CosmicBob

“Rape could be considered the signal crime of male supremacy, a pure enactment of power for its own sake.”
― Judith Lewis Herman, Truth and Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice

“Sometimes I think you enjoy breaking these little geniuses.” “There is an art to it, and I’m very, very good at it. But enjoy? Well, maybe. When they put back the pieces afterward, and it makes them better.” “You’re a monster.” “Thanks. Does this mean I get a raise?” “Just a medal. The budget isn’t inexhaustible.”
― Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game

“In criminal court, the defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. These two cornerstones of criminal law, the presumption of innocence and the requirement of a very high standard of proof, are designed to tip the scales of justice in favor of criminal defendants, in recognition of the tremendous imbalance of power between individual citizens and the state. But no equivalent consideration is given to the safety and well-being of crime victims who bear witness in court, despite the very real imbalance of power that so often obtains between victim and perpetrator.”
― Judith Lewis Herman, Truth and Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice

“In my view, suicide is not really the wish for life to end.” “What is it, then?” “It is the only way a powerless person can find to make everybody else look away from his shame. The wish is not to die, but to hide.” “As Adam and Eve hid from the Lord.” “Because they were naked.” “If only such sad people could remember: Everyone is naked. Everyone wants to hide. But life is still sweet. Let it go on.”
― Orson Scott Card, Ender's Shadow