This is something that has been on my mind and please accept my apologies now for the rambling that will ensue.
If you haven't heard about it, a powerful letter has been written. She was raped. Her rapist was found guilty. The sentence he got might have been laughable if it was even slightly humorous. The letters the judge got and were published defending the rapist was disgusting as they tried to define the rape (or even rape in general) and blame the true victim. They tried to make the rapist the victim. No. He made the decision to be violent. He made the decision. She paid for that decision. Her words are the only one important to those that are actually involved (unless by some miracle he decided to take true responsibility for his actions). If you haven't read her words, they are powerful. They are creating true discourse. They are words so many want to say but are unable. She is creating change and she is powerful. I hope she sees it.
Why is this important? It is important to everyone. It is important because it is symbolic of a culture that makes the females accountable for what males may think or how they may act. It is important because we need to care.
There is so much more I want to say. So many other issues that touch this one that also needs to be addressed. However, I'm trying not to ramble too much (trying!) but I just wanted to add my voice to those that are praising this powerful woman.
Also if you haven't seen it here is a non-rambling, twitter specific perfect answer to what has been going on in this case. It comes from the author, Lauren DeStefano.
if someone's a rapist and an athlete, they're not an athlete who made a mistake, they're a criminal who can also swim.— Lauren DeStefano (@LaurenDeStefano) June 5, 2016
Brock Turner's dad called it "20 minutes of action." Lives have been destroyed in ONE SECOND. Your son had 20 whole minutes to stop it.— Lauren DeStefano (@LaurenDeStefano) June 6, 2016
This may be old news to most, but if you haven't read it, read her words (buzzfeed link).
*off soapbox*
*EDIT*
In light of the recent tragedies (the above was written prior) I'd also like to say something. In the current political climate in where I've seen way too many people becoming comfortable with their hate. Just think if we treated each other with kindness and respect what a world this would become. If you think about it, it also fits with what is written above. If that was the choice Brock would have chosen, if that was the choice anyone would make instead of hate, what could we accomplish?
I leave you with this:
Kindness is free. Sprinkle that shit everywhere.
~T-shirt
It really is sad what happened yesterday and with this victim as well. I'm so proud of this woman though for speaking out and fighting back.
ReplyDeleteIt is unbelievable and some local things happened which have left me reeling. I think she is the positive in all this darkness.
DeleteNowadays, nothing shocks me anymore. News coming from the U.S. guarantees that I'm going to have a bad day. Just yesterday, I went on a rampage about the Orlando shooting. Many Republican senators and congressmen are tweeting about their thoughts and prayers but their hypocrisy stinks. These are the same people who keeps passing anti-LGBT laws.
ReplyDeleteAnd this Brock Turner case just makes me livid. I share every single article about him on social media. I want it to spread. I want the world to know the judge is just as responsible for this abomination.
I want her words to spread more than anything about him. Mostly because she was able to say what most victims cannot. Unfortunately hate isn't just confined in the US shores, but we certainly have had a lot of it lately especially in the political realm.
DeleteIt always shocks me. I hope it always will and I wish it never would. :'(
I read this letter when it was released online and her words haven't left me, even days later. What Brock did is shocking, disgusting, and absolutely terrible. I am so angry and hurt by his sentence, by his father's words, and by the actions of his lawyer. The fact that we live in the 21st Century and a woman's body is not respected, still, makes me feel such little hope for the future. Add that to the tragedy that happened in Orlando and the past couple of days have been bleak, bleak, bleak. Anyhow, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, Melissa--I love getting more sentimental, serious pieces and ramblings in-between reviews. I feel as if they put the real world back into the spotlight in the midst of so much fiction, so thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words. You always seem to have great things to say in the face of these things and I really love reading them. Your blog is always a great place to think.
DeleteI also think that is why we enjoy fiction so much. You aren't guaranteed a HEA in life, but I want it in my fiction!
The thing I noticed lately, and especially after the horror in Orlando, is that we tend to respond to hate with more hate, which is just idiotic. I've seen people advocating MORE guns, saying they are liberal but will vote Trump because supposedly, he will protect them. That is precisely the thinking that brought us to this point and I am in equal parts devastated and sickened.
ReplyDeleteTrump will protect them???? Yea, most narcissists won't think of the other before themselves. SMH Often violence begets more violence. :(
DeleteA sad sad world :/
ReplyDeleteIt certainly can be and has been for far too long. :(
DeleteI'm at a complete loss as to what the hell is happening in this world right now.
ReplyDeleteI think we all agree that rape is wrong. Yet....there is somehow a discussion on what rape is.
Then his family and friends jump in and make everything worse with there completely tone deaf defense.
But her words are more powerful and have struck a louder chord that I hope changes our dialogue and the future for other victims.
And as for for everything else going on...I have too many thoughts to say anything coherently. At least our local (Orlando) news is focused on the victims instead of all that hatred and stupid stuff that's being spewed on the national news.
What good is making "america great again" if we lose sight of everything we are?
Karen @For What It's Worth
There are some who are trying to take lessons with what has gone wrong so we don't repeat. You hadn't heard much of that before, but you hear more of it now. That helps.
DeleteI think it should be let's make America great. Again implies that we had no problems. Not true. Never true. I think perhaps we should concentrate on what makes us kind and see where that leads us... :)
What's happening in this country alone is beyond tragic. If I add in all the tragedies in the world where drone bombings are "the usual", I am worried for humanity. We haven't evolved much, were still barbarians
ReplyDeleteThere are moments when I do think we've evolved and I try to hold onto those moments in times like this, but it is hard.
DeleteOh and great post! We need to talk about this even if we're just a small group.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I had a lot more to say, but it would have ended up as angry ramblings... :)
DeleteThe way this country is, and the way it's heading, terrifies me. I don't know how there can be so much hate.
ReplyDeleteIt's happened before and things improved, so look to that.
DeleteIt's so sad and it's horrible to see that some are still searching for excuses like that...
ReplyDeleteI agree. :(
DeleteOh it saddens me Melissa. I am very afraid for my children and their children. My facebook is filled with hatred, and people responding to violence with violence.
ReplyDeleteThat is horrible. :'( ((HUGS))
DeleteI've gotten to the point (again) where I have to avoid reading about current events and tragic happens, especially on social media. You've hit the nail on the head that people are too comfortable in their hate. Everything is so polarized and people feel free to spout hateful words. Yesterday I read a comment of FB made by a person I know (IRL) and respect that made my jaw drop (it was about the shooting incident). It's amazing how there seems to be no place on social media for kindness. So I've made it my goal to try to do/say something positive everyday on social media. To support kindness.
ReplyDeleteYea, I've had a few jaw dropping moments. It just makes me sad. I want to support kindness and there was a lot of it if you look for it. :)
DeleteThank you for this post. I've been scrambling to find the right words to do a post, but I've been struggling. So many strong emotions swirling in me right now.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you feel. Oh this isn't even half of what I wanted to say, but I thought brevity would be my friend here.
DeleteInteresting, this has been the message I've been trying to spread. The message of love and kindness. It's easy to get enraged, and people have that right for sure, but we really need to focus on love and kindness and really brew more of that stuff instead of hate. Wonderful post darling! It's good to shed light on things and talk about things from our heart.
ReplyDeleteAw thanks! I think love and kindness is important in times like these.
DeleteThis has been one thing I just can't wrap my brain around....
ReplyDeleteI can't wrap my brain around either too. :(
DeleteThe world we are leaving for the next generations scares me. If it's this bad now, who knows how bad it will be 20 years from now. So much sadness in America now, and this woman should have had justice, that judge should be taken off the bench. Don't get me started on the Republicans and them stopping any anti-gun laws!
ReplyDeleteWell, if you look at history we have had some very dark times before but we did gain ground in growing up a bit. Growth takes a lot of pain, I just wish it wasn't so. It does seem like more people are starting to listen. Not enough, but a start.
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