Brock Turner to speak on campuses across the country, on the affects of alcohol and promiscuity.
For those that are not familiar with Brock Turner, let me break it down for you:
Stanford swimmer rapes a defenseless unconscious girl behind a dumpster. He goes to trial and is given a lenient sentence of 6 months, only to be released 3 months after the sentence for good behavior.
And now he could potentially become a speaker, and get paid for it? He has clearly been misinformed, and is mistaking if he thinks this is a possible way to redeem himself. Still, we have to look at what is right, and what is wrong with this whole situation, in order to form a well-rounded perspective. We can then choose if we are supportive or not of Brock Turner, the rapist.
Everything right about Brock Turner, his trial and the public opinion
Public outrage on the verdict of this case was overwhelming, and an outcry for justice was nationwide. However, little would one care to admit, justice was actually served.
Think about it: a rich and white entitled frat boy, in the middle of one of the biggest, but unfortunately common, scandal this year, has just had a drastic altering of his life. The judge was right when he said a longer sentence would have a "severe impact" on him. For a guy like Brock Turner, being our nations preferred race, he has probably always had his way, and has never learned real life lessons to build his character. In other words, he is a big, spoiled and arrogant child.
To drive my point across, consider the following:
Brock, when compared to someone less privileged in America, is not as experienced in this country. No, unlike Brock, one with less privilege has an opportunity to develop thick skin struggle after struggle, and earn everything through hard work and dedication. They learn valuable lessons from each challenge life throws at them. They have the toughness to whether the negative impact time in prison and public shame can bring upon a person. Brock doesn't. Life hasn't prepared him to persevere and overcome life altering situations, such as the one he finds himself in now. Everything he has ever had in life has probably been handed to him. He will never be accepted as a normal human being in our society, or function as one. There is no way he could survive this. In a way, a longer sentence would have been cruel, and torturous. It would be like throwing a kid, that doesn't know how to swim, into a pool, unprepared. He'd die.
This is definitely the end for Brock Turner, and for any rich, entitled white boy not equipped with the balls it takes to man up, and take responsibility for their actions. I'd say, considering the public condemnation, and his unlikelihood to properly cope with all the scrutiny and survive it, everything about this case has turned out alright. Brock didn't leave the prison, he got released to a bigger one.
Everything wrong with Brock Turner on a speaking tour
Brock Turner touring campuses, to speak to students is only up for consideration at the moment. However, even considering this is perplexing. This would equate to a having a 4 year old boy speak to a group of 20 year olds, and lecture them on the importance of safe sex. It just simply wouldn't work. Brock Turner, like the 4 year old boy, simply doesn't have the experience to give an impactful speech, especially when he hasn't even apologized to his victim yet.
Ruth Starkman, Stanford professor, agrees, stating that Brock "should not be allowed to speak on campuses," until he actually apologizes. And even then, when he has fully acknowledged his crime, should his speeches be, "conditioned on his taking full responsibility for his actions, apologizing to the victim, and condemning sexual assault." Yes, Brock Turner might've been given a mere three months in jail, but we should not allow him to speak, as if he were a positive influencer.
Instead, we should make him an example, and exploit the biased legal system we have.
