In Higher Honor, I've addressed those affected by rape -- the victims, the perpatrators, and those who know them. This is the first of three inspired by the editorial "Rapists in the Ranks" by Jane Harman (D-Venice) who chairs the House Homeland Security subcommitte on intelligence.

 

One reason I wrote Higher Honor was because I felt that Christians wanted to stick their head in the sand about issues like rape and sexual assault. I used the military setting because that's what I was used to and it was in that setting that I survived my own assault.

 

I was not a Christian when this happened. It was only after I offered God Higher Honor that I became concerned about the perpetrators of rape and sexual assault. While I believe there are some true sociopaths in this world with no regard or empathy for others, I believe far more perps have either learned this is okay or they've never learned to deal with stress and anger.

 

There is still a common myth that rape is about sex. It's about control. It's human nature to need some form of control in our lives. Within normal parimeters, the ability to adapt and be flexible, control is a good thing. Take away all control from a person and it becomes dangerous. This loss of control can be external -- life stressors that cannot be avoided. It can be internal -- drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness.

 

I want readers to like Chris, the perp, in Higher Honor. I made him liked and well respected among his peers. He is the commander of an elite unit and considered hard core. He's responsible for about 40 cadets. Ryan and Michael are his platoon leaders, both choosing a lower rank to stay in Skull and Daggers and thus, keeping their group together.

 

He has a sensative side, shown as he cares for his terminally ill father and tries not to be attracted to the sweet demure Libby. Whether victims and the righteous indignant like it or not, rapist have friends, they have girlfriends (who may not be their victims), (here's a hard one to grasp), they have feelings and a sense of right and wrong. A rapist can be any guy.

 

I wanted to tear down the stereotype "man in a mask" rapist. I wanted to tear down the belief that it is about sex. It's clear from the beginning that Chris and Cassidy do not like each other. I wanted to explore his world, and understand what happened to make him make this horrible decision. Most of all, I needed to know there was hope that Cassidy was his only victim. I needed the hope that if guys can understand how some of these assaults happen, they can work to find better ways. I want my male readers to see Chris in all his postive light and then realize any man can fall and fail. But I also want them to see the hope and the honor.

 

Here's the link to the editorial.

 

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-harman31mar31,0,2627231.story

 

Men of Honor -- those affected by rape and sexual assult through their relationship with the perp and victim.

Sisters in Survival -- hope and healing for victims of rape.

 

 

 

 

 

  Higher Honor

When Cadet Cassidy Sanders is brutally assaulted, she struggles to convince her friends that she is okay even as she turns further from the God of her youth. Her attacker, Chris, an aquaintance, tries to convince himself she deserved it, then tries to forget it happened as he hdeals with the stress of his dying father. But God, using their friends, shows Cassidy and Chris the depth of his grace and mercy. Look for it on Sept. 15.