It is 2010 and my global social concience has been tweeked by a recent documentary I watched on the DOC channel on satelight TV. I speak of the horrrible killings, torture, mutilation and dismemberment of women and young girls in Guatemala. The documentary was outstanding as it painted the accurate picture of how the Guatemalan women have to live daily in fear of their lives while carrying out simple tasks of everyday living. It also gave great insight into the killers mind and attitude as some spoke in interviews after arrest. The devaluation of women as human beings is appalling and sickening. Killing is only a pleasure to these sick souls. Carving messages in the dead womens flesh, cutting off their breasts and other parts, raping them, torturing them, done only for the killers own pleasure and to terrorize for control of society. There is an attitude among these killers (many gangs) that they have the right to treat women in such a non humane way. It rips at at my heart . My soul weeps in pain for these women and their families who endure such horrible suffering.
What is even more tragic is the message of impunity through out Guatemala. The police do very little to investigate, arrest and convict these criminals. One literally "gets away with murder" in Guatemala. Those who try to fight back, fear for their lives as well as the lives of their family members. Many family members of the murdered women and others are killed as warnings, intimidating those trying to seek changes in the law enforcement. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw that the law does NOTHING to help solve these crimes. Many in the law enforcement are trained killers from the former army and revolution in Guatemala. The women are devalued as humans. If a women is found dead wearing sandals or wearing nail polish, the death is treated like she was a nothing..like she she deserved it.
The killers attitudes are mind blowing. If a women was wearing a short skirt or simply looked attractive, the attitude by the macho men is she deserved to be raped. Oh dear God, please intervene here! Women are being treated less than animals with absolutely no regard for human life. It's a horrible plight when the law won't even help and men think they can continue this behavior without punishment. Part of me is so angered and sickened and another part of me realizes that the killers see nothing wrong with what they are doing. I try to find forgiveness for people who can't see what is wrong with murder. What is wrong with rape, what is wrong with mutilation and dismemberment. This is centuries old, a brain washed, macho society. It is hard to find forgiveness...yet, I know if these killers only realized what they were doing, they would not be able to commit these acts again. They would hang their heads in horror, shame and disgrace would overcome them. But, they know not what they do. They are blinded by centuries of belief. Change a mans thinking and we change the behavior. Every one of these killers wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for a women...their mother.
The murderous crimes are spreading. At least two women are killed every day in Guatemala for just existing. Beautiful, lovely, innocent young women. The murderous crimes have spread over into the border towns of Mexico. The fact that these hanus crimes are increasing rather than decreasing says that nothing is working to stop these killings against women.
Norma Cruz has led a social movement in an effort to help save the women of Guatemala. She does this at great risk to her own life. She has lobbied in Washington for Human Rights in Guatemala, asking help to stop femicide. We can make a difference too, one person at a time. If you write, expose this problem to the world or Join Amnesty:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionCenter.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179
donate for the cause, in Guatemala or support Norma Cruz in her Support Center for these women. In some small way we can all make a difference.
Years ago, we all lived in a bubble. We didn't have access to global events, tragedy and horrors that existed in other parts of the world. When I was young, it was all about the the starving children in China. Now with television and internet, nothing is being hidden anymore. Journalists report at great risks to themselves, many murdered for speaking out and exposing what they see. We too, can't hide from the knowledge that others suffer in terror while we sleep in saftey and security. We, as a country, have fought hard and lost many lives to have such everyday rights. Yet, my sisters, there are women out there who need your support in whatever way you can give it. We can't close our eyes and say, "oh, this isn't in my backyard" then go about our day. As awareness of social problems increase, we no longer have excuses. The world can change, one person at a time.
God save the women of Guatemala!
