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Dear New York Times
Dear New York Times,
I admit to knowing nothing of the actual details of this case, and feeling skeptical of early reports. Like you, I have no idea if any of this actually occurred or if any of the early reports are exaggerated.
That said, if the allegations of gang rape of an eleven year old are true, it does not matter what the fuck the victim was wearing or if she was wearing "makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s," or if she "would hang out with teenage boys at the playground." Nor does it matter what her parents were or not thinking, or what the neighbors were or were not thinking.
Although, again, if the allegations are proven true in court, from actual witnesses instead of hearsay by neighbors who were by their own account nowhere in the vicinity, and you then wish to start blaming, I don't know, say, the currently alleged rapists, or the parents of the currently alleged rapists, or start asking why it never occurred to the guys that the alleged activities might not be appropriate, then sure. Let's try to have a discussion about that.
On a related if less important note, getting statements from a neighbor who, again, wasn't there, instead of interviewing school officials, the actual concerned families, the alleged attackers, the police, prosecutors and defense attorneys, is not, in any way, actual reporting.
I admit to knowing nothing of the actual details of this case, and feeling skeptical of early reports. Like you, I have no idea if any of this actually occurred or if any of the early reports are exaggerated.
That said, if the allegations of gang rape of an eleven year old are true, it does not matter what the fuck the victim was wearing or if she was wearing "makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s," or if she "would hang out with teenage boys at the playground." Nor does it matter what her parents were or not thinking, or what the neighbors were or were not thinking.
Although, again, if the allegations are proven true in court, from actual witnesses instead of hearsay by neighbors who were by their own account nowhere in the vicinity, and you then wish to start blaming, I don't know, say, the currently alleged rapists, or the parents of the currently alleged rapists, or start asking why it never occurred to the guys that the alleged activities might not be appropriate, then sure. Let's try to have a discussion about that.
On a related if less important note, getting statements from a neighbor who, again, wasn't there, instead of interviewing school officials, the actual concerned families, the alleged attackers, the police, prosecutors and defense attorneys, is not, in any way, actual reporting.