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From: jha@uiucdcsp.Uiuc.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Rape (A Solution)
Message-ID: <18200010@uiucdcsp>
Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 01:27:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsp.18200010
Posted: Tue Jul 16 01:27:00 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Jul-85 03:22:50 EDT
References: <25100002@smu>
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Nf-ID: #R:smu:25100002:uiucdcsp:18200010:000:1416
Nf-From: uiucdcsp.Uiuc.ARPA!jha    Jul 16 00:27:00 1985


While I appreciate every effort being made to solve the problem of
rape and other street crimes, I can't accept this one. And here is
why: Just when you thought 1984 was over and it was safe to go out
again,
	Big Brother strikes University Park

No :-), this is serious. Video cameras on street corners is just
the beginning. A lot, if not most, of rapes occur in homes, often
victim's own. That could lead to video cameras being installed in
homes, and I shudder to think of what could happen next. How much
personal freedom and privacy can we give away in exchange for
(hopefully) better protection? If air travel can be used as an
analogy, I have to conclude that no matter how much we give away,
we never get enough protection. I don't mean to sound negative,
nor do I mean to discourage those who are looking for viable
solutions to the problem of rape, but I have to say that this
solution is too expensive (and I'm not talking dollars and cents
here).

I wish I could offer some constructive ideas, but I have none at
the moment. I don't know what goes into the making of a rapist,
so I can't suggest any social changes to prevent that. In the
short-term there is the need to thwart the attempts of already-
made rapists. A non-fatal weapon (something that paralyzes the
victim temporarily, but does not kill or disable permanently)
may be a woman's best defense. Other suggestions are welcome.

Manoj K. Jha