I have to wonder . . .

[sosoclever]

How many of the people who are calling for the castration of the eighteen suspects (in other words, people who have not yet even been tried in court) in the gang rape of that eleven year old in Texas also applauded the Illinois legislature and governor for abolishing the death penalty in our great state earlier this week

Comments

[secretrebel]

I'm afraid I'm with the other people. Although I'd amend this statement "a woman should be able to wear whatever she wants and act however she wants and never expect anything bad to happen to her" to "a woman should be able to wear whatever she wants and act however she wants and anything bad that happens to her remains entirely the fault of the bad person".

Now I accept that there is a rich argument to be had here and since I am personally afraid of being afraid Iimit my actions according. But I shouldn't have to and it makes me angry that I do limit myself and am actively worried about walking five minutes home in the dark in a friendly neighbourhood.

But what I found honestly shocking is that you went from "gang rape of an eleven-year-old" to "how hypocritical it is to insist that men should be responsible for everything they do". I admit I'm somewhat fired up on the subject but reading that article I linked to made me furious that local residents were seeking ways to condone, excuse and explain the rape and the excuses that produced included "the girl dressed and acted older than her age" and "she shouldn't have been there". If those arguments can be produced by people to defend the gang rape of an eleven year old then those arguments are worthless. (And yes, those men and boys are innocent until proven guilt and entitled to the best legal defence the state can provide but that doesn't excuse the defences given by the neighbours: "these are good boys and this will ruin their lives.")

One final comment. We're at the opposite ends of the political spectrum on the death penalty too so I won't waste both our time on explaining why i'm against it. (The fact I was born in a country that doesn't have it would be some explanation.) I've no desire to see people rot for the rest of their natural life in US prisons either but right now that appears to be the choice. But I'm glad that people like me don't have the job of deciding punishments because as pacificist as I am I understand the urge to form a lynch mob and castrate the culprits and hang them from the highest tree.

[sosoclever]

I tried to explain that I'm not comparing the rape of this little girl with the behavior of adult women. There was an awful lot of thought in my head that led from one to the other that I didn't bother putting into print. This is why I don't bother to write much any more, because people don't understand me, no matter how clear I try to make things.

And, I agree with your amendment! But there are an awful lot of people who put it exactly the way I said it! That is my problem with it!

But like I said, I can't make people understand what I'm trying to say, so I'm going back to maintaining radio silence, I think.