Naming and shaming and principles of law
Mar. 13th, 2007 11:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misscamSo this is what Norway's talking about today.
Now I didn't listen to the radio broadcast where these two guys were accused of the rape attempt, but I did quickly learn who had been named by the way of Internet grapevine. And they're high profile names.* Really, even if the rest of the media don't use their names, they're already out there.
The statue of limitations is well past, so this case will never be tried in any court of law. So instead it seems to be tried in the court of public opinion and media circus. And oi. This thing makes me troubled for so many reasons.
1) It's hijacked the focus away from the very troubling rise in rapes the last few weeks and what we might do about it. This will so take over - it involves celebrities and controversy and sensationalism. Oh yeah, it'll take over. It's going to be all about this case rather than rape itself.
2) These two guys won't be able to defend themselves. A lot of people will probably doubt the accusations, but they'll still be there, lingering. I have no sympathy at all - and quite a lot of anger - for rapists, but everyone, and I do mean everyone, has a right to be considered innocent until proven otherwise. I do understand the rage and the desire to want the one(s) behind such a decipable act named, shamed and punished. Oh yeah, I understand. But society has to work on principles of law.
3) The way this was brought up ain't gonna do victim credability in rape cases any favours, I fear. Which already is enough to fill me with a sort of sad rage. I don't think we're the worst in the world in this area exactly, but everyone everywhere have ways to go on this issue.
4) If this is a PR stunt, there's not going to be enough nasty expressions in the world for how appalled I will be. You do not use rape for that. You do not.
5) If it is true, I will be appalled too. Rapists can turn out to be the most surprising and unlikely of people. And that's just as sad as the rest, really.
6) I am probably never going to know if it's 4 or 5, so I am left just feeling uncomfortable and troubled.
Sigh. All I know is that rape is about the shittiest thing you can do to another human being short of murder and it should not be trivialized before the law, the media or the victims. And in this case, I have a feeling it will be.
*I am not going to name them on here, so don't ask.
Now I didn't listen to the radio broadcast where these two guys were accused of the rape attempt, but I did quickly learn who had been named by the way of Internet grapevine. And they're high profile names.* Really, even if the rest of the media don't use their names, they're already out there.
The statue of limitations is well past, so this case will never be tried in any court of law. So instead it seems to be tried in the court of public opinion and media circus. And oi. This thing makes me troubled for so many reasons.
1) It's hijacked the focus away from the very troubling rise in rapes the last few weeks and what we might do about it. This will so take over - it involves celebrities and controversy and sensationalism. Oh yeah, it'll take over. It's going to be all about this case rather than rape itself.
2) These two guys won't be able to defend themselves. A lot of people will probably doubt the accusations, but they'll still be there, lingering. I have no sympathy at all - and quite a lot of anger - for rapists, but everyone, and I do mean everyone, has a right to be considered innocent until proven otherwise. I do understand the rage and the desire to want the one(s) behind such a decipable act named, shamed and punished. Oh yeah, I understand. But society has to work on principles of law.
3) The way this was brought up ain't gonna do victim credability in rape cases any favours, I fear. Which already is enough to fill me with a sort of sad rage. I don't think we're the worst in the world in this area exactly, but everyone everywhere have ways to go on this issue.
4) If this is a PR stunt, there's not going to be enough nasty expressions in the world for how appalled I will be. You do not use rape for that. You do not.
5) If it is true, I will be appalled too. Rapists can turn out to be the most surprising and unlikely of people. And that's just as sad as the rest, really.
6) I am probably never going to know if it's 4 or 5, so I am left just feeling uncomfortable and troubled.
Sigh. All I know is that rape is about the shittiest thing you can do to another human being short of murder and it should not be trivialized before the law, the media or the victims. And in this case, I have a feeling it will be.
*I am not going to name them on here, so don't ask.
