Good morning! How is your week? Mine has been great, I have just returned from a mini-break in Philadelphia. I will tell you about that later. Today I am resuming my “Just Curious” posts and if it is a post that you do not normally read than skip ahead and I will see you back here Friday.
This week my mind has been on the sentencing of the former Stanford swimmer who sexually assaulted an unconscious girl and sadly only received six months in the county jail.
My hair stood on end when I read an open letter penned by his father, stating that “his son’s life is deeply altered…and he will never be the same happy go lucky self with that easy-going personality…his life will never be the one that he dreamed about… that his son is paying a high price for 20 minutes of action.” ACTION? Sexual asset/rape is called “action?”
Not once did this man/dad mention the victim and how her life has been altered or how she will suffer for the rest of her life. Instead we are supposed to feel sorry for his son who committed a crime by sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. Are you kidding me? I actually would like to feel sorry for this kid, but he has never shown an ounce of remorse, he changed his story twice and now neither he or his father can admit that he committed a crime but are referring to it as “sexual promiscuity.”
I feel so sorry for the victim, not only for the fact that she was raped, but for everything she has had to go through in the last year while a case was prepared. Then the torment of showing up at a trial where she had to not only testify but had to see photos of herself naked and dirty on the worst night of her life all the while sitting next to her family and finally while she listened to the sentencing of this boy getting a 6 month punishment and while she received a life sentence.
If you want to know how the victim feels in her own words you can read her entire Victim’s Impact Statement posted here. I spent 20 minutes reading a thoughtful, honest and compelling story of what happened before, during and in the year after this woman was assaulted. It is incredibly heartbreaking to read this poor woman’s account not only of what she can remember, but how she was trashed in the courtroom by the defense. My heart goes out to her and every person who is assaulted. I hope that she can have a nice, happy life.
I am curious did you hear about the case or have an opportunity to read her statement? What did you think of the sentencing, the dads letter and her statement?
I realize that this is not a recipe, or a light hearted post but I find that my “Just Curious” posts open a dialog that is very interesting and I am always curious to hear other people thoughts on things that I am pondering.
I hope that you have a good day.
Anonymous says
The argument that the rapist wasn't violent was simply false–rape is violent. And the blaming of the victim for being intoxicated is unfair as well–she well may have been slipped a "date rape" drug while at the party. This is too similiar to the "affluenza" case. Rich, white guys who feel no remorse because they are just misbehaving (not committing crimes, in their own eyes), and who feel entitled to the privilege they always get.
Anonymous says
The argument that the rapist wasn't violent was simply false–rape is violent. And the blaming of the victim for being intoxicated is unfair as well–she well may have been slipped a "date rape" drug while at the party. This is too similiar to the "affluenza" case. Rich, white guys who feel no remorse because they are just misbehaving (not committing crimes, in their own eyes), and who feel entitled to the privilege they always get.
Castles Crowns and Cottages says
Good morning Elizabeth! Yes, I did read it. I read both statements. I agree that the father's statements are ludicrous and his son's actions appalling. I have my own opinions about these kinds of parties and the precautions women must take if they choose to be in that sort of environment, but I fear that my opinions would bring outrage, so I'll refrain from saying anything in public. I just pray the victim will heal and some day be recompensed properly.
Anonymous says
The argument that the rapist wasn't violent was simply false–rape is violent. And the blaming of the victim for being intoxicated is unfair as well–she well may have been slipped a "date rape" drug while at the party. This is too similiar to the "affluenza" case. Rich, white guys who feel no remorse because they are just misbehaving (not committing crimes, in their own eyes), and who feel entitled to the privilege they always get.
Preppy Empty Nester says
I've been watching this case pretty closely and frankly, it makes me sick. That judge should be disbarred. The father is the typical parent of an entitled child. I've come across a few of them in my life. I call them "not my kid" parents. Enjoy your week, Elizabeth!
therelishedroost says
My dear friend and I were just talking about that yesterday and because of me own personal reasons-experience this broke my heart. It doesnt even have to be this graphic to have impact when a girl is either forced into a date rape or drugged or drunk no one has the right to take advantage or abuse anyone period. I breaks your self esteem and you always think how did I let this happen, when one should really be saying the attacker shouldnt have done it. Its something I pray never happens to my girls or anyones daughter for that matter.
thanks for posting, K
sansuey says
I too have been enraged and shocked. I actually cannot wrap my head around what happened. I don't know how an unconscious woman registers as "available vagina" in someone's mind. How does a mind get so twisted?
William Kendall says
My heart breaks for her. She has a life sentence of her own. She is so brave.
Brock Turner deserves nothing but for the rest of his life to be a living hell- no moment of peace, no respite, no forgiveness. To be followed by an eternity in Hell. His father's just as bad, and deserves the same.
That judge deserves to be removed permanently from the bench. That sentence is an insult.
Salty Pumpkin Studio says
There was a time when both sides were thought of much the same way as this case is today with the male and female roles reversed. I haven't read the transcript of the case. There are too many questions I want to know before I form an opinion. If I was the woman, then I'd under go hypnosis to find out the truth, the parts that I don't remember.
Sandy at You May Be Wandering says
This is such a heart breaking story and it makes me ill that he received such a light sentence. His father's statement was disgusting.
Interesting topics – I like the thought provoking posts. Sending you hugs from rainy NYC!
KAM says
There is so much work to be done to change the societal attitudes about the "privilege" of sexual assault. Rape occurs world-wide as a piece of war and there is little difference in the attitudes of those in a war zone to those in a city/country/college campus environment. When the two bicyclists discovered the victim, she was unconscious, the perpetrator "performing his 20 minutes of pleasure". And she did not regain consciousness until after she was given medical assistance. No excuse for the activity of the young man, ever. His father's attitude, in my opinion, was formative in the attitude his son developed. Shame on them and shame on the judge. Hopefully there will be a positive result in disbarring the judge as there was in Billings Montana when a judge in a sexual assault case handed down a lenient sentence and public outrage changed the course of the story. The victim, as others have written, has a lifetime of painful memories to carry.
Kristin
jo says
This whole thing is so upsetting and appalling. The only person who had a chance to – not make it right, because there is no right in this situation – but ease the victim's pain, maybe, is the judge. He is the worst that there is. A good old boy. Let's protect poor Brock because his life will never be the same. Poor Brock made a little mistake. Unreal. I am so outraged by this. I pray that judge is disbarred, and that poor Brock does live with this the rest of his life. His father should be so ashamed. He said Brock couldn't even eat steak anymore. What a shame!
The enchanted home says
I did and don't remember feeling out so outraged and literally sick to my stomach in a long time. This father is an unconscionable man who has clearly raised the same in a son. A sad state of affairs. One day when the son is out and this behind him, I bet he will repeat this kind of behavior in some way, shape or form. It typically happens that way, reminds me a bit of the George Hugely case at UVA, whose parents were the ultimate enablers though the signs were all clearly there. They could have prevented what happened just as this father I am sure saw things in his son he did not want to see. I was compositely dumbfounded reading it and cannot even imagine the hate mail he must be getting (more than well deserved).
The saddest part? That the only one who is really suffering here is the victim. It seems to always be that way. Her life is forever changed. We can only hope that somehow this horrible act was not in vain and that perhaps she can help other victims down the road while doing some healing of her own. Brock needs to go to jail for a long long time, not a slap on the wrist 6 months…and I wish they could take his dad with him..both menaces to society of the worst kind.