It Starts with R and Rhymes with Tape

Caution: this journal contains some slight spoilers for the latest chapter of Endgame, and a serious talk about a sensitive subject. Think before you read further.

Well, those of you who read Part 6 of Endgame may have been in for a slight shock. Namely about one scene in particular involving Phil and Zugzwang.

Yes, I'm talking about the part where Zugzwang rapes Phil.

As an artist, I sometimes feel I shouldn't necessarily have to justify my decisions to others, but in this instance, some of you may feel as though I crossed a line, and I wanted to talk about it.

I did not like having to write this chapter. However unpleasant it was for you to read it, writing it was even less pleasant for me. And I put a lot of thought into this chapter, particularly whether or not raping Phil was necessary. I unfortunately decided that it was, simply because no other method of torture would have the same impact on him.

As an artist, I also feel that it is part of my work to try to connect to my readers, and to use my words to paint an image of reality. So, if you were shocked, horrified, disgusted, angered, or saddened by what happened to Phillip, then I have this to say.

Good.

Rape should be horrifying for all of us, simply because of what it is. Rape is a traumatic, painful, and scary experience that no one deserves to go through and no one "asks for." A person who is raped is not only physically hurt, but also deeply emotionally and psychologically scarred. They have been violated on a personal level that nothing else equals: sexual intimacy and relationships are now a place of danger and fear (remember that most victims are raped by someone that they know). And then there's the shame that follows: they should have fought back, they should have said no harder, no one's going to believe them, this shouldn't have happened to them.

And part of the problem, I think, is that we, as a society at large, make light of rape. We tell jokes about it. We say that making "grab 'em by the pussy" jokes is just "locker room talk." We still tell women who were raped that they "asked for it" because of the way they were dressed or the way they acted, or we brush them off. We refuse to accept that men can be raped, and male victims who bring up complaints aren't taken seriously (fact: rape and sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes in the nation, often because victims are too afraid or ashamed to report it, or they don't think they will be taken seriously). And then there are the times that the offender is let off because they "made a mistake" and they don't deserve to have their lives ruined just because they ruined someone else's.

So I want to make something very clear here.

First of all, rape is never the victim's fault. No one "asks" to be raped. No one tells an offender to rape them. Rape is not a "mistake" on the offender's part, it is a conscious decision. And if the victim didn't fight back because they were afraid or under threat, that does not lessen the seriousness of the offense in any way.

Secondly, rape is not a joke. The next time you want to brush off people talking about rape in a joking matter, ask yourself this: would you think it was funny if they were talking about your sister or your daughter (or your brother or your son)? Would you think it was funny if they were talking about you? Rape victims are people, too. They are sons and daughters. They are brothers and sisters. They are mothers and fathers.

Bottom line: Rape is a violent act. It is the act of someone who wishes to control and dominate by hurting others. It is a crime. And it should be repugnant to us. That is what I was trying to convey with this chapter.

That is all. I'm stepping off the soapbox now.

I will continue working on the next chapter of Endgame, where things will hopefully get a little better. I hope that you are looking forward to more.

Thank you and God bless,

Josiah