We like to imagine that there are certain cultural differences, a certain East-West dichotomy on the view of human rights, that make such barbarity possible. After all, as certain political candidates in Oklahoma! will tell you ad nauseam, the United States is, supposedly, a Christian nation founded on Christian principles.
Unfortunately, those Christian principles only create a distinction without a difference. Witness the current debate in The Bahamas[1] over the Sexual Offenses Act. The bill, which makes it illegal to rape one's spouse[2], was tabled last month in the House of Assembly.
Disappointingly, yet unsuprisingly, the debate is largely split along gender lines, as attested to by this headline, "Men, Women Divided Over Sex Bill". Women, on average, don't want to be raped, even by their husbands. Men, on average, want to be able to rape their wives. Of course, they don't think it is rape. Instead, they apparently think it is masturbation and go to their religion for support of this view point. You see, like the United States, The Bahamas is a Christian nation, founded on Christian principles[3].
"It is ridiculous for them to
try to make that a law, because I don’t think a man can rape his own
wife. After two people get married, the Bible says that they become one
– one flesh. How is it possible to rape what is yours?" asked Mr.
Sutherland.
-from "Men, Women Divided Over Sex Bill"
Or, ruining the old school musician/athlete/etc. concept of paying one's dues for me:
"Even if a woman says no to her
husband it still can’t be considered rape because she is his wife. He
already paid his dues at the church and she already said ‘I do,’ so
from then on, even if [a man] forces sex on his wife, it isn’t rape,"
he said.
-from "Men, Women Divided Over Sex Bill"
And, it is not just the men:
"I disagree with the bill
because I disagree that a man can rape his wife. The Bible tells me
that a man’s body is his wife’s and her body is his. How could he rape
her?" asked Ms. Sweeting.
-from "Men, Women Divided Over Sex Bill"
See, the Bible says that a husband and wife are one. Therefore, raping one's spouse is more masturbation than rape, as the rapist is having sex with themselves.
Does this mean that these Bahamians would agree that their raped spouses can do anything to their bodies that would not be illegal to do to their own body? Would it be permissible to force your rapist spouse to get a tattoo (I suggest ASSHOLE on the forehead)? I'm aware of no governmental law that makes it illegal for me to punch myself in nuts[4]. What about "suicide"?
Fortunately, there are voices of reason, of both genders, in The Bahamas:
"Rape is rape, you can’t change
that. If someone says they’re not ready or willing to have sex and you
force them to, that is rape. Even in a marriage, forcing a person to
have sex is still rape," said Mr. Burrows.
-from "Men, Women Divided Over Sex Bill"
But are there enough voices of reason?
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NOTES
1: Apparently, The Bahamas, like The Ohio State University and the rugbyologist, is pretentious enough to include the definite article in its name.
2: AKA "marital" rape, which is simply identifies rape where the victim happens to be the rapist's spouse (you know, the love of their life, soul mate, life companion, etc.).
3: Like colonialism and slavery.
4: There is an Old Testament passage that makes this illegal for a wife to do to the husband, but, for Christians, let's remember that Paul wrote that we could throw all that old stuff out.
