I will lie. Yes I will. I will lie without blinking or thinking. I’ll lie with a smile on my face and a twinkle in my eye. And I won’t cross my fingers. I’ll just lie and lie and lie. Through my teeth. To your face. Or any face. I don’t care. Because I will do anything.
I will steal. I will steal everything I can. I’ll do it without any guilt. I’ll steal from my boss or his wife. I’ll steal from the Pizza Hut down the road. I’ll rob a bank if I must. I’ll take the money from your wallet. I don’t care if you see. I don’t care. Because I will do anything.
I’ll sell drugs. I’ll sell coke, speed, crack - you name it. I’ll sell on the street corner or the school down the road. I’ll do it without a care in the world. I’ll do it in a flash and hand it out for free if I can. Hey, I’ll even use some myself if I must. I don’t care. Because I will do anything.
I will murder. Oh with such ease. I will pull the trigger or slit a throat. Or I’ll kill with my bare hands. Anyway you want me to do it. I’ll do it. No problem. And I won’t even sweat. I’ll just wipe the blood off my hands and carry on killing. I don’t care. Because I will do anything.
I will start a war. I’ll drop a bomb. No, I’ll drop many more. Just blow up anything I can. I won’t mind the blood in the streets. I can do it. I swear. I’ll start a war. Just give me half a chance. Give me a gun and an army and I will start the next world war. I will stop at nothing. I don’t care. Because I will do anything.
I’ll cheat on my wife. The one I love more than life. I’ll do it before you can say, “no, you won’t”. I will. I’ll sleep with anyone that comes along. And I’ll walk away with a smile on my face. Honestly I will. I’ll even tell her I did. I don’t care. Because I will do anything.
I will commit every sin you can think of. Break any Commandment in the Book. I’ll use God’s name. I’ll hate my neighbor. I’ll take the house from next door. I’ll break them all. One by one. I’ll sell my soul to devil. Or give it away for free if you must. I don’t care. Because I will do anything.
I’ll burn my beloved Africa. Burn it down to the ground. Every single inch. Every lion, zebra, buffalo, elephant and rhino. I’ll burn them like a barbecue. I’ll denounce South Africa. Country of my birth. And Madiba with it. See if I care. I don’t care. Because I will do anything.
I’ll do anything. And everything. I will do it. Just give me half a chance. I’ll do it. If it will stop the madness. If it will make it stop. Stop what happened to Miss Britt. And what happens to women and children each and every day. All over the world. I’ll do anything. Anything to stop the rape. Anything to stop the abuse. Anything to stop it. I’ll do anything to stop that. No matter what price I have to pay. Because I have a wife and two daughters. And they are my world. My everything. And I will do anything for them.
And I will do everything for the women of this world. Just so they don’t have to live in fear. Or have to look over their shoulder. Or wonder if this is the guy who will take their freedom away. Or have to remember what happened yesterday. Or try to block out the memories. I’ll do anything for a bounce in their walk and a wide open smile. I’ll do anything to let them be. Just be who they want to be.
Because I have a wife I love more than life. And two daughters who makes my world complete. They make me stronger than what I really am. I am a man because of them. And I will do anything for them.
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16 responses so far ↓
Turnbaby // April 23, 2008 at 10:30 pm
So now I am choked up–your passionate call will hopefully be read as that.
Most men abhor those who perpetrate these acts. But not enough stand up and say no more.
Thank you
Nanna // April 23, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Oh my dear one. Thank you for this, on behalf of my daughter, myself, and all of us.
Can I just tell you that anger and hatred won’t stop this. Only an INSISTENCE on kindness and respect. A firm, strong demand for nothing less than respect and kindness - no matter what.
I wish all wives and daughters had you in their lives.
Miss Britt // April 24, 2008 at 7:53 am
Wow.
I have more to say… volumes I could say in appreciation… but just…
Wow.
Melanie Marie // April 24, 2008 at 9:07 am
The world needs more men like you. Thank you for loving your wife and daughters, thank you for expressing how you feel about this.
For some reason, it is like a soothing balm on my soul when I see that a man realizes the horror of this crime. It reassures me that it was horrible and I’m not making it a bigger deal than it was.
Keven Bennett // April 24, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Found some time and saw this!
VERY appropariate considering the misfortune I’ve been seen in my immediate community here. These last two weeks have borne an ill wind indeed.
My best freind is undergoing some difficulties that I won’t elaborate on, but it’s been a trying experience as I help him through his hard times. A neighbors’ brother was shot in the head and killed last week. The only good thing about this event is its finality. A tragedy for two. The shooter, 19, and the victim, 24. Talk about wastage on the human scale.
Another neighbor, bless her soul, is trapped in a savage relationship and came to me a couple days ago to take her to the doctor downtown. She had been beaten. I coun’t convince her to go to the police. She’s afraid. Like a deer in the headlings of an approaching car…
I had seen her outisde, two days before, in the rain, mowing the lawn. At the time, I asked my freind why, and he explained that her less-than-illustrious other half was making her do it.
Generally, it’s made me feel a bit like a lightbulb in a box of hammers. Not a good feeling at all. Hoping that the ill winds blowing around me don’t just all of a sudden find me in their way.
Mandy de Waal // April 24, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Sjoe. This punched me in the gut big time. Sad thing is when you really open up to your friends you find that it’s so common. Too common place. Particularly in a patriarchal society like South Africa where woman’s rights are enshrined in the constitution but hold little weight on the streets. But it makes a big difference when people speak out. Particularly when men speak out and say there’s got to be another way.
Thank you. Means a lot.
Kyra // April 24, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I have to second what Melanie said; it really does sooth something that is bleeding to hear that any other male sees the horror of the crime. Especially those of us who aren’t really allowed to speak of it to the man closest to us.
a broad // April 24, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Right back at you babe…you care so much…
Avitable // April 24, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I agree with you completely. I would also do many of those things for a Klondike bar.
you don't say... // April 24, 2008 at 10:08 pm
This brought tears to my eyes. What a touching post.
I wrote a few weeks back about rape in the Congo and wrote that I was waiting for a time when men stood up and helped us women confront this problem. Because we women cannot stop rape by ourselves. And we need men to step up against all abuse against women. I’m a survivor of assault and your post has given me a little more faith in men. I have never seen or heard any man speak out so strongly against assault as you have today.
Thank you for taking a stand and for understanding what a horrible violation rape is.
Morgy // April 24, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Thanks for leading me to Britt’s post, but also THANK YOU for this post. It’s powerful.
Michelle // April 25, 2008 at 5:04 am
Thanks for this and for the blogtour you inadvertantly took me on through your links. I will be writing about my own experiences on my own blog sometime in the future when I feel brave enough… In the meanwhile I am grateful for men like you (and my wonderful husband) who feel so strongly and empathise so much!
Saffer // April 25, 2008 at 12:38 pm
A real man would never raise a hand to a woman or child, nevermind sexually assault them
No excuse for those actions, none whatsoever
angryafrican // April 27, 2008 at 3:46 pm
@Turnbaby - I have to say thank you for showing me Miss Britt. That inspired me.
@Nanna - So right. It starts with how we treat the world. Kindness and respect.
@Miss Britt - No. All the wow is to you. For inspiring us all.
@Melanie Marie - I am blessed with my wife and kids. And that is what makes me sad. That people don’t realize that they can have it. If only they love and respect. And you are right. You can never play down what happened to you. It is more horrible than what I can imagine. And so much worse for you.
@Keven Bennett - It is difficult. Not knowing what to do. Our hand are tied in so many ways. We can only speak out.
@Kyra - Thank you for the kind words. I know how difficult it was for me. It is even more difficult talking in person about it with the one you love.
@a broad - It’s all you baby. It’s all you.
@Avitable - Haha. Trust you to bring Klondike into this!
@you don’t say… - No thank you for the kind words of support. Yes, it happens to the women of Africa so often. And my home country is the capital of rape. I love my country. But not everything that happens in it.
@Morgy - Thank you for reading it. It’s all Miss Britt. Her story is powerful.
@Michelle - When you have the strength. It is a story that must be told. People stay silent for too long.
@Saffer - So right my man. So right.
Kint Verbal // May 8, 2008 at 6:33 am
“I’ll do anything. [...] Anything to stop the abuse.”
Oh, my:
1. including abuse, if this stopped it?
2. anything and everything like.. writing on the blog?
I stumbled on this accidentally but I have to tell you, your bark is worse than your bite.
CordieB // May 8, 2008 at 11:22 am
This is very, very touching. I feel honored; and I feel your wife must truly feel honored too. However, your God is sooooooo powerful—hate only begets hate. You can only love any woman who is abused into being completely whole again - your love for that woman, not hate for her abuser, will be the only thing capable of heeling that woman. What is the use of cheating, stealing, killing if it is not healing to your soul and the soul of the woman. Cheating, stealing, killing and going against God will make her feel an undeserved guilt and will not solve anything - especially her healing. So if you know of a woman who has ever been abused, show her love–lots of it, trust- do not make her distrust you in any way, for it can be devestating to her spirit, understanding- show compassion - help her to begin to heal and trust again. For that you will be blessed abundantly! And your biggest blessing will be the beauty, love and trust that comes back into that womans eyes.
Peace, Light and Love,
CordieB.
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