Lettitor Hope Solo via deadspin.com The wholly see am a strong advocate for improved so the Pope wasn’t put up? Not to get into the also- immediately accepted it. Perhaps a statement. If aid is the goal there Istraight shooting: say what walking through a sty, and the very-interesting murky waters Vatican paperwork is different, needn’t be cameras, quotes, or you mean and mean what you three families that were saved of the Vatican’s translucent but fast-tracking something like stories. The same effect could have say. No games. No finagling. And now have a decidedly more settled financial reports, but the Vatican that is rather impressive, and if easily been achieved by having definitely don’t try to appear future ahead of them. However, City State (museums, fire papers could be filed that quickly a small unnamed delegation magnanimous when your ulterior Francis’ claim of his actions being department, pharmacy, and other for 12 people, again, why stop retrieve the families devoid motives are entirely selfish. entirely humanitarian and not municipal offices and services) there? of fanfare. That wouldn’t be a Pope Francis and his PR team political is like a rotten apple at posted a €63.5 million surplus We also have to take note of political statement. That would be were at it again in April, seeking the grocery store—I’m not buying leaving 2014 while the Holy See the fact that all three families were “purely humanitarian.” to continue building the popular it. (diplomatic entities, the universal Syrian Muslims. No Catholics. No To finish with some of Pope brand that he’s so confidently For starters, if the trip was mission; and radio, television, Christians even. The lucky few Francis’ words (quoting Mother established since taking the reins truly about providing aid, why and newspapers) faced a €25.62 were selected by random draw Teresa) on the matter: “It’s a drop from Pope Benedict. The ruse this only take three families? Yes, the million deficit. If nothing else, and because their papers were in of water in the sea. But after this time? A trip to the Greek island of Vatican is an exceedingly small these figures serve to illustrate order. drop, the sea will never be the Lesbos, where thousands of Syrian country, but none of the refugees the fact that, should the Vatican Extreme coincidence is a same.” Thank god he didn’t make refugees are suffering in contained are going to be housed there legitimately care about the issue, very rare animal indeed. Out of a political statement. camps. After comforting those anyway. The fortunate families money could be poured in to the thousands of refugees, the he could, Francis even took three will be put up nearby the Vatican save a great deal more refugees. winners of the draw all happened Muslim families back to Italy with while their expenses are covered Three [families] is a very arbitrary to be Muslim. If Francis thinks him to be clothed, sheltered, and until they can stand on their number. A number that can us all to be children of god, he cared for. All of this was “purely own, essentially meaning that be little more than a political could not have asked for a more humanitarian” and not political. the Pope’s gesture is primarily statement. favourable result to showcase his As anyone should be, I am a gift of money. And if money The proposal to take in beliefs. quite pleased that some relief, is the key ingredient, is Francis some families was reportedly A final note is that as soon however little, was brought. 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Victim to victor: a local perspective Jodie Ortega ignites conversation from sexual abuse Aaron Guillen Ortega went on to further discuss her Staff Reporter angst with men and the roles they play in today’s rape culture and how it plays into an en are afraid that women will laugh at ongoing cycle. “Mthem. Women are afraid that men will “We live in a patriarchal society that kill them.” continues to feed boys unhealthy machismo Margaret Atwood stumbled upon these messages like: ‘Boys don’t cry,’ ‘Don’t be a insights after talking with her male and female pussy,’ ‘Man up!,’ ‘You run/hit like a girl,’—it’s friends about why they feel threatened by the not right,” she warned. opposite sex. While men were afraid of failure Additionally, there are a number of myths or making idiotic decisions, women were that make it difficult for a male survivor to afraid of physical violence or their children’s break their silence. Some of these are that safety. only gay men sexually assault/are sexually Margaret’s words inspire and drive the assaulted, that men can’t be sexually assaulted women of today to change that viewpoint— at all (by men or women), and that if a man one of whom is New Westminster’s Jodie has a physiological response (erection, Ortegas. Ortega, a self-proclaimed feminist, ejaculation), then they must have wanted it. has been making leaps and bounds in hopes “These myths minimize the seriousness of building a future with less sexual violence, of the sexual assault and actually allows the simply by sharing her story. She is breaking rapists to avoid responsibility for their actions,” her silence, through the use of platforms such she stated. as TED Talks, and contributing writings to the “For most men, to admit to being sexually anthology Trigger Points. assaulted is admitting to being less of a man. Ortega is a survivor of domestic violence, How you react if a survivor discloses abuse to childhood sexual abuse, and multiple isolated you is very crucial. If it doesn’t go well (you sexual assaults. At a young age, she was abused dissociate yourself from them, you minimize by her grandfather, who convinced her to their abuse, doubt them, etc.) the survivor withhold telling her family—and when she can be re-traumatized and may not speak up spoke up, a family meeting was held in which again for a long time. The human response is he showed no remorse. so important.” “The only words he had to defend himself Ortega addressed the “breaking of silence” was: ‘We were close,’” she recalled. of anyone as a time that should be taken Over the years, Ortega has grown up and seriously. learned to surround herself with people who “Campaigns, conferences and workshops support her while she continues to journey based around spreading awareness about through life, spreading her message of self-love trauma are fantastic, but the only way to see and continuing the conversation around sexual radical change and eradicate rape culture is to abuse. Ortega has learned to take feedback in keep the dialogue surrounding sexual violence stride, especially since it can be mixed. an ongoing conversation,” explained Ortega. “As a woman of colour I face unique “I encourage every person to reflect how experiences that I doubt my white colleagues/ we as individuals contribute to our society fellow public speakers face,” she noted. that is so tolerant of violence against women. After a public speaking engagement, she I challenge you to call out symptoms of rape has received compliments on how well she culture immediately when you see it.