I can hardly see my computer screen for the tears. Suffering seems rampant; needless suffering caused by inexcusable actions by an increasing number of people.
I have just finished reading the entire 12-page letter written by the victim of the outrageous rape committed by Brock Turner, the Stanford University student, who felt privilege entitled him to brutalize a woman without penalty. In my opinion, every male student entering any college should be required to read this letter and be tested on its contents. Perhaps female students would be well served to do the same. No, it will not stop the abuses, but it may bring a greater degree of sensitivity to what happens when alcohol enters the equation. And, no, every rape is not the result of alcohol abuse.
For me, the anger I feel about the context of privilege versus victim makes me want to scream along with the victim of Brock Turner. (Every time I type his name it seems an extra letter accidentally gets appropriately added: Brock Turdner.)
To the pain and suffering all have experienced in this ordeal, we then add the ridiculous six-month sentence handed down by Judge Aaron Persky! Certainly, one must not cause permanent damage to a star swimming athlete’s future. After all, as Brock’s father so succinctly noted: “That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life.”
Even one of the juror’s, a person who recently became a US citizen after living in this country for 30 years, wrote the judge regarding the relative light sentence compared to the severity of the crime.
There is too much pain and suffering.
And this is but one of the terrible events we are facing in what seems like a daily assault on our senses. I do not need to list them here. We all know what they are. When are we going to “re-civilize” our society? It is not enough for outrage to last a day or two. We must return to teaching responsibility and being responsible. The personification of “privilege” as a right will never be right. We must respect and honor the dignity of EVERY PERSON. Women are not sex objects to be fondled and raped because a male feels privileged to do so. Minorities, of all types, are human beings to be respected for their beliefs and cultural practices. I could go on and on with what we all know are the attitudes that we must recover and express if we are to remain human.
There is too much pain and suffering!
Please! Please help to heal our hearts, minds and souls.
