In the article "For Native American Women, Scourge of Rape, Rare Justice" by The New York Times the US Senate has proposed a bill to grant more powers to Tribal Courts. The bill would allow the Tribal Courts to prosecute suspected non-Indians suspected of sexually assaulting their Indian spouses or domestic partners. This would help the reservations in reducing the amount of sexual assault that has now become common place. The rate of sexual assault has been recorded as 12 times the national average in the United States which to me is a ridiculous number.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/us/native-americans-struggle-with-high-rate-of-rape.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
With the rate of sexual assaults being so high on the reservations, what do you feel that we should do to assist the Native Americans? Also do you feel that the Senate's Bill will really help of is just a way to quiet supporters down?
To assist Native Americans I think we can come up with some sort of safety law to prevent rape from happening so often. I don't really know exactly how that would work or how to stop non-Indians from sexually assaulting Indian women. I do think that the Senate's Bill is just a way to quiet supporters because I don't think it is taking much action and will do much prevention. I think once the bill comes into action, it may help a little but it won't fully stop the women from being sexually assaulted.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hannah that the actions being taken to stop or help the victims aren't really going to do much. I think that no matter what it'll be hard to totally protect these people, because there's not much a law would do to make people who are going to rape someone just not do it. The law should have really high consequences but there should be more shelters for battered and abused women or more support groups available.
ReplyDeleteI think this issue raises a good question. That question is how much are the people living on reservations really gaining? culturally they could remain the same if they assimilated into American society. They would also not be charged within a tribal court. We wouldn't need to pretend to make laws in an attempt to quiet supporters if Native Americans assimilated from reservation life into American society.
ReplyDeleteI think that the United States government should make Native American courts and police departments regular courts and police departments that have the same powers and resources as any other. Giving them limited capabilities just decrease their effectiveness and prevent them from protecting Native Americans and providing justice. Perhaps like Jack said, reservations could just become regular towns and cities. The problem with that is that it throws away the whole idea of Native American reservations being independent nations, which they really are not since they are under Federal jurisdiction.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sasha and Hannah. This bill wont really help the victims. Off of the Indian reservations rapes are already rarely reported and I doubt that is any different on the reservation. I agree with Sasha that their should be more shelters for women being abused or raped both on and off the reservation. I also think that there should be support phone lines to help these victims cope and learn the next steps after being raped. Also, there should be more education programs surrounding Anti-Rape campaigns, teaching people "not to rape" instead of "not to get raped". I hope the bill will help but I feel there needs to be more done than just allowing convictions.
ReplyDeleteI really feel that this bill could help if it was enforced. But obviously the rape has to be reported to the authorities and they have to be responsible enough to pursue the person who committed the rape. It's hard to say what we can do to help because it's hard to help rape victims in general much less on a reservation where the rate is 12 times higher than off the reservation. I may sound like I'm saying that there can't be anything done but it is hard. I think one way we could help is to make sure the police are doing their jobs right and doing everything they can to protect the people of the reservations.
ReplyDeleteI think we should should enforce this law to prevent and scare people from raping or assaulting their wives. I think it's also a good idea that women living on reservations should be on some sort of birth control to prevent unplanned births from being raped. I personally think that enforcing the law wouldn't hurt. I think it will bve reassuring to the Native Indians woment hat we are enforcing somethingto help but I dont think it will work unless it's enforced. Women who are abused or assaulted should report it right away to prevent any further abusive situations.
ReplyDeleteI think that this bill could really make a differences in number of sexual assaults that occur on an Indian reservation, but like David said only if it was enforced. I feel like there is not much that we can do to assist native Americans on this issue. Native american woman can not do much about it either. I agree with Nicole that they should be on birth control to protect from rape but i think that it is sad that you have to do that. Even if they report it the rape has already happened, nothing can change that. What they need is protection from this in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that this bill could make an impact on the number of sexual assaults on reservations. I think a major cause of this high rate is because it is easy for non-Native Americans to get away with sexual assault. Law enforcement on reservations also makes it hard for Native American women to get justice and be heard. I think this bill like Adam said will help protect these women from sexual assault to begin with. To help the justice system and preventing these assaults on reservations, these crimes shouldn't be pushed aside and need to be just as important as any other lawsuits brought to courts. These cases need to be seen as just as important as any other case involving non-Native Americans.
ReplyDeleteTo assist Native Americans I think that we should increase the law enforcement on the reservations. Clearly there is a problem with the justice and law on reservations, proof being all of the sexual assaults that have occurred. Unfortunately I do not think that the senates bill will help with the problem. Giving them more power will not stop criminals from doing what they want. But if there are more police and stricter laws, as well as consequences, crime could occur less often. And as Zach asked in his question,I do believe that this bill was proposed just to quiet supporters down.
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