Rape Apologists

I have thus far received two anonymous comments that suggest the victim was "inviting rape" by drinking (their words, not mine), and that all three of these teens, including the victim, are to blame.  Please let me make myself perfectly clear:  I WILL NOT PUBLISH ANY COMMENT THAT SUGGESTS THIS GIRL IS TO BLAME. I WILL NOT TOLERATE RAPE APOLOGISTS AND THEIR VICTIM-BLAMING ON THIS BLOG.  Also, if you were not ashamed of your own opinion then you would OWN IT WITH YOUR NAME rather than choosing to post anonymously.  Take your rape defense elsewhere.  This blog and this author are not interested in it. The rest of you, please continue reading. Thank you.

A 16 year old girl went to a high school party, and like many high school students she indulged in too much alcohol.  She was so drunk that she could neither defend herself nor coherently comprehend what was happening around her.  She was vulnerable.

Two young men, Trent Mays, 17, and Ma'lik Richmond, 16, took advantage of her vulnerability.  These two young men decided that her intoxication was invitation for digital rape.  WITHOUT CONSENT, these two males inserted their fingers into this young, intoxicated girl's vagina, and to make matters worse other students actually video recorded her violation.  One of the young men reportedly tried to force this girl to perform an unnamed sex act on him, but she was too drunk to oblige.  If that isn't rape, if that isn't sexual assault, then I don't know what is.

To add insult to injury no one stepped forward to defend this girl. No one stepped forward to take her home. No one stepped forward to try to make these young men leave her alone.  Every person who witnessed it was silent, except to spread the video of her violation around the school, except to label her a drunken slut.

As if that in itself were not appalling enough, when this young girl's rape was finally brought to adult attention practically the entire town of Steubenville, Ohio rushed to cover up the assault.  Adults who should have been outraged and disgusted instead felt sorry for high school football "heroes".  No one seemed to care that these "heroes" were actually rapists.

The case finally gained nationwide attention when the hacker group Anonymous posted videos and images of the girl's assault online.   In my opinion, the intervention of Anonymous is what actually led to a trial in a case that an entire town wanted to sweep under the rug.

Yesterday both accused rapists were found guilty in a juvenile court.  Their sentencing was minimal: a minimum of one year for Richmond and two for Mays.  Both young men will have to be registered as sex offenders.  This may be justice, but it is a very lenient justice if you ask me.

Unfortunately the main stream media does not agree with me.  The main stream media is engaged in the demonization of the rape victim and the glorification of her attackers.  Even CNN shockingly chose to focus on the "ruined lives" of the rapists rather than the meager justice eked out for the victim.

Many people are shamefully saying that this young girl was asking for it.  Many people are guilty of victim-blaming.  Many people are focusing on the negative effect this trial will have on two rapists rather than the negative effect this rape will have on the victim.  This is the shame of an entire nation. This is the shame of rape culture.  These people, these defenders of rape, are rape apologists.

I am not a rape apologist.  If a person is too incoherent to say no then the no is implied.  I do not care if the incoherency is a result of alcohol or physical illness or mental illness or simply fear.  If a person cannot control their own body then the no is implied, and no means no.

Intoxication is not an invitation for rape or sexual violation.  Drunkenness is not a request to have your body and personal space violated.  If the only way you can get a person to have sex with you or allow you to touch their body is to get them drunk first then clearly that person does not consent and you should not be touching them.

What is wrong with our society?  What kind of people pity rapists and blame the victim?  What kind of culture teaches young men that it is not only acceptable to violate a female, but that performing that violation is some kind of macho rite of passage that should be recorded, celebrated, and boasted about?

I am sickened.  I am disgusted.  You should be too.