I just have to say it!
 

I am a Chi Omega, and proud of it! I love my sisters and have never experienced any of what is being accused here and in other places.

I have been raped. I know what it is like. I know what it feels like. I know what it is like to survive. I know what it is like to live every day with that in my brain. I was drugged, but the drugs didn't last long enough. Imagine what it is like to be awake enough to see what is being done to you, but too drugged to fight!!

I have forgiven my rapists. I pray for them everyday! I pray, because I believe that they will get their's - and their punishment will be horrible! Every moment that you give to your rapists - by whining about it or crying about it or screaming about it or simply thinking about it - is one more moment that you lose. Move on! Rape is terrible - why bother living it over and over again? Also, your acting this way is extremely degrading to the rest of the rape victim world. You act as though you have been conquered by your rape, not the other way around. Do you really want to show that world that women are the weaker sex?

I thank God for EVERYTHING that He has handed me. Everything in my life has made me the person that I am - the person that God wants me to be. God never hands you more than you can handle.

You claim to be a Christian, but try to evaluate your behaviour. Doesn't the Bible say, "Judge not lest ye be judged?" Doesn't the Bible say that you should love your enemy? Doesn't the Bible say you should forgive? If you are a Christian, don't you need to think about some of your behaviour? If something upsets you, let it roll off your back like water off a duck - you will be more serene and much more happy.

Some have said that you made everything up. I don't know. I can't know. And I don't care, really. Your chapter may have screwed many things up, or whatever. But I do know that I would never take part in what you have described.

I cannot describe the love I have for my sisters - they are part of my backbone. Part of my soul. We have prayed together and laughed and cried and held hands when we needed it. I am sorry that your experience was not pleasant, but what you experienced does not happen everywhere!

I think that you need to get help. I think that you are suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrom. I think that you need counseling and maybe medication. There is nothing wrong with either of those! Please get help! God helps those who help themselves. Wouldn't that be better than spending all this time miserable?

Ladies and gentlemen of Greekchat, I am kind of embarrased that all this fuss is being made over Chi Omega. We don't want to be the centre of attention! I am truly sorry to those who have been harassed! Thank you all - independants and greeks - that have been supportive. I know that all Chi Omegas thank you!

If any of you get upset about this brawl, remember to be a duck! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Gracie

I'm VERY Proud of you Gracie,

You have been through a lot, and yet you are still a very strong and happy person despite it all. I commend you for being such a strong-willed woman, you are a great example for everyone!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

I agree~
Best wishes to Chi Omega!

[This message has been edited by ecukd (edited April 03, 2001).]

thanks for sharing your story and i wish you nothing but the best in life!!!!

Gracie (my grandma's name! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif),

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us and for your wonderful attitude toward life. The compassion you show is truly wonderful. You'll get your reward in heaven, sweetie.

As long as perpitrators of rape are not held accountable, it will continue. There are many in our society who will encourage a victim to be silent. This is not going to change our rape culture-indeed it will will make it escalate. In absence of accountability, abuse continues. The problem is that crimes of sexual violence are the least likely to be reported and have the lowest conviction rate: "on a national average, one rapist in twenty is arrested, one out of thirty is prosecuted, and one in sixty is convicted. During the time period from 1972-1991, forcible rape rate per 100,000 inhabitants increased 88 percent. 78% of rapes are done by people who know the victim. Here is a real show stopper--almost one quarter of convicted rapists are not sentenced to prison but instead released on probation. Rape is a pervasive fact in American life, and its incidence is growing dramatically. We will dontinue to live in a rape culture until society understands and chooses to eradicate the sources of sexual violence in our culture." All of this is quoted from "Transforming A Rape Culture."

We have to stop trying to silence the victims of rape. I really am sorry that your sorority has members who are accussed of being involved in this girl's rape, but I will not go along with stopping her from being heard. One of the things a rape victim has is rage. She has held herself up to such public ridicule and continued to speak out.

Again, I know that she realizes that not every member of Chi Omega are rapists of some kind. You have to care about what this chapter did to your ritual, especially if it was used to harm someone. I don't understand your not caring about that part-even to protect Chi Omega.

Here is another statement from "Transforming a Rape Culture": Of course, twisted Biblical interpretations seem to confirm women's subjugation to abuse as well. In a search for the meaning of her abuse, the victim may see Jesus' suffering as a model for her own and think that she must accept her cross( especially if this is what her clergyperson exhorts). She may think sinfulness lies in her assertion of self and believe that she must become more self-denying. She may conclude that forgiveness is required by her toward all who have hurt her. Our culture encourages the sacrifice of women. The perceived Christian emphasis on sacrifice as something good matches the way girls are taught to consider others rather than themselves to be self-sacrificing in a social situation. THE RELIGIOUS MEANING OF SACRAFICE IS THUS LAYERED ON TOP OF THE SOCIAL VIEW OF WOMEN AS SACRAFICIAL. Biblical teachings entrap women are misinterpreted-therefore even encouraging a rape culture. If Jesus was here today, he would not tell women to continue to suffer, he would say end the sufferring-NOW.

[This message has been edited by bdricp (edited April 03, 2001).]

Yes, but what about forgiving?? I know that you have to get it all out; but this has gone on way too long. Now she wants to hurt people that she does not even know. Now that is not acceptable.

Two of my best friends were raped. I think rapists should get the death penality. But, I still think that hating everyone who doesn't agree with you, and using that as an excuse. Gracie, you go. I agree with you. People should move on.

Gracie--

You are exactly right! That story is ancient news, we're sick of hearing it repeated, and the members of this board are tired of being targets of revenge. Good post!

GracieChiO,

Thank you very much for your dignified post.

I have much respect for Chi Omega, both on the national and individual chapter levels. I know many XO's personally and professionally, and have many childhood friends who became members in college. These women are not satanic rapists. This controversy, steeped in fallacy it may be, is only a minor setback for the illustrious women of Chi Omega. These people are bastardizing the plight of raped and battered women everywhere, and I will no longer stand for it.

Much panhellenic love.

Gracie- You are an unbelievably strong woman & I am more than proud to call you my sister. Your clearheadedness and ability to forgive are amazing assets. Best of luck in everything you do!
LICO
Heidi

Ma'am, no one wants to silence a rape victim or deny her the right to tell her story. But regardless of what happened to the woman in question, it doesn't give her the right to threaten and harass other members of this online community who have no affiliation whatsoever with her chapter, her sorority, or any Greek organization at all.

Gracie,
I agree with you 100%. I too have been there. I too have survied and forgiven my rapist as well as myself and because of this, I feel I am a happy, well adjusted person. Pointing the finger of blame for as long as it has been is only hindering her recovery, in my opinion. Inner peace and maturity comes from forgiveness and taking responsibility for your own happiness, again in my opinion. Gracie, you have demonstrated this with your post and I am proud to call you my Sister.

LICO,
Amy

I think that until you pick up the book and read through it, you speak very uninformed about rape. It isn't asking much to ask that you do it-it might even save your life or that of your future children. Every man and woman needs to read the most comprehensive book on the subject. It is not written by one person, but the top minds in our country on the subject. Without knowledge-you are perpitrating a rape culture until the end of time. Again, the book is "Transorming a Rape Culture".

Your comments come straight from the book as being the very ones that are helping to continue the victimization of women in our culture and around the world. Gives one room for thought. Take the time-read it.

[This message has been edited by bdricp (edited April 04, 2001).]