Melony Louise's Natural Habitat

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30105703/

So here's the story, to lead into my complaints.

Maria was on the subway coming home late at night. A man on the car began to touch her feet, and be generally sexual and uncomfortable. As she got off the subway, having already missed her stop because of him, he followed. She ran through the subway platform, up the stairs, yelling for help the whole way.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she made eye contact for a full five seconds with a transit worker manning an attendant's booth. She was still running, screaming for help. He touched the call for help button.

The man caught up, dragged her down the stairs, and raped her twice, as another subway came through and the driver ... also hit the call for help button.

Two people, fully aware of what was happening. Yet did nothing.

And four years later, as she's finally breaking her silence ... the judge insisted they had no responsibility to do anything. And her assailant has yet to be caught.

Do I even need to go in-depth as to why this entire thing breaks my fucking heart?

First off, where the hell was any sort of late night security to keep an eye on the only two people that were in the car at 2am; the woman minding her own business, and the random man touching her feet! We have security here in Sacramento transit, and most of it's running hours are all in daytime. Occasionally, there's a disturbance but it's surprisingly a pretty peaceful system. Sure as fuck ain't New York City!

Second off, where the hell was any sort of human conscience!? You're at your job, you see dead on a woman screaming, crying, asking for help, and all you can bring yourself to do is push a button, that you know will not bring help fast enough? You can't even call with your cell phone? You can't even use the intercom to let him know police have been notified? Obviously you're too little of a man to even consider leaving your base to fend him off. I am a small woman with very little body strength, and you better fucking believe the first thing I'd be doing is finding the nearest blunt object to use as a weapon.

Third off ... where the hell was any sort of human compassion!? Through most of her rape, she was screaming, saying no, telling him to stop, sobbing; I'd imagine it could've been heard from the top of the stairs. It didn't take those moments for you to realize they weren't coming fast enough? Did you not even care? Just some random girl, who cares how damaged she is, even if one could stop it?

And best part ... the transit company's only defense is "we're training them now."

Good for Maria and her lawyer to appeal and try again. And good for Maria to come on national television and tell her story. It's an important one to tell, and I'm glad to help pass it on, even though (or because?) it hurts me as a woman.