Whether it gets called bluntly by what it really is--rape--or whether people try to tone it down by calling it child molestation, it's rape. Innocent children who have no recourse get brutally assaulted by selfish pedophiles. They don't tell because they're afraid, because the rapist threatened their families, or because the rapist threatened to kill them. They don't tell because they're afraid no one will believe them. They don't tell because they feel guilty, because they think they did something wrong.
The oh-so-kind-and-compassionate Spencer W. Kimball did, after all, counsel rape victims that they should have allowed themselves to be killed rather than raped. He also told them that they should carefully consider the part they played in the rape. I mean, if someone rapes you, you bear a certain amount of responsibility:
And then there's the fact that the almighty football gods have declared that college football is more important than those children who were raped by Sandusky, whose crimes were covered up by Paterno and other Penn State officials. Oh, Paterno should be allowed to coach one last game, because he's this great and wonderful coach. Forget the fact that because of his cover-up of Sandusky's crimes, he bears just as much responsibility as Sandusky does.
There are also a lot of really ignorant people who confuse homosexuality with pedophilia/hebephilia. So when you talk about Sandusky's outrageous crimes against so many children (because if there are 11 known victims, there are almost certainly many more), you'll have these ignoramuses who will pipe in about homosexual boy scout leaders or coaches.
Homosexuality: A homosexual is sexually attracted to members of his/her same sex. Pedophilia: A pedophile is sexually attracted to children. Hebephilia: A hebephile is sexually attracted to young teenagers. Pedophiles and Hebephiles can be homosexual or heterosexual or bisexual. Not every homosexual is a pedophile, any more than every heterosexual is a pedophile. Two vastly different things here, people. Don't show your stupidity by saying they're one and the same.
When my husband had the news on the other night about this, I was getting physically sick. I made him turn it off. I'm glad that Paterno and Spanier have been forced to step down. That should have happened as soon as the story broke. They shouldn't have been forced to take that action, however. They should have voluntarily stepped down. Of course, for that to happen they'd have been forced to admit their guilt and complicity.
In the state of Texas, anyone who has any reason to suspect child abuse/neglect is legally required to make a report. If it can be proven that you knowingly failed to report, you could be held liable. You should be held liable.
If you take it further, that you not only suspect child abuse is taking place, you have solid proof that it is taking place, and you help to cover it up, you are just as foul as the perpetrator. I believe you should be accounted just as responsible as the perpetrator.
I apologize for this rambly post, but my thoughts are all over the place. My heart goes out to all of the families who have suffered and continue to suffer because of what was done to them by people who pretended to be loving and compassionate and charitable, what was done to them by people who accounted sports programs more important than children's wellbeing.
I know first hand what it feels like to be sexually assaulted, both as a child and as a teenager. I know how it fucks with your mind for a damn long time. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, much less an innocent child.
The oh-so-kind-and-compassionate Spencer W. Kimball did, after all, counsel rape victims that they should have allowed themselves to be killed rather than raped. He also told them that they should carefully consider the part they played in the rape. I mean, if someone rapes you, you bear a certain amount of responsibility:
"Even in a forced contact such as rape or incest, the injured one is greatly outraged. If she has not cooperated and contributed to the foul deed, she is of course in a more favorable position. There is no condemnation where there is no voluntary participation. It is better to die in defending one's virtue than to live having lost it without a struggle." Spencer W. KimballDoes that mean that these children, who didn't struggle and didn't die defending their virtue, are in a less favourable position? What a rat bastard Kimball was. But Mormon leaders aren't the only fucktards when it comes to the issue of rape and sexual assault. What about the Catholic church, who covered up who knows how much child rape, simply moving the guilty priests from one place to another?
And then there's the fact that the almighty football gods have declared that college football is more important than those children who were raped by Sandusky, whose crimes were covered up by Paterno and other Penn State officials. Oh, Paterno should be allowed to coach one last game, because he's this great and wonderful coach. Forget the fact that because of his cover-up of Sandusky's crimes, he bears just as much responsibility as Sandusky does.
There are also a lot of really ignorant people who confuse homosexuality with pedophilia/hebephilia. So when you talk about Sandusky's outrageous crimes against so many children (because if there are 11 known victims, there are almost certainly many more), you'll have these ignoramuses who will pipe in about homosexual boy scout leaders or coaches.
Homosexuality: A homosexual is sexually attracted to members of his/her same sex. Pedophilia: A pedophile is sexually attracted to children. Hebephilia: A hebephile is sexually attracted to young teenagers. Pedophiles and Hebephiles can be homosexual or heterosexual or bisexual. Not every homosexual is a pedophile, any more than every heterosexual is a pedophile. Two vastly different things here, people. Don't show your stupidity by saying they're one and the same.
When my husband had the news on the other night about this, I was getting physically sick. I made him turn it off. I'm glad that Paterno and Spanier have been forced to step down. That should have happened as soon as the story broke. They shouldn't have been forced to take that action, however. They should have voluntarily stepped down. Of course, for that to happen they'd have been forced to admit their guilt and complicity.
In the state of Texas, anyone who has any reason to suspect child abuse/neglect is legally required to make a report. If it can be proven that you knowingly failed to report, you could be held liable. You should be held liable.
If you take it further, that you not only suspect child abuse is taking place, you have solid proof that it is taking place, and you help to cover it up, you are just as foul as the perpetrator. I believe you should be accounted just as responsible as the perpetrator.
I apologize for this rambly post, but my thoughts are all over the place. My heart goes out to all of the families who have suffered and continue to suffer because of what was done to them by people who pretended to be loving and compassionate and charitable, what was done to them by people who accounted sports programs more important than children's wellbeing.
I know first hand what it feels like to be sexually assaulted, both as a child and as a teenager. I know how it fucks with your mind for a damn long time. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, much less an innocent child.
Kimball's comment was nauseating.
ReplyDeleteThe Penn State abuse scandal is yet another reminder that our society has a long way to go in terms of empathizing with and protecting sex abuse victims.