Sexual Assault is NOT Ok.

We live in a society where sex is not an openly discussed subject. Sexual assault is never discussed in a family.

In the past few weeks, we have seen a tremendous rise in the social sharing of articles on rape and sexual assault in response to the anger and stirring the Delhi rape incident has caused. 

The more I read about sexual crimes around the world and in India I  feel a deep sense of grief for the victims and a deeper sense of anger towards the accused.

Today, we are a nation outraged by an incident that is shocking in the brutality of it, the response of our "protectors" & the response of our government to such an incident. 

Stop to wonder why this response? To our "protectors" and government this is just one more incident among the numerous sexual assault cases reported, some perhaps more  brutal and gruesome than this crime. It makes me sick to think of the cases that are not recorded, the cases where the woman is blamed, the cases where everything that should have been done is brushed aside and the victims are out there waiting for justice. Fighting a hard lonely battle everyday.

Sexual assault can range from an inappropriate touch to rape. Where do we draw the line? Any level on this range needs to be taken seriously. Invading another person's privacy, scarring them for life and making them feel unsafe every minute is just NOT Ok. 

The world has become a place where women are constantly in a state of war, and the enemy is.. we don't know who. But we are supposed to go out there and be ready at any time. It could be your creepy neighbor or the friendliest shopkeeper. How is this fair? Even a solider at war is armed and knows who the enemy is.

Trust nobody. Trust your instincts.

There is no reason or rational explanation that can justify why the assaulter would commit such an act. It is an act of pure selfishness and immorality. When you have committed such an unfair act you do not deserve a 'fair' trial or a 'fair' punishment. Man has managed to turn the most intimate act of love into an act of hate, perversion and pure evil.

Everyone is talking about how this needs to be tackled from a society level. This needs to be tackled from a home level. Every parent needs to educate their children, given we cannot protect them at all times but we can arm them with knowledge to discern and the confidence to confide in anything that they go through. Ensure that your children understand the value of another person's life and privacy. Yes, we never like to think that someone close to us could be an assaulter but all those men out there are someone's son, husband, brother or father.

Let us all as a generation next talk to our children, talk to each other, increase awareness to help each other create a safer world.

We need to STOP accepting that Sexual Assault is Ok. It is NOT Ok.