Why don't things change? Because the solutions require addressing multiple levels of failure, as Henry Rollins states very well here in the article below.
I don't know if anyone saw the story about the blogger who originally exposed this being sued by the family of one of the boys for posting screen shots of the photos they'd publicly Tweeted while assaulting the girl (the suit was dismissed). Here's a
follow-up interview
with her about the verdict and that lawsuit. Sometimes we locals have to bring injustices to light ourselves b/c mainstream media isn't going to do it until they see something in it for themselves.
As Alexandria Goddard says in the article: [quoteemAlexandria Goddard:er6cl2ys]"I think everyone—you know, we have a responsibility to be involved in our community. And, you know, if you see what you perceive to be injustice, you shouldn’t sit by and do nothing about it. You should stand up and, you know, protect your right to free speech, but, you know—and what you believe in. That’s what our country is founded on."[/quoteem:er6cl2ys]
Henry Rollins Comments On Steubenville Rape Verdict
March 18th, 2013 James Shotwell
As you can probably imagine, the reaction to this conviction has been loud and divided, with many turning to their internet to vent. One of those people, punk legend Henry Rollins, posted a lengthy blog yesterday afternoon focusing on the verdict and what the case means on a much larger scale. You can read his words below.
These are a few of the things that I have been thinking about.
After reading several posts online, I was not surprised at the vast range of sentiments expressed. Many of the postings were of outrage that the two found delinquent were not tried as adults so they would face much longer sentences. One person suggested caning the two young men. Many others were angered at the deification of high school football players and how they often receive special treatment. You can read this stuff all day if you want.
After reading posts for quite awhile, I thought first about the two young men. I wondered if the years in the facility will “help” them. What, exactly does one “learn” in one of these places?
Also from the Alexandria Goddard interview was a quote from Monika Johnson Hostler about the culture of rape that still exists (which Henry Rollins also spoke of) which I want to highlight because this isn't an easy fix, but must continually be battled against.
AMY GOODMAN: In January, we spoke to Monika Johnson Hostler, president of the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. She said the Steubenville case has forced America to take a hard look at its views on rape.
MONIKA JOHNSON HOSTLER: What we are calling for is not just how this is handled in Steubenville, Ohio, but really asking America to take a hard look at ourselves in how we are—handle sexual violence and rape in our country. I think we’ve been able to point our fingers and turn our heads to rapes that have happened in other countries and not held ourselves accountable as Americans to say that we absolutely still have a culture of rape, where women and girls are still degraded and dehumanized, and rape is in the fabric of this country. And unfortunately, I would think, centuries later, that we would be further along in terms of our response, but yet we still see Americans blaming victims. So, in terms of our overall response, we’re calling for America to take a hard look at itself and really think about the culture that we’re raising our kids in and the things that we are allowing to happen by not acknowledging, as a community, as a society, the importance of supporting the rape victim.
continue to experience dismissive and denial mindsets from their military superiors....
