The Message We're Sending

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My typical policy is to stay away from social media. I shrug my shoulders and say, if I want people to know how I feel about something I’ll tell them in person. But in this moment, I cannot begin to contain the absolute outrage and disgust I’m feeling. I’ve watched and listened as the Brock Turner case has unfolded. I’ve seen people call for a longer sentence, and I’ve heard people defend him by saying “he’s just a kid” or “think about what this will do to his life”, and I’ve shrugged my shoulders and stayed quiet. Well, no more. 

I have had conversations in the last few years where I’ve stated that I feel that as a country and as a culture we’re making strides towards equality and that we’re finally beginning to value women. Well, all of that just went out the window. The moment when a young man, who RAPED a young woman, was told that his sentence would be only 6 months because we wouldn’t want to ruin his life or hold back his potential, all of our talk about equality, and human rights became just noise. 

I hear people talking about how by giving Brock Turner a 6 month jail sentence we’re showing that we value the lives and potential of young people. What message does that send to the victim? How does that show her we value her life? In fact, the message she’s being sent is that her value and her potential is secondary to that of a man. We’re saying that her pain and hurt and humiliation is of no consequence compared to the discomfort and shame of this young man. 

You say he has character witnesses? That alcohol was a factor? It. Does. Not. Matter. There are no circumstances that can be used to justify and validate rape. None. There are can be no excuses and no scapegoats. The minute we begin to justify or excuse a rape because of any “factor” is the moment that we say that there are times when rape is ok. There’s no “Rape is wrong… … Unless…” It’s. Just. Wrong.

Lastly, what message are we sending to everyone else? We live in a culture where women have been told to carry pepper spray, and tasers, and to put their keys between their knuckles because it’s not safe out there. And it’s somehow become our status quo. We’ve told girls to dress modestly because at least that way the rapist will go after someone who didn’t dress that way. This trial has told women that that’s the way life is and that we’re not doing anything about it. Not only that, but it’s told men that there are circumstances that could validate a rape, that as long they have potential, they can expect a slap on the wrist. We’ve told men that they’re more important than women, that as a society we value them more than we do women. 

I cannot continue to shrug my shoulders and say “not on social media”. I can’t just sit quietly. As a youth pastor, as a father, as a husband, as a Christian, and as a human being I’m saying No. More. 

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