Jamaica: Televangelist Paul Lewis walks free despite compelling DNA evidence against him in a case of child sexual abuse. Paul Lewis thanked God for his acquittal but CODE RED has a different take on why DNA evidence was not enough to secure a conviction:
No matter what DNA evidence the defense brought it did not stand a chance against the belief, held by many, that a 14/15 year old is not a child and can either consent to sex or is considered “fair game”. Pun intended. I don’t think for a minute there was any doubt that he did in fact have sex with the girl in the presence of the other teen. But convincing people that that is wrong, an abusive of power and that it is rape, that is the hurdle the defense team faced. God had nothing to do with Paul Lewis’ acquittal. The UNICEF report on attitudes to child sexual abuse and incest in the Caribbean explains why Paul Lewis walked free.
CODE RED is a feminist collective of Caribbean women and men. Join us on facebook.
I wish my memories didn’t haunt me. I wish I wasn’t constantly drowning in a sea of nostalgia. Wishing I was in the past, just to feel that unstoppable glimpse of happiness. You know where in that moment you feel like nothing could ever go wrong yet you know nothing could ever feel that great. There’s so much I want and deserve in life and it’s like I can’t grasp it. It feels so far away and just going back to the past would be easier. But yet we must keep moving forward as if the hands of time would stop for us in these moments we wish to keep forever. What I want changes all the time. Right now I want to be sitting on the beach, with a light thunderstorm brewing in the distance. Wearing a light sweatshirt even though the humidity keeps you rather warm. But I want you beside me. I want to just stare at the lightning and listen to your voice. Smell the scent of your skin and the aroma of the rain in the air. I want best friends I can count on like I used to have. I want someone to go on late night adventures with and tell anything to. Fuck, I want the people I love the most to be close to me. I want to be doing something I love and not feel like I keep wasting my time despite the fact I’m young. And honestly what I want most of all is to stop feeling tired. And not the kind of tired where you could sleep for days, the kind of tired where you want so much, you’re exhausted just thinking about it. Yeah, I want to stop feeling tired.
Let me down easy
Gols de Jamaica 2x0 Guatemala - Copa Ouro 10-06-2011
Definitely when I was in Jamaica at the Grand Palladium Hotel, I felt like I was on top of the world. I mean, it was just so awesome! I had never been to a hotel before, much less a 5-star hotel, so I was tremendously satisfied and pretty much always happy. With the all-you-can-eat buffets, bars in the pool, endless sun and beautiful landscaping, you had to be insane to not enjoy yourself. Plus, I had my family with me, so it was all the more fun.
Basically, I suggest that everyone on this earth go to Jamaica and go to a 5-star hotel (preferably there) because you will be deliriously joyful. Deliriously.
Call me Stella. I got my groove back.
I literally was stunned by the realization when I made this mental connection. My life resembled a movie. I mean, I go off to this exotic place, meet this dark skinned, sexy younger guy and just like that there is a spark. He changed me a bit too lol.
He changed me, not in this huge, dramatic way; but in the sense of letting go and being free with my feelings. Last thing I wanted was for me to get emotionally involved with anyone at the moment. Not yet. Not with so much uncertainty. Instead I found myself completely open. I was loud. I was expressive. Honestly, I have no idea what will happen next and if nothing comes of it, I’ll just swallow it up and move on, looking back occasionally with a smile.
