Rape, as humor?

I know that I may seem to be a little opinionated on certain subjects, and some may be left to question whether I actually have a "lighter side". I can assure you, I do. In fact... I'm actually more prone to joke around than be serious. I just choose to blog about something which I am passionate about... and something that doesn't happen to be a funny subject.

But, trust me- I know humor.

That being said, I have to admit it's be a long stretch for me to ever make a connection between humor and rape. I just can't imagine what sort of joke about rape could ever bring someone to laughter.

rape-

NOUN:

1. The crime of forcing another person to submit to sex acts, especially sexual intercourse.
2. The act of seizing and carrying off by force; abduction.
3. Abusive or improper treatment; violation: a rape of justice.

Sorry, but I just don't see "the funny" in that. Sadly, other people evidently do:

WASHINGTON — XM Satellite Radio shock jocks Opie and Anthony apologized Friday for airing a homeless man's crude comments that he'd like to have sex with Condoleezza Rice, Laura Bush and Queen Elizabeth.

The remarks were made on their show Wednesday by a guest the duo call Homeless Charlie. As the name of each woman came up, the guest said he would like to have sex with her -- using language not fit for print.

Opie and Anthony laughed as they imagined Rice's "horror" while describing a violent sexual encounter in which Rice is punched in the face.

I know, they said they were "sorry". But, does that really make it any better? Not long ago, a man lost his job(s) because he called a team of women some less than flattering words. These men LAUGHED at the mental imagine of someone been raped- a crime that doesn't end once the attacker leaves. A crime that is burned into the mind of the victim, that effects them for a lifetime, that comes back to haunt them in indescribable ways.

From Pathfinder= Rape Crisis Information Center: (read the link, it have valuable information)

The most common long term effects of sexual assault and rape are the invisible ones. The immediate symptoms of rape trauma include having unpredictable and intense emotions. The victim may have an exaggerated startle response (jumpy), may have memories and intrusive thoughts about the assault, nightmares, difficulty sleeping and difficulty concentrating. The long term psychological effects of rape can include PTSD and rape trauma syndrome (RTS), OCD, DID, Eating Disorders, Self Injury, Self blame, Panic attacks, Flashbacks, Body memories and Sleeping disorders. Unfortunately in many cases these effects can be life long if the victim does not get immediate support and care. Some people mask these symptoms in order to cope with society.

Panic Attacks. Nightmares. Flashbacks. Sleeping disorders. Not really fun, and not really funny.

Somehow, the fact that they laughed about it to begin with, makes me wonder just how sincere their "sorry" really was.

Stats:

* Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted.
* One in six American women are victims of sexual assault, and one in 33 men.
* In 2004-2005, there were an average annual 200,780 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.
* About 44% of rape victims are under age 18, and 80% are under age 30.

One in 6 women, one in 33 men- I'm left to wonder just how funny they find the mental image of a woman's horror of being raped. I'm guessing that they too lack the ability to see "the funny" in it.