When lawmakers overstep their bounds, judges are the ones to put them back in line. This is good news; no let's see how the appeal process plays out.
That even within a community, more divisions are created to separate them even further, to amplify differences to the point of ridiculousness, is maddening, saddening, and terrifying. Not one of those women is unattractive. How can they be so judged, even by people within their community? What possesses a group, subject to hundreds of years of degradation, to capture and extend that degradation to all within the group?
This tears me apart inside. I do nothing but try to advocate the equality of all people, and all the while, people are busy perpetuating stereotypes and spreading falsehoods, tearing individuals down based on the most specious and ephemeral differences imaginable. Moments like this, attitudes like this, make me wonder if humanity can ever overcome its own juvenile stupidity, or whether we are doomed to tear ourselves apart.
This tears me apart inside. I do nothing but try to advocate the equality of all people, and all the while, people are busy perpetuating stereotypes and spreading falsehoods, tearing individuals down based on the most specious and ephemeral differences imaginable. Moments like this, attitudes like this, make me wonder if humanity can ever overcome its own juvenile stupidity, or whether we are doomed to tear ourselves apart.
Nope. Not giving them a pass. Do you think that just standing there and doing nothing as adults brutalize a girl is acceptable behavior, just because they are kids? Whether they knew anything about what was happening or not, they saw another person in distress and stood by and did nothing, or worse, participated. No. No compassion.
My daughter turns six today; an event such as this horrifies me beyond belief, but what I find even more deplorable, is that anyone thinks an eleven-year-old girl "had it coming" or that her attackers deserve even an ounce of sympathy. They are innocent until proven guilty, and it is not my place to take the place of the judicial system, but I cannot fathom how they will get off the hook. And while they, indeed, have to live with the consequences of their actions for the rest of their lives, vis-a-vis jail time and a loss of freedom, that pales in comparison to the emotional and physical scars this young girl will bear for the rest of her life. Anyone, and I do mean anyone who has an iota of compassion for the brutalizers of this girl, is a far better person than I, for Jesus taught me that I must forgive my enemies, but this is one of those cases where I can't find it in my heart to do so.
RIP, Ms. Russell -- you were one great lady.
When a respected reporter is the subject of a rape-apology avalanche, it's time for us to address the issue in all of society, and do so seriously. This discussion is long overdue, mind you, but there is no way anyone can believe that she was "asking for it" or that it "was inevitable" or think "well, what did you expect?". There is no reason to condone this on any level; her being attractive, or being American, or being a reporter does not somehow dissolve the natural right she has to her bodily integrity, nor does it give anyone license to take that from her, no matter their motives. This is reprehensible behavior by those who assaulted her, and even more reprehensible behavior by those who diminish or question her assault.
God does not care about your height, weight, color, gender, or anything else, only that you do good works and treat others fairly. It figures an Evangelical church wouldn't know that.
After all, the leggy-glamazon works in government.
Offensive, much?
Offensive, much?
Good for her; it's time to stop kidding ourselves into thinking that male and female are the only options in life.
@chatterboxwriting: Then how come he dresses like a NJ retiree to Florida, with the ugly jewelry and big sunglasses? Huh?
Michael "The Situation" Sorentino is reportedly considering leaving Jersey Shore after next year, before they actually ban his insufferable ass from the state.
Fixed.
Fixed.
Note to Cop's Wife: find another congregation. That they would withhold Communion based on this the rankest form of hypocrisy, given that I'm sure they are not denying Communion to every man or woman who is having an affair, every child who is not doing as they are told by their parents, or failing to attend church every Sunday.
Good. It's OK to like a woman for how she looks, but that's not an invitation to holler it out to the world or wolf whistle. Any guy who does that is a slouch, a bum, and a cad.
I just published a blog post on this subject, and am writing a letter to my Representative, the unpleasant Chris Smith, primary author of the bill, to make it clear that I will do everything my power to defeat this bill and then do everything I can to make sure he -- and anyone else who votes for/supports it -- is run out of office. I'm tired of these self-important, misanthropic idiots claiming they speak for "the American people," because they certainly do not speak for me. In the shower, I came up with a line I intend to place prominently in the letter:
"A child should not be brought into a world that countenances its creation through violence and rape."
"A child should not be brought into a world that countenances its creation through violence and rape."
@Greenspanner-in-the-Works: First off, there is no need to denigrate the pro-Choice movement by assigning a derogatory term to them ("choicers"). Second, I suspect you've never been raped, or pregnant, so I'm thinking your particular take on this situation is somewhat skewed by ignorance. Third, abortion is still legal in this country, is still a recognized medical procedure, and if this woman has reached a point where she no longer whats to be pregnant, she has the right to terminate it. Our feelings on the matter don't enter into it. She will live with the results of this -- it will have no effect on us.
In summary, while I respect your right to have an opinion on the subject, I question your judgment of someone in a situation that you have no experience with.
In summary, while I respect your right to have an opinion on the subject, I question your judgment of someone in a situation that you have no experience with.
It is this woman's choice -- she must weigh the options and decide what is best for her, then make the choice. That is her right. It sounds like she has made that decision, and in good conscience. We, who are not in her shoes, faced with her dilemma, the victim of a violent assault, are not qualified to make the decision for her. It's easy to be holier-than-thou, when it is not your predicament.
@ZZZYZZZ: The problem is that anyone can get a Gawker commenting account, and bring their ignorance with them and lower the average intelligence of the site.
It doesn't matter which ghetto or which ghetto inhabitants you were referring to -- that you have pinned them as somehow lesser people for living in poverty is a sign of bigotry.
It doesn't matter which ghetto or which ghetto inhabitants you were referring to -- that you have pinned them as somehow lesser people for living in poverty is a sign of bigotry.
Why the hell did it have to be pink and purple, with illustrations like something out of Teen Magazine? I'm a guy, and I find that offensive. I work around plenty of women in tech, and the reason they don't get taken seriously, often, is because tech is the last bastion of the "boys club." Then again, if you're going to treat women in technology like teen girls swooning over their favorite teen idol, why would they want to be tech influencers?
There's nothing to worry about if you teach her that are things beyond color. My daughter's room is pink, she likes pink things, but she also has a great many other non-pink items. It's not about making judgments about what color the things she picks are -- it's about making sure she is picking them.
Ballgags, not bullets -- that's how you silence Dr. Laura.
