If you were a member of the Armed Forces within the last 6 years you would know that the military has it's annual training requirements. One such requirement is the Army's new SHARP (Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Program) training. From time to time the Army attempts to teach or present their training requirements in unique and interesting ways. Here is my take on one such event.
Big Army has enlisted the help of this author who shall remain anonymous. We'll call him Mike. Mike is a middle aged seemingly happy man who wears a stupid t-shirt (his own brand) under an ill fitting sports jacket that is obviously serving to increase the breadth of his narrow, lady-like shoulders. Mike has written two books and has a DVD that discusses rape and rape survivors. A great thing really. But the manor in which he gives the class is more like a demonstration in the power of suggestion. He encourages the audience (soldiers) to interact with him while he presents his course. I'll give an example later if it fits in somewhere. The first scenario he presents and is the biggest point he tries to present, and the one I hate most is this.
Interior; bar/nightclub you notice Private Ass Stupid buying large quantities of alcohol for Private Slush Drinky both these people are presented with gender neutral names in the seminar. I've always used these two names in my examples so yeah. Private Ass Stupid is obviously trying to raise his odds of getting some but in the Army if you have been drinking you no longer are capable of making the conscious decision to have sex with ANYONE EVER. Even though if you've been drinking and decide to get behind the wheel you can be held accountable for that. I'll write on that later. Back to the bar. Envision your favorite music is pumping in the back ground and you notice the above scenario is happening before you. You are to go over and intervene because obviously Private A. Stupid is trying to rape Private S. Drinky right? And here is an example of his powers of persuasion. Mike says "If you see this happening to one of your comrades in arms you should go and stop this immoral behavior. If you think it's right stop them say intervene" Everyone will shout "intervene" because no one wants to be a rapist...except you know rapists. This sort of thing happens throughout the course. But Private A. Stupid more than likely is not a rapist and if I were to see this person in this same scenario I would not stop him. Here is why.
My biggest reason is I believe in personal accountability. Everyone everywhere any place and any time should be held accountable for themselves. Otherwise you belong in an institution. Moving on. If Private S. Drink cannot say no to a drink once he/she is starting to feel intoxicated they should enroll into ASAP for you non-military types it's basically AA but for all substances. They should not be in a club/bar in the first place.
Private S. Drinky may genuinely like Private A. Stupid. Possibly Private S. Drink has self-esteem issues or is socially inept. Maybe this person needs the social lubrication that is alcohol to feel good enough to get it on. You never know. Private S. Drink may also just like to get drunk and fuck.
Mike then moves on to give marriage advice. Totally related.
Bottom line the seminar is about intervening and making sure no one gets raped. I just wanted to stand up and shout "Look I swear to god I will do everything in my power to stop someone in the event the are being raped". I just wanted to end this mans pandering about jumping into others business.
J. Exline
No comments:
Post a Comment