Brock Turner is a rapist. According to The Washington Post, "It was a stunning fall from grace for Turner. Once a record-setting swimming prodigy, he is now a convicted sex offender at age 20." The Washington Post is writing about a rapist as if there's still hope for him, and using his yearbook picture instead of his mugshot as if they're still trying to uphold his public image.
The Washington Post displays Brock Turner as the victim, how he's going to lose his future career as a surgeon, how he's only 20 years old, how his alcohol content level was twice the legal limit, and oh the girl's content level was three times the legal limit! It must be more her fault than his! Because in America we victim shame instead of fight for justice, especially seeing as Turner is a white rich male attending one of the most prestigious universities in the country.
It does not matter what the media writes to try to preserve his image: he is a rapist. It doesn't matter if he feels bad for his actions, or not, it doesn't change that he changed that girls life because he couldn't keep it in his pants.
This is also why rape victims are afraid to speak up. Look at how well Kesha's court case is going: not very well. Women (and men) are afraid to speak up about being raped because most people don't believe them, or the offender's get short sentences, and the victims are afraid of "revenge," etc.
Another quite intriguing piece of information in this court case is that his sentence is only six months, and if he behaves himself it will be shortened to only three months. What? He gets away almost free? Yet we have people in jail for life for the use of marijuana. I know that is technically an opinion, but I'd rather have a pothead roaming free as compared to a rapist roaming free. Wouldn't you?
We need to stop looking at people based on race, gender, sex, class, nationality, ethnicity, etc, and just see people as people, as humans. Treat people how they deserve to be treated. I'm quite sure if Brock Turner was black and poor then he would've gotten a longer sentence.
I could write about this all day, but this tea tastes so good right now.
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