tinman take your political hatred to another thread. Your disdain is not wanted here. I feel for any woman that has to go through the pain and torture of a rape and every day there after. my thought and prayers go out to them all! oh and KICK AZZ LADIES!!!!

tinman take your political hatred to another thread. Your disdain is not wanted here.

What political hatred? He believes Barack Obama was born there (I don't), but that doesn't indicate hatred on his part. Hyperbole doesn't help anyone.

Good for these women for taking control of their lives in the face of unbelievable odds.

I also think it is good for these women to be taking control of their lives, but realistically speaking this will probably do more harm than good. Elderly women are at a significant disadvantage compared to a a young, adult male and twice weekly classes isn't going to change that. Trying to fight back may get them hurt more. Twice weekly street protests demanding the government do something would probably be a better use of their time.

Always with the naysayers trying to tie any unrelated news to a political one. What do grannies learning martial arts have to do anything with US politics?

Getting back on topic, I say you go grandma, anyone who deserves to defile people who have lived a full life and enjoying retirement deserves to get their asses whooped!!

Its a shame that the country is so primitive that the women have to resort to fighting to prevent sexual assault.

I recommend lining the police up and shooting one of them that has been found guilty of refusing to enforce public safety: warning that if any of them do so, they will also be shot.

Remember however, that this is the way they have always been and possibly always will be. Whether we agree to that statement or not: it is the recorded history of that country. The same thing happens in the USA as well.

What do you see as funny about Rape?

Thank you, Ed. It's not funny. And I'm sure the Wayans have more respect for their mother, grandmother, wives, and daughters, than to make a comedy about this topic. Obviously, PJ would think this is a hoot. Shame on him. How can we get the email for the mother's of PJ and other men like him so we can send them the link to this topic? Maybe their grandmothers should be taking self-defense classes because their grandsons obviously think if they're attacked they should just take it. It's hard to believe these people still exist in America.

Or, is Pj an African male and feels threatened by intelligent, strong women? Perhaps he's just backwards. I can't tell from his post where he's from. The only thing I can tell is that wherever he's from, he's surrounded by a culture still living in the Dark Ages. Perhaps we should study them. We've found tribes in South America and Africa that have not changed in centuries, completely untouched by modern society, could this be a new tribe that still teaches archaic cultural mores from the European Dark Ages?

Ok.

Lighten up morons! This news is in "Wierd News" for a reason. Nobody said rape is a good thing, but the idea of "Kung Fu Grannies" is. BTW, my mother thinks it is funny too.

PJ, Your original post was not clear as to what portion of the article you deemed as worthy of a comedy, therefore, I asked a civilized question and recieved an uncivilized response! Who is the "Moron" is in this situation ? Also. Tyler, I guess that you consider calling people "Morons" is not a form of flaming! Pretty no value in what I have seen in your attitude.

This is just despicable and it has a lot to do with the ignorance and lack of education and infrastructure that plagues Africa in general.

Can we kill all males in this country? They think rape can cure aids, or bring good luck? These people are not worth saving.

But who's going to do the shooting?

In absence of a competent police force, these women are doing what they can and they deserve all the help they can get.

Maybe we could send Chuck Norris....

Kitty-1341278 wrote "A large percentage of men are clearly far lower on the evolutionary tree than the women."

Men are responsible for much of the good in the world as well. A large percentage of men are responsible for Kenya's economy as well as every other economy in the world. If you shoot the men, civilization dies. The women will return to plucking termites from a mound for lunch.

Vincent, are you saying that to piss-off every intelligent person on Newsvine? Yeah, women are the ones who are unable to take care of themselves. Women are stupid and can't figure out how to survive without men. I guess I figured your form of sexism died out about 40 years ago. There I go thinking again. I'm so glad men like you are around to make sure I have food to eat tonight. Oh, gosh, and could you teach me about this whole fire thing? And, can I have the right to vote someday? Jeez.

There are difference between men and women that cannot be denied but what happened to gender equality? One can't live without the other. Men have accomplished great achievements because they tend to not be as emotional as women (also controversial). However, one can also argue that women didn't have a chance to come up with inventions because society has confined women to caretakers since history was written.

delherren wrote "I figured your form of sexism died out about 40 years ago."

It has been replaced by Modern Feminism, which is merely a new form of racism. Such female supremacy purports that women are morally superior and more "evolved" than men. Any defense of men is also considered to be a hatred of women. Reread my paragraph as well as the first paragraph to which I responded before you justify your knee-jerk accusation.

I read your words twice and they're still blatantly sexist AND ridiculous. Women are quite as capable (if not more so) of maintaining civilization and finding foods to eat other than termites as men are.

But I'm sure you know that.

Not sure I agree that rape is the result of "some strange primitive beliefs"--Whether it's in Kenya, or whether it's here in the US--rape is ALWAYS about power and its abuse. And to that end--I too applaud these women who can obviously expect no help from their own government or the police.

Nowhere in this article does it say that other than these rapes, life is great for women and children in Africa. This article points out that these women recognize that they can't count on their community to protect them, so they are doing what they have to to protect themselves. These women are doing what American women began doing just a few decades ago. They are empowering themselves. That's the beginning of the process. Eventually, these women will move forward. They will take their power into their own hands. This is not something that happens overnight, it can take years to get to the point where they have a loud, powerful voice in their nation. Give it time. And give them support as they make huge changes in their lives.

Quite true delherren, and I hope there is someone that will actually pity the men of Kenya once these women get enough nerve. I know I won't, and I know just how incredibly vicious women can be if they have a cause, and I'd certainly say they have a just cause.

Thanks. I guess I need to get off this thread. I love men, but these cavemen could change my opinion on the progress men have made in the last 100 years. I never thought of myself as a "radical" by thinking women have the right to feel safe in our communities, that we can contribute something positive to our culture, and that we are equal to men. I guess there are still too many out there who see women as inferior. I didn't see myself as a NOW supporter, I thought what I believed was just common sense, but I guess I need to find my local chapter of NOW and get after it.

Oh, and I now realize I need to warn my daughter that these men are still out there. I thought I only had to warn her about finding someone to treat her well. I need to warn her that she needs to watch for guys like these. She doesn't need to walk 5 steps behind her husband.

delherren I'm glad you said that about feminism being common sense, because I used to think that too. I thought treating women as the equals we are was just common sense, and didn't understand why we needed a special word for people who believe in that. After all, we don't have a word for people who believe in the equality of races, or age, or intelligence. But then you hear about stories like this, and see the comments made here, and it reminds you that we still have a long way to go before women everywhere are recognized to be as valuable to society as men are.

How about some razor blades in the target area?

Too quick.

Amen, arm everyone of them. Nothing like looking down the end of a gun barrel ;-)

What you are saying is that a lack of guns is why these women have no control in their lives. Is that how you really think? Guns do not make people powerful, they just make them dangerous. And how many guns does it take to make these women and their children safe? A pistol? Or maybe it takes an automatic weapon? There are more than enough guns in Africa and the Arab Peninsula. Guns have not made these people safe, men or women. It only means that your enemy is probably better armed than you are. These are cultural problems, not a lack of firepower.

I own several guns and I don't feel that I am a danger to anyone. I say a pistol for every woman will help make them safer. Train them how to use it properly. Would you try and rape one if you knew they were all packing? Not, I bet just the thought you might be shot would scare you away........If they have no protection how do you expect these women to protect themselves? Besides a good blood trail is easy to follow:-)

Good Lord! Is this about the right to bear arms, now? I do not believe guns are the answer. Sorry. Everyone in Africa owns a gun. My future son-in-law is from Uganda. He would never take my daughter or their children to Africa for this very reason. Lots of idiots with guns, bored, and believing that rape cures a fatal disease. How is adding more guns to the situation a solution?

I'm glad you're not a danger to anyone. I know of several situations where people who were no danger to anyone accidently killed themselves or others. Usually in a panicked situation. Even the well trained make mistakes. More guns in the mix do not guarantee safety. Preparation and education are how these women can move forward in their efforts.

to Rick: most likely, the man who is preparing to rape an elderly would not only ALSO have a gun, but would be more agile than the granny and therefore your "hypothesis" won't work. (Furthermore, the attacker always have the upper hand due to the element of surprise)

Sadly, a few martial arts classes will do nothing to protect these women. The average woman has the size, strength and weight of a twelve year-old boy. Fact of life. So, you can see the odds that women face. Top that off with the fighting experience every boy in the region grows up with, and the only point of sponsoring kung-fu classes in Kenya is to get rich, white foreigners to send credit card payments to the extortion agencies.

It's not really in the female mentality to defend herself or these women would already be carrying knives. 10% will. The other 90% rely on a peaceful existence with the protection of male family members. When there aren't enough men in the family to protect the women, there is trouble.

Wow, you really are an idiot.

It is hard to imagine how these people live. Life and death is a whisper apart. Imagine spending several hours a day in many parts of Kenya walking to a filthy river for enough water for your family to survive. The responsibility of a purpose like that is so incredible that sometimes these women have to endure the attack knowing how critical it is to their family for them to get it over with and get their job done gathering water, or whatever life need they are responsible for. If they don't get their job done, they might just get the same treatment at home from their husbands. Yet you would never see this if you visit this beautiful country. By the way, that is not my real name. That is the name a bunch of beautiful orphan girls gave me at an orphanage I have helped build. The name means "crazy white man". Get envolved. Their society is broken and they need models of good character and respect. These are good hearted people, they have just forgotten how to love each other, and they have learned generational vendetta hatred that is has infected every part of their society. Not just tribal relationships, but personal as well. Every man for himself.

Can we start referring to the U.S. as the fourth world? How are the myths and superstitions of Kenya any more bizarre than those of the United States? Some (too many) people here still believe that AIDS is caused by homosexuality and that it is a punishment handed down by an all powerful being who lives in the clouds.

Maybe we should try telling them that the AIDs virus lives in the penis, and cutting their dicks off is the only cure. I bet they won't be so eager to be cured then.

Yes, it seems like these morons only hear what they want to hear.

Michael, it's not a joke. I found this article from 2001 by searching for "African Aids Myth." There is lots of information out there on this horrible topic.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/nov/03/aids.chrismcgreal

There is a lot of information out there, this just came up first and I figure it is probably a good place to start.

It isn't much different than the Western belief that the white-coated doctor has the perfect pill for every ailment and that removal of a body part (surgery) is perfect medicine.

You are so right about western doctors looking for the easiest way to fix a health problem. I've been there myself. However, I'm not sure about the comparison to this topic. How is surgery comparable to the violent rape of women and children? I have had two life-saving surgeries in the past 30 years. Without those western doctors I would never been able to have children, and I'd be paralyzed in a wheelchair, if I was still alive at all. There are times when western medicine does have the right answer. On the other hand, I don't see how rape is ever the solution to any situation.