Yet another Blog about Todd Akin

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Ok, I have to weigh in on this Todd Akin thing…

Here is the quote from Representative Akin that has him in so much trouble:

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, [pregnancies from rape are] really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

Now, if I was teaching a Victim’s Impact class or Criminal Thinking class in a prison and Representative Akin was instead Inmate Akin and he made that statement, I would consider (and probably would) kick him out of class and make him reapply.  I certainly wouldn’t allow him to receive treatment credit.

His statement was part “Freudian-slip” and part convenient “science”.

Let’s go with the “science” part.  No one believes that the trauma of rape is any type of “barrier” to protect a woman from pregnancy. Here are the statistics:

“Statistically, the chance of getting pregnant from a one-off rape that involved penis-to-vagina penetration and male orgasm (of course not all rapes do) is about 5%, the same as for consenting sex under the same circumstances.” RAINN: The nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.

”There were around 25 000 pregnancies occurring from rape each year in the US, say studies done in 1998 and 2000. Of those, about 9000 were aborted.” According to the Kaiser Family Foundation Research

This idea that a woman’s body will “fight-off” the sperm of a rapist is preposterous and no-one (and when I say no one, I mean no one reputable, or even otherwise) adheres to it.  It was quoted by Representative Akins because it suited him and his position on abortions for rape victims.

However, for me, the most condemning statement came from the “legitimate” comment. He has tried to backtrack today, but he said what he said.  He believes that not all reported rapes are rapes. That is actually true. A small portion of claims are fabrications, just like the reports of any type of crime, some are false accusations.

However: I don’t think that is what Mr. Akins meant by it. In the interview he threw off some very suspect body language as he made his statement. Maybe he knew he didn’t know what he was talking about. Whatever the case, he needs some “inner work” in his heart as it comes to rape victims.  He needs empathy, which he did not show.

Jesus is very clear in Luke 6:45, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

If Mr. Akins would have said something like, “Rape is a horrible act and the perpetrators of such an evil crime should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, not ruling out the death penalty or life in prison. The victims of such crimes should be defended protected and supported by our communities and government in their greatest time of need and the people who are conceived as a result of a rape have rights. The manner and circumstances of their conception do not negate their right to life. ” I could have respected him. He would have at least been consistent in his statements.  Instead, he has become one of the most reviled figures in politics and in the nation…and rightfully so.

I know people who were conceived as a result of incest (which, is rape.) I came to love them deeply in my heart. I was so sad for their circumstances, but I was glad they were alive and that I was able to contribute to their happiness and experience.

I’ll be honest, I‘m torn on this issue.

Mr. Akins is not.

chris