Brock Turner, a former Stanford University student and member of the swim team, was sentenced to six months in jail on three counts: attempted rape, sexual penetration of an intoxicated woman, and sexual penetration of an unconscious woman. In response to Turner’s sentence, his father stated, “That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life”.
Dear Mr. Turner,
As a 21 year-old female college student, this is truly disturbing. In those “20 minutes of action,” which he blames on the “party culture of drinking,” your son ruined an innocent woman's life. I’m sorry, but the party culture of drinking does not entail those sickening actions. Normally, felons like Brock face a maximum of 14 YEARS in prison, and here you are complaining about 6 months?! Brock is not the victim here. Your son knew exactly what he was doing that night. His life is undoubtedly ruined, but let's take a second to think about the real victim. She will never be the same. In her statement during trial, she admitted, “I tried to push it out of my mind, but it was so heavy I didn’t talk, I didn’t eat, I didn’t sleep, I didn’t interact with anyone.” Do you remember her saying that? I’m sure you do. But all you’re concerned about is your precious son’s swimming career and how his life will never be the one he dreamed about.
When it comes down to it, you and your family are pretty lucky the judge is an insensitive individual. Don’t get me wrong, it is awful to see a young man’s life ruined at this age, but this is something Brock did to himself. There is nobody else to blame but your son and the way you raised him to be an entitled monster. All throughout Brock’s life, I’m sure his “Daddy” was always there to save him from his mistakes. You raised your son to think he was invincible because of the school he went to and his elite role on the swim team. So what did this teach him along the way? Nothing. And here you are again to the rescue defending your “golden” child for raping an unconscious, drunk, innocent female. I don’t care what school he goes to, or how much money you have - nothing will change the severity of what he did that night.
Imagine if you were the victim’s father. He doesn’t even have the opportunity to save his daughter. The damage has been done. In six months, his daughter will walk the same streets as Brock, the monster who ruined their lives. The same monster who you claim can “do so many positive things as a contributor to society”. The only thing your son contributes to society is the awareness and severity of rape.
So congratulations, Mr. Turner. I hope your son enjoys his time in jail and that he learns a lesson or two about rape while he's in there.
Sincerely,
A woman who doesn't support rape, and never will.
