Football and rape

[Luddly Neddite]

Society fails when victims of sexual assault are stigmatized

Another story about rape and football.

Two girls say they're raped in small town Missouri. Felony charges are leveled against a high school football player, then dropped. Under what influence? One juvenile offender is convicted on a lesser charge. The social media bullying begins. Local authorities shrug as the victim is run out of town. Or attempts suicide. Months later, the whole rotten story appears in the Kansas City Star, and under even greater political pressure those authorities are forced to consider taking the matter up again. Sound familiar?

As it is in Annapolis, where two football players face court-martial. As it is in Nashville, where a football player pleads guilty to covering up the gang rape allegedly committed by his teammates. As it is in Steubenville, where two football players commit rape and the community harasses the victims. So it is in Maryville. Is football culture rape culture?

The news here might be that this is not news. Rather, it's an antique pattern of behavior played out in every corner of this country and at every station of money and class and social standing. Rich or poor, highborn or low. Nothing new. Just worse and worse and worse. And not only among football players, but among their coaches and fans and boosters, the zealots and true believers on whom the fantasy of Football as Character Builder depends. How many more girls are we willing to sacrifice to jock entitlement, to misbegotten hero worship, to "clear eyes, full heart, can't lose" cliché?

...Nothing will change until we make the reporting of rape easier and safer for victims. Until we de-stigmatize victims and stigmatize offenders, no matter how popular and no matter how far they can throw a football. Nothing will change until we hold institutions and individuals completely accountable for what they do. And for what they cover up.

Why do we hate the victim and protect the rapist?

As much as anything, its money. Football is more of a religion in this country than religion is and the god they worship is money.

 

[TemplarKormac]

 

[TemplarKormac]

By no means did I defend Jerry Sandusky. Oh, I love football but this is deplorable. Anyone who rapes anyone should (in my opinion) be given a one way ticket to hell. Period.