20 Minutes Of Action – A Response to Brock’s Father

Um … wait… kid rapes an unconscious woman and gets 6 months jail because jail would be bad for him (judges words, not mine) and now his dad is complaining that having to go to jail and register as a sex offender is a steep price to pay for “20 minutes of action” and aw my poor son won’t eat the big thick ribeyes we get him he’s so sad!

slow blink… siiiiiiiiiiigh…

Dear Mr. Turner,

There was no “action” sir, your son intimately violated a young woman who could not consent because she was unconscious. We’re one step up from necrophilia at this point. She was a completely passive victim, sir. The word action is defined as the process of doing something. She could not do anything and therefore, by definition, this was not “action”. This was not a case of two consenting lovers who got too hot and heavy and got caught up on a beach one night and ended up getting in trouble for indecent exposure or something.

You claim that your son has “not been violent.” What would you call this incident, sir, if not a violation and therefore violent? As a parent I understand that it must be incredibly heartwrenchingly difficult to look at your child and think that they negatively impacted someone’s life forever, but that’s what he did.

For you to frame this as “sexual promiscuity” is an insult of the highest order. This young woman was not conscious. Had your son had intercourse with a person lying on an operating table would we be having this conversation?If it were your son who passed out and he was penetrated by a teammate would we be having this conversation? If your son passed out and was stimulated to orgasm by a woman would we be having this conversation? What about if that woman then impregnated herself with his semen – would it be a violation then? I ask these questions without a hint of sarcasm, sir. I do legitimately want to know what kind of unconscious you think is rape and what kind of unconscious you think is “sexual promiscuity”. I am curious about when it’s “action” worthy of a round of high fives and when it’s a violation that will forever alter the victim and is deserving of the punishment of a few months in jail and registering in a database – especially since you seem to consider this punishment so heinous for your son.

You say that, as Brock’s father, you know jail is not the appropriate punishment for him. Did you know, as Brock’s father, to teach him the value of consent? Clearly not since you seem ill-equipped to grasp the concept yourself. Does being Brock’s father immediately imbue you with the gifts of legal expertise? You seem very certain of what the appropriate legal action is and are touting being Brock’s father as some sort of qualifying title.

Your letter, sir, is rank with entitlement, it stinks of privilege, it screams with complete lack of empathy for your sons victim (a woman who you don’t even mention, as if she doesn’t even exist. don’t think we didn’t notice. don’t think that doesn’t speak volumes), elitism and a lack of ability to see past the tip of your own upturned nose. This letter is the epitome of first world problems. Your son can’t eat his steak? You don’t have to hide pretzels or chips from him anymore? begin sarcasm font I weep for his loss and yours, truly. end sarcasm font

The fact that your son was found in the act of raping an unconscious woman and was sentenced to six months because a longer sentence would have “a severe impact” on him (ignoring, of course, that the entire purpose of incarceration is to have a severe impact on the individual who is incarcerated) is, in itself, ridiculous, vile, repugnant and a perfect commentary on the ways our judicial system becomes a mewling quim in the face of a little bit of money and the right names and melanin. This letter is the cherry on the fuckery sundae.

I cannot fathom, sir, that you’ll be able to ever read this letter as I imagine the view must be exceedingly limited with one’s head shoved so deeply up ones own ass.

Very Respectfully,
Everyone

Wife, mother, beach-bum and ass-kicker; Erica has learned to embrace her particular brand of awkward and hopes to use it to inspire others. She’s a writer and owner of NerdSwag by day and a rock star by night (and sometimes mid-to-late afternoon, depending on rehearsal schedules and how her eyeliner is winged) when she sings with her band Askultura. She’s always available to speak open-mindedly about religion, feminism, sexuality, psychology, empowerment and keeping ones eyebrows on fleek.