Both of my sisters were raped; one gang raped, beat, pissed on and left for dead. Took her six months in the hospital to recover from the physical wounds. She later became a cop, but I don't count that as healing.
What I do count as healing, though, is the ability to go beyond one's own trauma to help others in similar situations. Both my sisters started rape council call in-lines and continue, even in our 50's, to be involved in helping women heal.
I was molested by a summer school teacher when I was eleven. He didn't penetrate or beat me; and I suffered no physical trauma, but it was rape nonetheless. It was a violation. Even as a child, I understood that. I told my parents; and even though other guys were molested that summer, my parents were the only ones who pursued prosecution, which was decided.
When my buddies made rape jokes when we were younger, I got in their face and explained the "folly" of their ignorance. Sometimes in rational discourse, sometimes not. But the message and understanding was communicated; and they at least heeded the demand to not spout that shit when I was around.
I like to think they might have paused when I wasn't.
Rape is not funny. It is no joke. Rape happens and lives are changed. Some heal. Some never do. Why is that funny?
My advice to anyone who would use Rape as a vehicle for their "humor?"
STFU!
Justice Putnam
Program & Artistic Director
Netroots Radio Network
The Justice Department is on The Netroots Radio Network and hosted by Unity Radio Net!
Tune in for Daily Kos Radio with KagroX, Armando, Ministry of Truth and guests Monday through Friday at 6am Pacific on The Netroots Radio Network.
Netroots Radio is there for ya, baby!
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The Blue Skies Player
Vintage James Baldwin, Labor History, Native American Documentaries, the BBC, Democracy Now, The David Packman Show, Union Edge and Equal Time Radio, The Professional Left with Driftglass and Blue Gal, Nicole Sandler, Science and History Specials, your Netroots Radio Favorites... and so much more, on right now!
Go ahead, now you can listen while roaming the Big Orange and beyond!
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(12-String Ovation Balladeer Astoria, Oregon / copyright Justice Putnam)
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"Their Story"
They were nearing the end of their story.
The fire was dying, like the fire in the story.
Each page turned was torn and fed
to flames, until word by word the book
burned down to an unmade bed of ash.
Wet kindling from an orchard of wooden spoons,
snow stewing, same old wind on the Gramophone,
same old wounds. Turn up the blue dial
under the kettle until darkness boils
with fables, and mirrors defrost to the quick
before fogging with steam, and dreams
rattle their armor of stovepipes and ladles.
Boots in the corner kick in their sleep.
A jacket hangs from a question mark.
-- Stuart Dybek
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The Netroots Radio Daily Line-up
All Times Pacific Time
(east coasters add 3 hours; europeans and others overseas? do what you have to do!)
Sun Mid - 1am -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour Update
Sun 1am - 2am -- Driftglass & Blue Gal ~~ The Professional Left
Sun 2am - 6am -- Blue Skies Overnight & Blue Skies Over Your Morning ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Sun 6am - 7am -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour Update
Sun 7am - 7:30am -- CounterSpin
Sun 7:30am - 8am -- BBC World Football
Sun 8am - 11am -- Blue Skies Over Your Morning ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Sun 11am - Noon -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Sun Noon - 6pm -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Sun 6pm - 7pm -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Sun 7pm - 8pm -- Poetry & Literature
Sun 8pm - 9pm -- The Justice Department ~~ Music without Borders
Sun 9pm - Mid -- Jibber Your Jabber with Wink & Co.
Mon Mid - 1am -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour Update
Mon 1am - 5am -- Blue Skies Overnight ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Mon 5am - 5:30am -- BBC World Service ~~ Global News for Breakfast
Mon 5:30am - 6am -- BBC World Football Report
Mon 6am - 9am -- Daily Kos Radio with KagroX, Armando & Ministry of Truth
Mon 9am - 10am -- Radio EcoShock
Mon 10am - 11am -- From The Bunker with Jody Hamilton & Rick Beatty
Mon 11am - Noon -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Mon Noon - 1pm -- Democracy Now with Amy Goodman
Mon 1pm - 2pm -- Tim Corrimal Show
Mon 2pm - 3pm -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Mon 3pm - 4pm -- The Insighters & Scholar's Circle with Maria Armoudian
Mon 4pm - 6pm -- Nicole Sandler Show
Mon 6pm - 7pm -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Mon 7pm - 8pm -- On the Porch with Black Kos
Mon 8pm - 9pm -- David Pakman Show
Mon 9pm - Mid -- The Justice Department ~~ Music without Borders
Tue Mid - 1am -- Democracy Now
Tue 1am - 2am -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour Update
Tue 2am - 2:30am -- Free Speech Radio News
Tue 2:30am - 3am -- CounterSpin
Tue 3am - 5am -- Blue Skies Overnight ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Tue 5am - 5:30am -- BBC World Service ~~ Global News for Breakfast
Tue 5:30am - 6am -- BBC Outlook
Tue 6am - 9am -- Daily Kos Radio with KagroX, Armando & Ministry of Truth
Tue 9am - 11am -- Working Family Radio ~~ The Union Edge
Tue 11am - Noon -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Tue Noon - 1pm -- Democracy Now with Amy Goodman
Tue 1pm - 2pm -- FlashPoints with Dennis Bernstein
Tue 2pm - 3pm -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Tue 3pm - 4pm -- The Insighters and Scholar's Circle with Maria Armoudian
Tue 4pm - 6pm --Nicole Sandler Show
Tue 6pm - 7pm -- BBC World Service
Tue 7pm - 8pm -- David Pakman Show
Tue 8pm - 8:30pm -- CounterSpin
Tue 8:30pm - 9pm -- History & Literature
Tue 9pm - 10pm -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Tue 10pm - Mid -- Campfire Talk with Steve and Fripp
Wed Mid - 1am -- Democracy Now
Wed 1am - 2am -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Wed 2am - 2:30am -- Free Speech Radio News
Wed 2:30am - 3am -- BBC Outlook
Wed 3am - 5am -- Blue Skies Overnight ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Wed 5am - 5:30am -- BBC World Service ~~ Global News for Breakfast
Wed 5:30am - 6am -- BBC World Football News
Wed 6am - 9am -- Daily Kos Radio with KagroX, Armando & Ministry of Truth
Wed 9am - 11am -- Working Family Radio ~~ The Union Edge
Wed 11am - Noon -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Wed Noon - 1pm -- Democracy Now with Amy Goodman
Wed 1pm - 2pm -- FlashPoints with Dennis Bernstein
2pm - 4pm -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Wed 4pm - 6pm -- Nicole Sandler Show
Wed 6pm - 7pm -- BBC World Service
Wed 7pm - 8pm -- David Pakman Show
Wed 8pm - 8:30pm -- BBC Outlook
Wed 8:30pm - 9pm -- History & Literature
Wed 9pm - Mid -- Jibber Your Jabber with Wink & Co.
Thu Mid - 1am -- Democracy Now
Thu 1am - 2am -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour Update
Thu 2am - 2:30am -- Free Speech Radio News
Thu 2:30am - 3am -- BBC Outlook
Thu 3am - 5am -- Blue Skies Overnight ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Thu 5am - 5:30am -- BBC World Service ~~ Global News for Breakfast
Thu 5:30am - 6am -- BBC World Football News
Thu 6am - 9am -- Daily Kos Radio with KagroX, Armando & Ministry of Truth
Thu 9am - 11am -- Working Family Radio ~~ The Union Edge
Thu 11am - Noon BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Thu Noon - 1pm -- Democracy Now with Amy Goodman
Thu 1pm - 4pm -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Thu 4pm - 6pm -- Nicole Sandler Show
Thu 6pm -7pm -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Thu 7pm - 8pm -- David Pakman Show
Thu 8pm - 9pm -- Blues Skies Science Special ~~ Discussions on and Analysis of Science
Thu 9pm -10pm -- Blue Skies Science Special ~~ Radio EcoShock with Alex Smith
Thu 10pm - Mid -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Fri Mid - 1am -- Democracy Now
Fri 1am - 2am -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Fri 2am - 2:30am -- Free Speech Radio News
Fri 2:30am - 3am -- BBC Outlook
Fri 3am - 5am -- Blue Skies Overnight ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Fri 5am - 5:30am -- BBC World Service ~~ Global News for Breakfast
Fri 5:30am - 6am -- BBC Outlook
Fri 6am - 9am -- Daily Kos Radio with KagroX, Armando & Ministry of Truth
Fri 9am - 11am -- Working Family Radio ~~ The Union Edge
Fri 11am - Noon -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Fri Noon - 1pm -- Democracy Now
Fri 1pm - 2pm -- History & Literature
Fri 2pm - 5pm -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Fri 5pm - 6pm -- At the Table with Kelly Lincoln aka Roaring Girl
Fri 6pm - 7pm -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Fri 7pm - 7:30pm -- Free Speech Radio News
Fri 7:30pm - 8pm -- CounterSpin
Fri 8pm - Mid -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Fri -- Info Warfare with Dunvegan (returning soon)]
Sat Mid - 1am -- Democracy Now
Sat 1am - 2am -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour Update
Sat 2am - 2:30am -- Free Speech Radio News
Sat 2:30am - 3am -- CounterSpin
Sat 3am - 6am -- Blue Skies Overnight & Blue Skies Over Your Morning ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Sat 6am - 7am -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour Update
Sat 7am - 7:30am -- CounterSpin
Sat 7:30am - 8am -- BBC World Football News
8am - 9am -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Sat 9am - 11am -- Working Family Radio ~~ The Union Edge
Sat 11am Noon -- BBC World Service ~~ News Hour
Sat Noon - 5pm -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Sat 5pm - 6pm -- Equal Time Radio ~~ Progressives of the Pacific Northwest with Frank Blair and Traci Kelly
Sat 6pm - 7pm -- Driftglass & Blue Gal ~~ The Professional Left
Sat 7pm - 8pm -- BBC World Service -- News Hour
Sat 8pm - 9pm -- The Round Table Round House Power Hour ~~ A Live Discussion with Radio Personalities from Apache Talk Radio, Blue Skies Radio, SelectUK and You!
Sat 9pm - Mid -- Open Court ~~ A Selection of News, Commentary & Music chosen by Special Agent DJ Justice
Blue Skies Radio also features during the day and overnight; Jim Hightower, The Green News Report, Breaking News, Media Matters, Audio of SCOTUS oral arguments, Music, Dramatic Readings, Radio Documentaries, Old Time Radio, repeats of our shows and progressive talk podcasts of your favorites.
Can't be around when your favorite is broadcast? TiVo or dvr button won't work here? Not to worry! You can take any of your favorites with you; to the beach, the mall or on the tractor baling alfalfa, with Podcasts on the Go!
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(Cut Stones and Arch St Ceneri, France / copyright Justice Putnam)
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Question: Who is your audience? What are you here for?
Answer: Tribal Alliances, Heart-felt Convictions, Passionate Reason, Random Abandon, Sustainable Civility and a kiss; to comfort the sad and the mad Ones; the Ones roaming the International section of the American Supermarket at night; or roaming the neglected streets looking for an angry malaprop to sink their teeth into; the Ones who seek without seeking and learn as much as they teach; the Ones who embrace and kiss and embrace again; the Ones who sing the song of the city and the ballads of the forest; the Ones who chant the rhythm of the sea and hum the melody of the desert; the Ones who sing the prayer of Her name and Her name is the World. Yes, those are the Ones. -- JP
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(Man, Girl and Broken Window Klamath Falls, Oregon / copyright Justice Putnam)
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(I've pledged the minimum $150 to help heat folks in need and cook their food on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Reservations. Navajo has an important diary posted with all the particulars. Even a small amount can work towards building the minimum. Could you please help?)
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So that explains it... !
Sunlight and Water Pitcher Muir Beach / copyright Justice Putnam
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... Or does it?
(Holy Bible and 3 in 1 Oil Berkeley, California / copyright Justice Putnam)
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(Rail Road Crossing, Sonoma California / copyright Justice Putnam)
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"Many heroes lived before Agamemnon, but they are all unmourned, and consigned to oblivion, because they had no bard to sing their praises."
-- Horace
"Still the race of hero spirits pass the lamp from hand to hand."
-- Charles Kingsley
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The Nature of Poetics Collapsed Outside My Window
On the third floor
Of an old stone hotel
I gaze out my window
To the night rain
Wet streets of
Mexico City.
I look down on rooftops
Built by Spaniards
And across stratum
Of TV antennae
Electric lights
And the huge domes of
Ancient cathedrals.
History is backed up
Against itself here
Like layers of
Soil and mud
One can see the edge of
Aztec excavations
Between the sleek
Exact lines
Of modern towers.
Echoing up from the street
Is the wet hiss
Of rolling tires
On wet black-top
And the more distant
Sounds of
Engines
Dogs
And voices
All fusing somehow
Into that single
Universal
Hum-drone
The chant of cities.
The Poet must be
Alone here
He must be free
And live as
The wind itself
Not bound by
The culture of society
Not restrained by taboo.
At ease to wander
In the mysterious visions
Of touching everything
Of trusting everything
Of believing everything.
The Poet must be free
To live the law
Of iguana-lazy sleep
On the hot sand
The Poet must be free
For the frenzy
Of butterfly wings
Across the cool smooth
Strange sculptured
Texture of tropical waters.
The Poet must be free
To move
To see
Free to
Merely be.
(Mexico City 1986)
© 1988 and 2004 by Justice Putnam
and Mechanisches Strophe-Verlagswesen