The Knitting Circle Rapist Annihilation Squad by Derrick Jensen, Stephanie McMillan

court system? I couldn’t possibly do a worse job wielding the law than they do.”
    â€œBut where does it end? Can just anyone decide what is a crime and what isn’t? Or who should be punished and who shouldn’t? You’re asking for social chaos.”
    â€œMarilyn, social chaos is when 25 percent of all women are raped and another 19 percent have to fend off rapes, and nothing is done about it. I don’t think it’s so hard to figure out that stopping rapists is going to solve that problem.”
    Marilyn cries, “But the knitting circle women can’t wantonly kill people!”
    For the first time Brigitte’s voice becomes the tiniest bit sharp, as she says, “Wanton? Who said anything about wanton?” She strides toward a huge book, open on a small desk.
    Marilyn whines, “Not the dictionary!”
    Brigitte looks at her. “Young lady! How will you ever advance in life without an estimable vocabulary?” Brigitte searches the dictionary, finds what she’s looking for, and reads, “wanton: lacking in moral restraint.” Brigitte smiles, then says, more or less to herself, “What
do
they teach young people in school these days?”
    Marilyn frowns.
    Brigitte continues, “I think we’re showing great restraint. We’re only going after rapists so far.”
    Marilyn’s eyes go wide. She gasps, “So far?”
    Brigitte says, “Of course. What about pornographers? What about Hollywood filmmakers who show a man forcing himself on a woman, and at the beginning of the scene she’s pushing him away, but by the end she’s wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close? And what about those awful advertisers who use our bodies to sell everything from beer to gum to automobiles? What about—”
    Marilyn interrupts: “You and your knitting circle can’t just kill people!”
    â€œI think we can. We’re doing a fine job, too.”
    â€œBut there’s already a group that’s supposed to stop criminals. They’re called the police.”
    Brigitte snorts derisively.
    Marilyn continues, “Yes, the police. I’m not ashamed to say it. Why can’t you let them do their jobs, instead of taking it upon yourselves to commit horrible violence?”
    Brigitte once again becomes slightly sharp. “Marilyn. Do not insult our violence. It is not horrible. It’s very artistic, innovative, and skilled. You think it’s easy to create such masterful and righteous violence? You think the police could do that?”
    â€œThe police don’t have to kill people! They could do this without violence. They could just put people in jail.”
    â€œYou don’t think putting people in jail is violent?”
    â€œOf course it isn’t.”
    â€œAre you saying that if the police ask nicely, rapists will peacefully stroll into jail cells and volunteer to stay there?”
    â€œWell, no. Of course they have to be forced into the cells. And the cells have to be locked.”
    Brigitte asks, “In your experience, can anyone be forced to do anything without violence or the threat of violence?”
    â€œIf you make them feel bad about themselves …”
    â€œIf committing rape doesn’t make a man feel bad about himself, I think he’s a little beyond guilt-tripping, don’t you?”
    Marilyn thinks a moment. “Well, my mom is really good at making people feel guilty.”
    â€œTrue.”
    â€œBut I guess even she would have a hard time with some of those guys.”
    Brigitte nods. “And if she can’t do it, no one can.”
    They smile at each other.

C HAPTER 4
    The police war room looks precisely like what you would expect a police war room to look like. It has wanted posters, certificates of certification, Styrofoam cups of steaming coffee, half-filled boxes of pizza, a terrarium containing a garter snake, a softball trophy, a bowling