Don’t be a Victim!

I applaud the verdict announced today by Special Judge Thomas Lipps in the case of the two Steubenville high school football players accused of raping a 16 year old girl.  I don’t want to get into all the minutia involved, especially since I did not follow the case from the inception.   But having read some news articles about how social media played a big part in humiliating the victim, and then becoming the proof that ultimately convicted these young criminals, is most interesting.

Although pictures of the horrific acts were put on YouTube and thousands of text messages were sent between the accused, the victim and other people, it becomes clear that the victim, although not remembering what happened due to being very intoxicated, and then very embarrassed and scared, had a clear and concise record of the events. 

This is a double-edged sword, but in the end, social media was used for the good.  I would rather be writing about how she went to a party, said “no” to alcohol and then used her karate training to protect herself, but that would be in my dream world.  Or maybe not!  No longer can we teach our children to trust anyone, albeit a teacher, a priest, a policeman, a friend or even a relative.  No matter what the age, everyone must know how to protect themselves, whatever the methods. 

This is not my soapbox, but the soapbox of all the victims who have suffered at the hands of others.  This has to stop now!