Thanks for having me in thought. I hope you/yours are in good spirit. I can be dishonest and say everything is happy go lucky but its not. Last week I received my results from the VA and my claim was denied. The terms used by WE (the Dept of VA) had me all out of sorts. I really wanted to do some things to myself and others - i lost my bearing so to speak.
Normally, I love a challenge, but I kinda felt like giving up after having received my results. To be honest, I did give up, but family and close friends are encouraging me to not give up.
You say, "there are some new board members and some of them have a military medical background," and "If they were to utilize their skills, that could be a postive for change" I hope so. I really do! I think of myself and what I've experienced and I know of so many others...please say a prayer for me...a prayer for us all.
How are you doing? I hope that all is well with you and your loved ones. I went to the VA Women's Summit. Not much to talk about. However, there are some new board members and some of them have a military medical background. If theywere to utilize their skills, that could be a postive for change! Well keep in touch! Take care of yourself
Rita
A rose by any other name is still a rose and Military Sexual Trauma(MST) is still RAPE!
Hello Ms. Lady and good day to you, how you doing? Thank you for the information about the VA Women's Health Conference. I know I won't be able to attend it this year but now that I am aware, I can make plans to attend the next one. Sounds like something I will need to stay on top of cause I see the slots filled fast! I've never been to DC, might be nice to go, you know.
About the scholarships, imma look into that and ask questions when I go to my next MH appointment.
Peace and blessing
If I were to give you my number would you call me? I am thinking about starting a website for women of color mst survivors. I am still trying to find funding so that each person on the network would have a computer/internet services for those who couldnt afford it like me(lol) It would give us an opportunity to network and share resources, infor, plan conferences etc.
I had to put that idea on a backburner for awhile because I was trying to work on my claim and you know how difficu;t that can be. Anyway, I sending you loads of hugs and best wishes for your wellness and peace. You and yours are in my prayers and I know we will never overcome this illness but if we can just get through day by day.
Stay in touch Please!!!!!!!
A rose by any other name is still a rose and Military Sexual Trauma(MST) is still RAPE!
I hope this note find you in good spirit. Do you have family? If so, how yall doing? I am okay and my kids are glad that school is out. Our health be good, we have food and shelter, so we thankful.
I like this site too, its allowing me to interact with women from all over and each time I log on, I learn something new!
You asked if I was going to attend the VA Women's Health Conference in DC next month. And to be honest, this is my first time hearing about something like this. I didn't know things of this nature took place. Would information about this be provided in the women’s clinic at the VA Hospital? Maybe I saw it and overlooked it, i dunno. I wont be able to make the conference this year but if its held annually maybe I can plan to attend one year. Thanks for telling me about this too! Will you be attending the conference?
Thank you for your comments about the style of my page, im looking to change it when the summer solstice takes place.
About the pictures on my blog...
I went to www.photobucket.com (a free image/hosting site) and opened an account. Its free to join. Once you sign up and upload your photos select: create slide show.
Good luck and get back at me when you have a chance.
I am glad you found the articles and poems about rape in the military informative. I wanted women to be able to hear the voices of sisters violated within the confines of a situation where honor and commraderie are suppose to reign supreme. To reach one ear is strength. To reach many is empowering.
Ase
Thank you for reading my words, and I'm glad you felt comfy sharing some of your experience. I do not know your pain but can relate to what you say and speak in regards to being a victim and survivor. Much respect for the share!!!
Like you, I too reported the offenses when they took place, but when I reported things, folks looked at me like I was crazy, as if I was trying to destroy someone's career or family! And I was like, man, I'm not trying to bring anybody down, if anything, I'm trying to report some problems!
My events took place during: Mar 92 and Dec 93-96. I did attend the court-marshal of one of the NCO's and I had to testfy against him and two others. I am not going to lie, even as I sat there on that stand I was afraid, and I was afraid because it didnt matter what them men and women were saying behind that pannel, man, if that drill instructor or NCO wanted me to suffer it was going to happen. Them folks behind the panel was not present when we were in the middle of nowhere, the boonies, or the woods. They wasn't around when we were on the range, nor was they present in my room! They were not present when we were TDY and away from post or command. ALl they could do was sit back and speculate! Sometimes I would catch glances of disbelief and I was like, "why I gotta make this stuff up?" They quick to tell me that its a misunderstanding and I'm like, how??? HOw can I mis understand someone putting they hands on me? Heck I can feel! How can I misunderstand theats: If you say anything I will make your life a living hell, you will never get promoted, and you will always have crapy assignements! How can I misunderstand being kissed, a bear hug, or some man just bomrushing you and having his way with you? How the heck they expect me to just imagine this mess? How??? And they wonder why I'm aggressive, they wonder why I be quick to go off on a MF, they wonder why I constantly ask that a MF respect my space, my privarcy and to understand that when I say leave me a lone, to do so!!! I'm not crazy for asking for respect!
Folks quick to say or assume that respect is automatically given and heck its not! When you testify against certain folks in positions of authjoirty your privacy is invaded. I'm talking CID!!! Mine was invaded! I got tired of them males entering my room and home without my knowledge! I got tired of complaining and the powers at be not doing anything except slapping folks on thier wrist! That military code of dishonor be in full effect. I mean, its a good thing but when you been raped its not something you want.
Sistah when you said this: What people do not understand is that we have no legal and or civil rights. Some of the VA Service officers do more harm than good. We do not have attorneys who will take our cases Pro Bono, the VA/government does not provide one free of charge to us, and we are often left to fend for ourselves.
You are 100% right. There are no attorneys to take your case pro-bono, and we do have to fend for ourselves. The local VA Center has some good folks that work there but its a lot who dont need to be there. I know my very first visit to the womens helath clinci I was met by and fonky Dr. Farrar, yeah, I remember that ole broad's name, she didnt even know anything about me and just came out the blocks saying, "you can't get any type of compensation for this," and i was like, "who the heck are you?" From that moment on (back in 1998) I was like the hell with telling the VA WHAT happened to me, aint nobody gonna believe me! It was folks like her that made me not want to open up PERIOD! I was like man, forget it!
Its like why must I be crazy if I've been violated or raped? Why I gotta be militant, or for the love of man, why must I be trying to bring another brother or man down? Why do some think that overcoming your fear, and reliving the memory is simple to forget!? Its not that freaking easy because if it was I would have been and forgotten what them dogs did to me! Again, it piss me off when I am labeled as some sensitive woman! Heck, I can't help it, I shouldn't be considered weak because I feel and cry!
Additionally, as with everything else that involves Black people, if we left it up to the media, some politicans, some women groups, no one would even know that we exsist.
I say the same thing^^^. Because its not what society wants to see...yeah, women of color get raped too! And we come up missing, be beatned to death, and the media dont rush to cover the story! I know it would take an act of congress to get some coverage for what women of color experince in and out the military. Look at POW S. Johnson and look at J. Lynch! Look at that mess! That's the type of stuff that really do happen in the miliatry and just how they did S. Johnson is how they do a lot of other women of color. Man, you be put on the back burner!
How many times have you seen a woman of color on 20/20, 60 minutes, Dateline, etc that featured stories about Rape In The Military included in the show? How many newspapers, magazines, cartoons, have you read that included women of color.
We don't see it often enough and it happens every FREAKIN DAY! Every woman I know (personall), and I kid you not, she's experienced some type of harrasment in the m ilitary. Yeah, its many who don't have problems but heck where they at? They not near me! I'd love to email you, what's your email addy?
Peace unto you
Thank you for your words, for they are encouraging. Please check your email, its regarding exchanging numbers.
I PRAY for the predators that hunt me.
Thank You
Rita,
Thanks for having me in thought. I hope you/yours are in good spirit. I can be dishonest and say everything is happy go lucky but its not. Last week I received my results from the VA and my claim was denied. The terms used by WE (the Dept of VA) had me all out of sorts. I really wanted to do some things to myself and others - i lost my bearing so to speak.
Normally, I love a challenge, but I kinda felt like giving up after having received my results. To be honest, I did give up, but family and close friends are encouraging me to not give up.
You say, "there are some new board members and some of them have a military medical background," and "If they were to utilize their skills, that could be a postive for change" I hope so. I really do! I think of myself and what I've experienced and I know of so many others...please say a prayer for me...a prayer for us all.
Peace unto you.
I PRAY for the predators that hunt me.
Thinking of you
SistahsoldierSistahvet85
Peace and Blessings
How are you doing? I hope that all is well with you and your loved ones. I went to the VA Women's Summit. Not much to talk about. However, there are some new board members and some of them have a military medical background. If theywere to utilize their skills, that could be a postive for change! Well keep in touch! Take care of yourself
Rita
A rose by any other name is still a rose and Military Sexual Trauma(MST) is still RAPE!
Thank you
Hello Ms. Lady and good day to you, how you doing? Thank you for the information about the VA Women's Health Conference. I know I won't be able to attend it this year but now that I am aware, I can make plans to attend the next one. Sounds like something I will need to stay on top of cause I see the slots filled fast! I've never been to DC, might be nice to go, you know.
About the scholarships, imma look into that and ask questions when I go to my next MH appointment.
I PRAY for the predators that hunt me.
Thinking of you
SistahsoldierSistahvet85
Peace and blessing
If I were to give you my number would you call me? I am thinking about starting a website for women of color mst survivors. I am still trying to find funding so that each person on the network would have a computer/internet services for those who couldnt afford it like me(lol) It would give us an opportunity to network and share resources, infor, plan conferences etc.
I had to put that idea on a backburner for awhile because I was trying to work on my claim and you know how difficu;t that can be. Anyway, I sending you loads of hugs and best wishes for your wellness and peace. You and yours are in my prayers and I know we will never overcome this illness but if we can just get through day by day.
Stay in touch Please!!!!!!!
A rose by any other name is still a rose and Military Sexual Trauma(MST) is still RAPE!
Hello :o)
Hey Ms. Lady:
I hope this note find you in good spirit. Do you have family? If so, how yall doing? I am okay and my kids are glad that school is out. Our health be good, we have food and shelter, so we thankful.
I like this site too, its allowing me to interact with women from all over and each time I log on, I learn something new!
You asked if I was going to attend the VA Women's Health Conference in DC next month. And to be honest, this is my first time hearing about something like this. I didn't know things of this nature took place. Would information about this be provided in the women’s clinic at the VA Hospital? Maybe I saw it and overlooked it, i dunno. I wont be able to make the conference this year but if its held annually maybe I can plan to attend one year. Thanks for telling me about this too! Will you be attending the conference?
Thank you for your comments about the style of my page, im looking to change it when the summer solstice takes place.
About the pictures on my blog...
I went to www.photobucket.com (a free image/hosting site) and opened an account. Its free to join. Once you sign up and upload your photos select: create slide show.
Good luck and get back at me when you have a chance.
Welcome
Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani
I am glad you found the articles and poems about rape in the military informative. I wanted women to be able to hear the voices of sisters violated within the confines of a situation where honor and commraderie are suppose to reign supreme. To reach one ear is strength. To reach many is empowering.
Ase
peace
SistahsoldierSistahvet85
Would you save me as a friend so we can keep in touch?
A rose by any other name is still a rose and Military Sexual Trauma(MST) is still RAPE!
Hooah!
SistahsoldierSistahvet85
Thank you for reading my words, and I'm glad you felt comfy sharing some of your experience. I do not know your pain but can relate to what you say and speak in regards to being a victim and survivor. Much respect for the share!!!
Like you, I too reported the offenses when they took place, but when I reported things, folks looked at me like I was crazy, as if I was trying to destroy someone's career or family! And I was like, man, I'm not trying to bring anybody down, if anything, I'm trying to report some problems!
My events took place during: Mar 92 and Dec 93-96. I did attend the court-marshal of one of the NCO's and I had to testfy against him and two others. I am not going to lie, even as I sat there on that stand I was afraid, and I was afraid because it didnt matter what them men and women were saying behind that pannel, man, if that drill instructor or NCO wanted me to suffer it was going to happen. Them folks behind the panel was not present when we were in the middle of nowhere, the boonies, or the woods. They wasn't around when we were on the range, nor was they present in my room! They were not present when we were TDY and away from post or command. ALl they could do was sit back and speculate! Sometimes I would catch glances of disbelief and I was like, "why I gotta make this stuff up?" They quick to tell me that its a misunderstanding and I'm like, how??? HOw can I mis understand someone putting they hands on me? Heck I can feel! How can I misunderstand theats: If you say anything I will make your life a living hell, you will never get promoted, and you will always have crapy assignements! How can I misunderstand being kissed, a bear hug, or some man just bomrushing you and having his way with you? How the heck they expect me to just imagine this mess? How??? And they wonder why I'm aggressive, they wonder why I be quick to go off on a MF, they wonder why I constantly ask that a MF respect my space, my privarcy and to understand that when I say leave me a lone, to do so!!! I'm not crazy for asking for respect!
Folks quick to say or assume that respect is automatically given and heck its not! When you testify against certain folks in positions of authjoirty your privacy is invaded. I'm talking CID!!! Mine was invaded! I got tired of them males entering my room and home without my knowledge! I got tired of complaining and the powers at be not doing anything except slapping folks on thier wrist! That military code of dishonor be in full effect. I mean, its a good thing but when you been raped its not something you want.
Sistah when you said this: What people do not understand is that we have no legal and or civil rights. Some of the VA Service officers do more harm than good. We do not have attorneys who will take our cases Pro Bono, the VA/government does not provide one free of charge to us, and we are often left to fend for ourselves.
You are 100% right. There are no attorneys to take your case pro-bono, and we do have to fend for ourselves. The local VA Center has some good folks that work there but its a lot who dont need to be there. I know my very first visit to the womens helath clinci I was met by and fonky Dr. Farrar, yeah, I remember that ole broad's name, she didnt even know anything about me and just came out the blocks saying, "you can't get any type of compensation for this," and i was like, "who the heck are you?" From that moment on (back in 1998) I was like the hell with telling the VA WHAT happened to me, aint nobody gonna believe me! It was folks like her that made me not want to open up PERIOD! I was like man, forget it!
Its like why must I be crazy if I've been violated or raped? Why I gotta be militant, or for the love of man, why must I be trying to bring another brother or man down? Why do some think that overcoming your fear, and reliving the memory is simple to forget!? Its not that freaking easy because if it was I would have been and forgotten what them dogs did to me! Again, it piss me off when I am labeled as some sensitive woman! Heck, I can't help it, I shouldn't be considered weak because I feel and cry!
Additionally, as with everything else that involves Black people, if we left it up to the media, some politicans, some women groups, no one would even know that we exsist.
I say the same thing^^^. Because its not what society wants to see...yeah, women of color get raped too! And we come up missing, be beatned to death, and the media dont rush to cover the story! I know it would take an act of congress to get some coverage for what women of color experince in and out the military. Look at POW S. Johnson and look at J. Lynch! Look at that mess! That's the type of stuff that really do happen in the miliatry and just how they did S. Johnson is how they do a lot of other women of color. Man, you be put on the back burner!
How many times have you seen a woman of color on 20/20, 60 minutes, Dateline, etc that featured stories about Rape In The Military included in the show? How many newspapers, magazines, cartoons, have you read that included women of color.
We don't see it often enough and it happens every FREAKIN DAY! Every woman I know (personall), and I kid you not, she's experienced some type of harrasment in the m ilitary. Yeah, its many who don't have problems but heck where they at? They not near me! I'd love to email you, what's your email addy?
I PRAY for the predators that hunt me.