Thursday, April 14, 2005
Nebraska Sucks
Well, not as much as Kansas, but close.
In a court here locally, a jury acquitted a teenage boy from sexual assault charges. He had pinned down an underclassman teammate and stuck his finger into his butt. The whole event was painted as harmless horseplay and hazing. Fellow upperclassmen and coaches defended the boy, saying that it was just the sort of thing that goes on in locker rooms, and perhaps it had just got a little out of control.
The prosecutor was able to paint a picture that the boy had motivations beyond horseplay. He was homophobic, and was continually referring to the victim as "gay" (whether he was gay or not was never clarified, but it really doesn't matter). The boy is also facing 3rd degree assault charges in a separate case (because it has not been settled yet, it was not allowed as evidence).
The boy's lawyer was able to convince the jury that it was not assault or rape because...
a) there was clothing present between the finger and inside of the anus, so it couldn't technically be considered penetration
b) the victim only came forward because his ego was harmed, not because he honestly felt violated
Both defenses are non-defenses to me. But the jury bought it. And on National Day of Silence too.
I was once told by my employer that sexual harassment charges in the office work like this; sexual harassment is defined as whatever the victim says they consider harassment. We all have different sensibilities, and even a seemingly harmless joke could make someone uncomfortable. So, if the rules governing verbal assault are quite subjective, then why aren't the rules governing forced entry into your body?
The jury and the lawyer combined should be ashamed of themselves. The Midwest is a hostile place to live. There is a pattern of shared bigotry and an amazing lack of common sense. The air of homophobia and good-old-boy networking is enough to make a person sick. Yet, Nebraska is eternally selling itself as "the good life."
But, what do you expect from a state that defended the actions of football player Lawrence Phillips? As long as he was a good player, and helped the Huskers win and win again, he could do whatever he wanted. Good life? Efilnikcufecin, as Anthrax would say.
Horns up.
In a court here locally, a jury acquitted a teenage boy from sexual assault charges. He had pinned down an underclassman teammate and stuck his finger into his butt. The whole event was painted as harmless horseplay and hazing. Fellow upperclassmen and coaches defended the boy, saying that it was just the sort of thing that goes on in locker rooms, and perhaps it had just got a little out of control.
The prosecutor was able to paint a picture that the boy had motivations beyond horseplay. He was homophobic, and was continually referring to the victim as "gay" (whether he was gay or not was never clarified, but it really doesn't matter). The boy is also facing 3rd degree assault charges in a separate case (because it has not been settled yet, it was not allowed as evidence).
The boy's lawyer was able to convince the jury that it was not assault or rape because...
a) there was clothing present between the finger and inside of the anus, so it couldn't technically be considered penetration
b) the victim only came forward because his ego was harmed, not because he honestly felt violated
Both defenses are non-defenses to me. But the jury bought it. And on National Day of Silence too.
I was once told by my employer that sexual harassment charges in the office work like this; sexual harassment is defined as whatever the victim says they consider harassment. We all have different sensibilities, and even a seemingly harmless joke could make someone uncomfortable. So, if the rules governing verbal assault are quite subjective, then why aren't the rules governing forced entry into your body?
The jury and the lawyer combined should be ashamed of themselves. The Midwest is a hostile place to live. There is a pattern of shared bigotry and an amazing lack of common sense. The air of homophobia and good-old-boy networking is enough to make a person sick. Yet, Nebraska is eternally selling itself as "the good life."
But, what do you expect from a state that defended the actions of football player Lawrence Phillips? As long as he was a good player, and helped the Huskers win and win again, he could do whatever he wanted. Good life? Efilnikcufecin, as Anthrax would say.
Horns up.
Comments:
Yeah, that sucks. I hate the fact that all this stupid crap happens in Nebraska, since I used to live there and really enjoyed it. But hey, I'm from Skidmore, and that place sucks as well.
I agree, the perpetrator probably should have been found guilty. On the other hand...
So bigotry and prejudice are wrong unless you are talking about all people from the Midwest being inferiorly the same? I'm from the Midwest, and yes, there are a lot of people with backwards thinking. There are also lots of people with attitudes more like mine, and less like yours. Shame on the defense lawyer(s), and shame on you.
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So bigotry and prejudice are wrong unless you are talking about all people from the Midwest being inferiorly the same? I'm from the Midwest, and yes, there are a lot of people with backwards thinking. There are also lots of people with attitudes more like mine, and less like yours. Shame on the defense lawyer(s), and shame on you.