. O. Box 1696
Antioch, TN 37011
Phone 615-206-7697
A woman I attend church with, Brigitte Kitenge, was actually living in Rwanda and experienced the horror in this film. I know this woman personally and she is trying to help the many women affected by this horrible violence.
You can sponsor a woman survivor of war as they transition from victims, to survivors, to active citizens engaged in rebuilding their lives and communities. The mission of Future Hope for Women International is to bring help, hope and healing to women and young girls who are struggling to recover from war and violence. They offer them vocational and technical skill training, provide income generation support and provide leadership education. This is a small but very worthy cause. Please sponsor a woman/sister and help them in rebuilding their lives and communities.
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
4/20/08
|
|
(35 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 20, 2008 10:24 PM
|
|
I don't have any words for the horror I just witnessed. My heart is hurting for these women. How can someone simply do this to people. To rape people for the hell of it. Even raping babies 2 year ols babies. It was just very sad to watch I mean I'm simply in tears watching it. May they burn in hell
|
|
|
Posts:
2
Registered:
4/11/08
|
|
(34 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 17, 2008 1:31 PM
|
I recieved a email last nite from a young chap from the UK who is not able to comment due to the fact that he does not have a US zip code. so I am posting for him
I also recieved a email from a lovely nurse who has alot of friends from the congo and i just wanted to respond to her. I work for catholic charities of the diocese of baton rouge in rhw migration and refugee dept. I am a immigration Outreach specialist and although at this time I spend most of my time on human trafficking, which is a horrible state of affairs in the state of louisiana at this time. I wanted to answer you. Yes we have resettled quite a few families from the Congo and just yesterday I had a meeting with the executive director of Rural affairs for the country and Nigeria. Our world is in need of desperate help and although it may be heard to see/hear about such tragedies it is only by this means that people can become educated to realize that these things are happening. We recently were just able to get a visa for a young woman in Somalia whose family members had wanted her to be circumcised. I am blessed to have the bes job in the world, dont make alot of money but that is alright too, my soul is so very rich.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~the letter from the chap from the uk
Dear All
I hope you won't mind me getting in touch with you guys. I got your mail addresses from the HBO website and as i was unable to have my say on the site i thought i'll contact you directly as you left your mail address on the site. My name is David Suki, i'm 25 years old and live in London, UK. I was born and spent the first 14 years of my life in Kinshasa (capital of Democratic Republic of Congo). We moved to the London just before things really turned for the worse in my native country.
I have not seen the documentary as it not yet made available here in the UK. I was reading the april issue of Essence magazine and came accross the new about the documentary. I googled it and manage to come across the comments on the HBO website. Like many of you i feel so angry but at the same time sad and helpless. I want to help but don't know where to start. This has gone on for far too long. My country is being destroyed along with it people because it full of wealth. DRC is one the richest country in the world, it has practically everything (gold, diamond, petrol, rivers, lakes, forest) and yet we there are millions dying every year due to lack of the basics needs such as food, shelter, safety and health care. things taken for granted in many other countries much poorer than we are. It embarassing even talking about it.
In reggards to the rape? well let's just say that i'm not suprise. Many of those soldiers doing the raping are not even real soldiers. Most of them are ordinary young men taken from their homes from a young age and handed a machine gun to destroy and kill. they have no education or any form of training whatsoever to be called soldiers. As "africa126" posted on the site the problem goes far beyond what you've seen on Lisa's documentary. I haven't even seen the documentary yet and already from just wacthing the trailer on the HBO site and reading what people have posted, i have a picture in my mind which is not even worth thinking about as it makes me sick. The people behind the scene who are supplying guns and finances those brainless kids need to be hold accountable for their actions.
Somebody posted and asked "why there isn't more serious uproar. Why are the politicians not screaming for help?" Well the answer to this my good friend is that the "WESTERN" world stand to lose a hell of a lot if there was peace in the Congo. How do you think they can afford to sell/give away mobile phones free of charge and pc's and laptop at a very low price. Most of the time the materials for those products are not paid for or obtained at such a low price that the war needs to go on in order for these companies to remain profitable.
Innocent womens and childrens paying for what we take for granted with their dignity and their lives. I am a Christian but these sort of things sometimes makes me question if there is actually a God or not. such injustice, brutality and violence against womens and childrens to go unpusnished. This is not the kind of world i want my kids to grow up in and i don't know what to do or where to start but i'm open for suggestions. I'M IN! contact me and let's start something. let's spread the word on facebook or myspace or something. i am sick and tied of not doing anything. Dee please post this on the HBO site on my behalf as i'm unable to register without a US zip code. I want people to get in touch with me and suggest ideas how i can help.
Thank you to all of you who give a damn and want to do something. May God bless you, reward you beyond your dreams.
--
Regards
David Suki
ps: i'm also on facebook just type my name "David Suki" and get in touch with me and let's do something.
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
4/16/08
|
|
(33 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 16, 2008 2:07 AM
|
I can't begin to tell you how this film effected me! I could not sleep, the images and feelings these beautiful women expressed touched my soul. I ache for them, I want to rescue them myself. I feel so helpless, yet happy to be in America - even with all our problems of greed and violence. Nothing can compare to the fear these women live through and endure every day of their lives.
SAD... we must act.... this is unacceptable for any culture.
|
|
|
Posts:
5
Registered:
4/9/08
|
|
(32 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 14, 2008 11:15 PM
|
It's great to see people still posting here, and all coming up with different ideas on how to help. So many of you blow my own small efforts of help out of all proportion, which is fabulous!
But I did want to bring an issue to your attention which I cam across today. Though not specifically related to the Congo, it chillingly illustrates how we all have a daily impact on genocide, even by doing nothing. As explanation, I'll include the entire letter I sent to several news organizations:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear editor,
Today in my postal mail, I received a booklet of proxy materials and an invitation as a shareholder to vote on Fidelity Investments' upcoming proposals. I was intrigued and pleased to find an item entitled "Shareholder proposal for Fidelity Growth Company Fund, Fidelity Magellan Fund, and Fidelity Value Fund concerning Board oversight procedures to screen out investments in companies that substantially contribute to genocide."
However, multiple times throughout the documentation, the board were strongly urging their recommendation of an "against" vote, so I re-read the proposal carefully to ensure I had accurately understood its content.
Sure enough, Fidelity's Board of Trustees sees no problem in investing in companies that fund "the most egregious violations of human rights" so long as they're not breaking US Law. Despite the proposal mentioning that 71% of respondents in a 2007 study believe the company SHOULD take such abuses into account when making investment decisions, the Board of Trustees is content to invest with blood on their collective hands, their rebuttal being that investors are quite free to pursue "other investment opportunities open to them should they wish to avoid investments in certain companies or countries."
I am outraged on two fronts -- first, that a company as large and powerful as Fidelity would choose to blatantly disregard human rights in this way, and secondly, that they so strongly urge the voter to not read for themselves, but to follow their bold, underlined advice and vote quickly in favor of their own agendas.
I strongly urge your news organization to obtain a copy of these Proxy materials for itself and report publicly on their findings. Meanwhile, I shall be removing my retirement investments to another company forthwith.
Most sincerely,
Gavin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Warmest wishes to you all,
Gavin
--
Edited by GavGavGav at 04/14/2008 8:16 PM PDT
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
4/14/08
|
|
(31 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 14, 2008 8:33 PM
|
Thank you for this wonderful film. I am happy to see this crisis is finally getting the attention it deserves.
For all of you that want to know how you can make an impact in Congo visit: www.climbtakeaction.com
or www.imcworldwide.org.
International Medical Corps has been working on the ground with women such as those featured in the film since 1999. I launched a campaign to raise funds and awareness for these women several months ago. I hope everyone that watches this film is inspired to help as well.
It will take the effort from the global community to impact this crisis.
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
4/11/08
|
|
(30 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 11, 2008 10:06 PM
|
|
Thank you for the courageous film you brought to HBO. I was sick to my stomach to learn about these unspeakable crimes against the women and children of the Congo. How on earth do the men who rape these women and children think that it is good luck for them before they go to battle?? Somewhere or somehow these men need to be educated! Do these men think women and children are just animals to do what they please for good luck?! I am appalled at the ignorance of the mentality of these men. They are the biggest pigs I had ever learned about. I am so angry right now!! Please let me know how I can help or who to write to in this country that hopefully will listen.
|
|
|
Posts:
2
Registered:
4/11/08
|
|
(29 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 11, 2008 11:34 AM
|
miss linda,
first off i thank you for taking the time and all the effort you must have mustered up to be able to do this. I commend you.
I am a social worker and specialize in migration and refugee services and we have resettled qutie a few from the Congo ourselves. I am deeply saddened by their plight and would have loved to watch the whole documentary, unfortunatley being a social worker is a job we do out of love for others , not out of love for money so i could not afford to buy hbo. We have clients from the Congo with us now and they are a wonderful group of people, gracious, respectful.
again I thank you for what i am sure was a beautiful documentary
sincerely
tclement@ccdiobr.org
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
4/11/08
|
|
(28 of 42)
Re: THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Apr 11, 2008 9:53 AM
|
I recently watched the documentary
I could not believe this is and has actually happened to innocent women and little girls in the place that is called the Motherland.
This is the first time I heard about the inhuman acts the were being done to women and little girls.
what gives them the rights to rape and mutilate women and little girls. They must have forgotten that there mothers were once little girls that grew up to become women that carried the egg that was joined with the sperm of the father that developed and grew into a living being. That mother carried that child for 9 long months went through hours of labor to bring that child into the world.
How could any man or boy not look at those women and little girls and not see a mother or sister.
It's bad enough to rape a woman but a 2yr and 5yr old baby
The men responsible are not human I can't even put them in the same category as a wild animal.
They must have come from an unknown being not of this earth.
Why is it there is so little help for these women and girls
I want to commend the Dr. that had to surgically try to repair the mutilated female parts of these women and girls
The brutal rape and mutilation of these women and girls has to STOP
I hope and pray that these inhuman acts will be heard world wide to get the women and little girls the help they need to recover and be able to live a happy and healthy life
What can we do to help
Thank you
Lunette
--
Edited by lnette2 at 04/11/2008 6:54 AM PDT
|
|
|
|
|
