INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

***************INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY***************

Women constitute half the world's population,
perform nearly two-thirds of it's work hours,
receive one-tenth of the world's income,
and own less than one-hundredth of the world's property.

September 22, 1995:
"Three male inmates entered Robin Lucus' cell, apparently given access to the isolation unit by guards. They dragged her from the cot, punching and pulling her. One pinned her down on the floor and clamped her with handcuffs; another forced open her legs; the third penetrated her. Repeatedly she was beaten, raped, and cursed. She blacked out and lost track of time. Her only memory was of the grotesque pain of being sodomized for what seemed like an eternity. In a parting shot, one of the inmates turned on his way out the door and urinated on her. At that moment, Robin, although semiconscious, recognized this inmate as the sole assailant who launched the initial attack. For days after the assault, Robin's body was weak and wracked with pain. She bled continuously from her rectum. Repeated requests for medical services were denied. Approximately two weeks later she was relocated to the women's facility. Thirty-five days after the initial attack, she finally received a medical examination."

Incidents like this happen every day in every part of the world, from the most undeveloped nation to the most advanced, industrialized nation. People everywhere are taken advantage of by those who are in positions of authority. Oftentimes discrimination and prejudice are major factors. In the case above, Robin was a 29-year old African American woman.

It is a fact that those in power will do whatever necessary to maintain the status quo and remain in power. Political leaders use their armies as a means of quelling opposition. Law enforcers wield their badge as an affirmation of their unquestionable authority. As we soon enter a new millenium, advances are common in communication, transportation, technology, and other areas. Unfortunately, it seems that 21st century values of social justice and human rights remain as those of the previous century: the century that saw gross atrocities committed in Hitler's Germany, Pinochet's Chile, and our own United States of America.

We must not remain ignorant.

"It has to start somewhere
It has to start sometime
What better place than here
What better time than now
All hell can't stop us now." - Rage Against The Machine

"I wanna say a little something that's long overdue:
The disrespect to women has got to be through.
To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends,
I wanna offer my love and respect to the end." - Beastie Boys

***************INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY***************

Tighe Burns
President
Amnesty International
s399886@gettysburg.edu
717-338-9375