In January of
2015, Brock Turner raped an unconscious woman behind a dumpster at
Stanford University. For twenty minutes, he defiled this woman while
she couldn't fight back. She didn't know what had happened, until she
woke up in the emergency room. Brock was sentenced to six months in
prison. Six Months. Oh,
by they way, he was charged with three felonies. Brock was facing a
maximum of ten years, but it was appealed, and he ended up at six
months. Talk about the punishment fitting the crime, huh? Recently,
Brock got out at only serving three months for good behavior. He
spent 90 days in prison for taking advantage of a poor girl who
never, ever asked for this. So, Brock Tuner, I have a few questions
for you.
When you walked out of jail how did you feel? Relieved? Happy to go home to your nice warm bed? Did you feel as if you had learned a lesson? I don't think you really understand what you have done. Hey Brock, do you ever think about how it must feel for the woman involved? How she may never, ever be the same because you decided you needed “twenty minutes of action” as described by your father. The world is filled with horrible men like you, and if this is how rapists are punished, then we need to take a good hard look at our justice system.
When I see your face in the news, I see your school picture. You have on a tie and look like a decent human being. When I see your name in the headlines, it is followed by “former Stanford student” or “former athlete”. However, what I don't see is “Brock Turner, rapist.” You could have won a nobel peace prize, but that doesn't mean we should be holding you at a higher standard. Every time you are put on a pedestal, you are making a mockery of rape victims everywhere. The poor girl that was your victim has to see your smiling face plastered all over the internet, like you are some hero. Your victim wrote a very lengthy letter to be read to you, one that should have had you falling to your knees and begging for mercy. She described how her life has been effected by your monstrous act. One thing she said really stuck out to me:
"You have dragged me through this hell with you, dipped me back into that night again and again. You knocked down both our towers, I collapsed at the same time you did. If you think I was spared, came out unscathed, that today I ride off into sunset, while you suffer the greatest blow, you are mistaken. Nobody wins.”
Brock, you pleaded not guilty. Let me ask you this, why did you think you were innocent? Was it because she was drunk, or was it because you were drunk? Did you think that because you were both intoxicated that you get a free pass? Here's the thing though, you chose to do what you did. You chose to ruin a life. You chose to take advantage of someone. Therefore, you should have paid for your actions accordingly.
There are people who are threatening you, who are protesting you, and saying horrible things about you. I understand why they are doing it, but the simple fact is that it doesn't change what you did. Your victim has to live with the fact that you are out walking free. She has to live with the fact you didn't get really punished for what you did. In my opinion, you have it made. Sure, you can't forget either. I have a feeling no one in this life will let you, but that was your choice. My last question for you, Brock, is are you sorry? Do you really reel remorseful for what you've done? I hope and pray that you do. I hope they stop plastering your name everywhere, so your victim can try to have a normal life without being reminded what you did. I hope she can heal, and I hope you just become another face on the sex offender website. I don't feel sorry that you didn't get to become some great athlete or finish your college career. In my opinion, that just barely scraps the surface of the punishment you should have received.
