Part 1: The Price
Posted by Michelle Moquin on June 14th, 2016
Good morning.
Readers: This has been out for a few days now so I’m sure that many of you have heard and read about it. I’m posting it because it infuriates me just as much as it did when I first heard about it. I feel it needs more net time so here it is…
…From the Wash Po:
“His life will never be the one that he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve,” Dan A. Turner wrote in a letter arguing that his son should receive probation, not jail time. “That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life.”
“He will never be his happy go lucky self with that easy going personality and welcoming smile,” the letter says, noting that the former Olympic hopeful is now a registered sex offender.
Former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman following a party on campus. (Reuters)In an interview with The Washington Post early Monday morning, Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen confirmed that the letter had been submitted to the court before Turner’s sentencing last week and criticized the letter for reducing a brutal sexual assault to “20 minutes of action.” He also slammed Turner and his father for refusing to own up to the crime.
“To this day, the defendant denies what he did,” Rosen said, adding that Turner “preyed upon” his victim and displayed violence.
Brock Turner’s attorney did not return The Post’s request for comment regarding Dan Turner’s letter.
The controversial letter emerged three days after prosecutors released another letter, this one written by the victim, who has not been named.
The two letters stand in stark contrast. While Dan Turner’s has been described as myopic, the victim’s has been called powerful and moving.
The victim’s letter begins by bluntly addressing her attacker.
“You don’t know me, but you’ve been inside me, and that’s why we’re here today,” she read in court. She then described how she decided to attend a party so she could spend time with her younger sister.
[The Swedish Stanford students who rescued an unconscious sexual assault victim speak out]
“I made silly faces, let my guard down, and drank liquor too fast not factoring in that my tolerance had significantly lowered since college,” she said. “The next thing I remember I was in a gurney in a hallway. I had dried blood and bandages on the backs of my hands and elbow. I thought maybe I had fallen and was in an admin office on campus. I was very calm and wondering where my sister was. A deputy explained I had been assaulted. I still remained calm, assured he was speaking to the wrong person. I knew no one at this party. When I was finally allowed to use the restroom, I pulled down the hospital pants they had given me, went to pull down my underwear, and felt nothing.”
She described in painful detail how the hospital staff documented her assault with probes and swabs, “shots, pills, had a nikon pointed right into my spread legs. …
“I wanted to take off my body like a jacket and leave it at the hospital with everything else.”
She described Turner as a predator picking off “the wounded antelope of the herd, completely alone and vulnerable, physically unable to fend for myself. …”
She added: “Sometimes I think, if I hadn’t gone, then this never would’ve happened. But then I realized, it would have happened, just to somebody else. You were about to enter four years of access to drunk girls and parties, and if this is the foot you started off on, then it is right you did not continue.”
“You do not get to shrug your shoulders and be confused anymore,” she said of his conviction. “You have been convicted of violating me with malicious intent, and all you can admit to is consuming alcohol. Do not talk about the sad way your life was upturned because alcohol made you do bad things.”
And yet, that is essentially the tone of Turner’s father’s letter.
Dan Turner’s letter begins with brisk reference to the sexual assault.
“First of all, let me say that Brock is absolutely devastated by the events of January 17th and 18th 2015,” it says. “He would do anything to turn back the hands of time and have that night to do over again. In many one-on-one conversations with Brock since that day, I can tell you that he is truly sorry for what occurred that night and for all the pain and suffering that it has caused for all those involved and impacted by that night. He has expressed true remorse for his actions on that night.”
Rosen said, however, that Brock Turner never accepted responsibility for the assault. Had he done so, prosecutors probably would have agreed to a sentence of less than six years.
Dan Turner’s letter then launches into a description of his son’s “easygoing personality” and the “inner strength” that made him such a good swimmer.
Dan Turner said he and his son were “totally in awe” of Stanford’s campus, and noted with pride the school’s 4 percent acceptance rate.
Turner then described his son not as a sexual predator, but as a victim.
“He excelled in school that quarter earning the top GPA for all freshmen on the swim team,” the father wrote in his letter. “What we didn’t realize was the extent to which Brock was struggling being so far from home. … When Brock was home during the Christmas break, he broke down and told us how much he was struggling to fit in socially.
“In hindsight, it’s clear that Brock was desperately trying to fit in at Stanford and fell into the culture of alcohol consumption and partying,” Dan Turner concluded. “This culture was modeled by many of the upperclassmen on the swim team and played a role in the events of Jan 17th and 18th 2015.”
During the trial, prosecutors had argued that Brock Turner was part of a bigger problem.
“He may not look like a rapist, but he is the … face of campus sexual assault,” Deputy District Attorney Alaleh Kianerci told the jury, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
In his letter to the judge, however, Dan Turner appeared to be flipping this script, using the pervasiveness of the problem as a shield to hide his son’s personal responsibility.
The Internet was not having it.
Prompting particular social media outrage was the way Dan Turner portrayed his son’s suffering.
“His every waking minute is consumed with worry, anxiety, fear, and depression,” the father wrote. “You can see this in his face, the way he walks, his weakened voice, his lack of appetite. Brock always enjoyed certain types of food and is a very good cook himself. I was always excited to buy him a big ribeye steak to grill or to get his favorite steak for him. … Now he barely consumes any food and eats only to exist.”
Others also focused on the almost flippant reference to “20 minutes of action.”
The letter, which was first published by liberal website ThinkProgess, makes no explicit reference to Brock Turner’s victim, meanwhile.
Despite what critics called its tone-deafness, however, the letter apparently worked.
Judge Aaron Persky agreed with probation officials’ recommendation that Turner receive only six months in jail.
“A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him. … I think he will not be a danger to others,” the judge said, citing Turner’s youth and lack of criminal record, the Guardian reported.
That ruling has also made Persky a target of public ire. In the days since his decision, a Change.org petition calling for his removal has gathered almost 12,000 signatures. The petition also called for someone to challenge Persky in an upcoming election, in which he is currently unopposed.
Rosen said he was disappointed that Persky did not sentence Turner to more time.
At the same time, the prosecutor said he saw a silver lining in how the case and Turner’s lenient sentence had “led to a frank discussion about how to prevent campus sexual assault and what those campuses should do when it happens.
“Honestly, what has helped to create such national attention in this case is the eloquence of the victim,” he added. “Never in my 20 years as a prosecutor have I seen a more eloquent victim statement.”
Rosen said her letter had done more than just tell her tale. It had “come to represent the truth of thousands of sexual assault victims have experienced as well.”
Indeed, her letter slammed Brock Turner for his solipsism.
“You said, I want to show people that one night of drinking can ruin a life,” she wrote.
“Ruin a life, one life, yours, you forgot about mine. Let me rephrase for you, I want to show people that one night of drinking can ruin two lives. You and me. You are the cause, I am the effect. …
“You have dragged me through this hell with you, dipped me back into that night again and again. You knocked down both our towers, I collapsed at the same time you did. Your damage was concrete; stripped of titles, degrees, enrollment. My damage was internal, unseen, I carry it with me. You took away my worth, my privacy, my energy, my time, my safety, my intimacy, my confidence, my own voice, until today.”
*****
Readers: Read my lips- Who gives a fuck if his life won’t be the same? Don’t do the disgusting dirty deed and you won’t put yourself in the position of ruining your life. But no, boys and men do it anyway and then pull this “Feel sorry for me,” “My life will be ruined” routine.
So sick of perpetrators not taking responsibility for their actions, and then getting backed from others (Family, the government, etc.) by the actions, really lack of actions, that are taken against them.
What about the impact on the victim? Oh…come on, it was only ”20 minutes of action” – Get over it – No big deal – Move on. I can tell you these words coming from a man is not new. I have girlfriends in my life who have been raped and molested while fathers stood by and told them to get over it. Sickening. This man, his father, is no different. Makes me think, “Gee if this happened to your daughter, would you accept the same words from the father of her rapist? Would you be fine with such a soft sentence?”
What about the impact on young men? “Hell yeah..if he can get away with it, I can too.” You know they’re thinking that. Until men, young and old, are given a stiff (no pun intended) sentence for the atrocities they commit, they will continue to rape and molest women because: 1) They don’t think they’ll get caught, and 2) If they do the punishment won’t be sever (eh…I meant “severe,” but hey I guess “sever” would unfortunately work too.) So hey, it’s worth the risk, right?
Thoughts? Blog me.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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June 14th, 2016 at 3:35 pm
I have zero empathy/sympathy, do the crime do the time and could his dad have illustrated any further how far his head is up his own arse? What a pathetic read…poor baby can’t eat steak bc he lost his appetite. The judge can go on an eating hiatus also, another one who’s used to the smell up there.
So so glad his victim found her voice and so eloquently summed it up for him and his way off the mark daddy (and judge).
Looks like dad did a sad job of teaching his son respect for women.
~ ZL
June 14th, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Twenty-year-old Patience Carter was partying with her friends Akyra Murray, 18, and Tiara Parker, at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida Saturday night when gunman Omar Mateen opened fire and killed 49 revelers in the gay club.
During a press conference on Tuesday at Florida Hospital Orlando, Carter recalled her memories of the shooting, read a poem about her survivor’s guilt and revealed previously unreported details about how the gunman – including the fact that he promised not to shoot any black people because they had ‘suffered enough’.
June 14th, 2016 at 8:03 pm
by the pictures of the deceased he was obviously color blind
June 15th, 2016 at 6:33 am
What happened? I can’t get in. This article is just saying what is true about a system of “justice.” that favors white men.
June 15th, 2016 at 6:35 am
Zen Lill I agree that dad is showing that he has no concern for the feelings of the rape victim. But the victim summed it up for him.
June 15th, 2016 at 6:36 am
Not all men and fathers agree with that idiot judge. If that were his daughter he would want the book thrown at the rapist.
June 15th, 2016 at 6:43 am
Anonymous#2, you racist bastards never quit. Always looking to play one of the “51″ racist’s cards you kept for yourselves in that “52″ deck in which you gave the OTW just one.
As Anonymous#3 said look at the pictures of the dead. The creep killed lots of blacks also.
Your concern should be with your Congressional representatives who are in the pocket of the gun manufacturers. If they take those killing machines off the market, these mass killings by idiots who can legally go into any store and buy them will stop.
June 15th, 2016 at 6:53 am
Two comments:
1. In a country where white males get off lightly for just about any crime in which an OTW will get life without parole, what do you expect when it happens between two whites.
If you people make the same complaint about judges like this racist, misogynistic slimebag, then when it comes to his time to fuck you with a bad call, he wouldn’t be there.
Check this guy’s record. He is consistent for handing down tough sentences for OTWs. He has sentenced young OTWs, to very long sentences for similar and less crimes.
Yet, when it comes to whites who do similar crimes, he is consistently light with their sentences. So shut the fuck up about it when it bothers you. You don’t breathe a peep when these racist judges do it to us.
2. You gun crazy gringos have to wake up and pass a law outlawing at least one type of gun. These assault rifles are just killing machines designed by their makers to kill a massive amount of people in a short time.
I know when you gringos buy one it empowers you to feel that you can use it to kill dozens of OTWs at a time, but considering it is being used to kill dozens of your race at a time also.
Maybe you should reconsider keeping the sale of this type of gun legal.
June 15th, 2016 at 6:55 am
Anonymous#2, you are a dipshit jackass. When will you race baiting imbeciles stop?
June 15th, 2016 at 6:57 am
“5 minutes of action.” And that didn’t bother the judge. Of course not. He was too troubled with how a white boy was going to fare in jail.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:01 am
Wait just a goddamn minute. Who told the ditzy bitch to get drunk before she went to a frat party where she knows they only invite meat for fucking?
The slut knew why she was there. She just had to tank up before she went for courage to fuck whoever wanted her.
She got caught doing what she has probably done a thousand times before, so she had to go along with rape.
The judge saw it for what it was. A drunk bitch, who got what she went to a frat party to get, laid. Nough said.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:02 am
Why all the fuss about what this judge did for this white boy? Is it because a white girl was involved?
This justice system does work like that for white males as a matter of course EVERY DAY.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:05 am
Damn George,WP #11, you are my hero on this blog. I read it every day looking for your comments. As usual you have nailed it. Just like that innocent young man nailed the drunk slut.
“Ladies” if you don’t won’t that pussy used, then don’t take your asses to parties drunk and then continue to drink.
If that pussy looks good enough, it will be sampled.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:06 am
Sorry, bitches I have to agree with George, WP#11. You have to take some responsibility for your own actions before you blame him for 20 minutes of his.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:09 am
George, W hitless P rick#11, no man has the right to rape anyone much less an unconscious person.
You need to get back on your meds.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:11 am
I burst out laughing when I read your comment George,WP#11. Women just don’t want to admit that they bring this shit upon themselves when they get sloppy drunk and expect a man to just coddle all that pussy without sampling the goods.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:12 am
So George,WP, if that were your mother or sister unconscious you would be okay with some man taking advantage of her and raping her?
June 15th, 2016 at 7:13 am
Some men feel they are entitled to rape a woman who for whatever reason can not stop him.
We need to rally around a recall for that judge. He is telling those men that their reasoning is true and okay legally.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:16 am
George, WP, if you or any creep like you messed with one of my females relatives or friends, I wouldn’t wait for the law to deal with you.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:20 am
Yeah!! George,WP#11, you nailed it. Why should a man feel he has to be responsible for a stupid drunk slut?
If she had as much brains before she penned that cute note, as she purports to have while writing it, she would not have chosen to go to a frat party drunk.
I get it ladies. You want to support a sister, but there are a lot of women you can throw your support behind without supporting this idiocy.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:24 am
Come women, she was asking to get fucked. Why do she think she got drunk BEFORE she went to that party? She wanted to randomly get fucked and have deniability.
If she had awaken the next morning with that snatch well fucked, she would have brushed herself off and gone home satisfied that she got what she went to that frat party to get.
Her complaint is because everyone knows that is what she did. So now she has to play the wronged woman part. They judge has my full support. I will not only vote to keep him in office, I will contribute to his war chest to stay there.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:31 am
I am somewhat appalled at the vitriol by these men. But I have to admit that this woman bears some of the responsibility for what happened to her.
I personally feel for the decision the judge had to make. He had to balance the rest of the life of that young man against the stupid behavior of that young woman which lead to her situation.
Young horny men mixed with alcohol and irresponsibly drinking women will inevitably lead to just what happened. She should bear some responsibility.
I think the judge’s sentence was appropriate considering her responsibility for what happened.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:37 am
Ladies there are a lot of women you could make this argument for this woman is not one of them.
What are you defending her behavior? What kind of signal are you sending to young women?
Ladies if you get that drunk a frat party on my campus, you gonna get some dick.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:40 am
Grace#17, if my female friends or relatives behaved the way this slut did, then they would be getting what nature laid out for that kind of slutty behavior.
June 15th, 2016 at 7:46 am
We are seeing the true depth and breath of the racism and misogynist tendencies of most white males.
Consider how this week how many republicans have come out against trumps racism, his removing the credentials of the Washington Post, his accusations of racism against President Obama.
And yet Clinton only leads him by 12 points in the polls. If this doesn’t say that most of white america is for his positions what else does.
June 15th, 2016 at 8:35 am
I’m a senior at a prestigious southern college. i have been to hundreds of frat parties. If a girl brings a pair of drunk panties to a frat party I’m attending and I take a fancy to her I’m feeling those panties with the excitement she came to get.
Why do you women think we buy booze and throw a frat party? We buy booze to get bitches buzzed so we can bang them. It’s that simple.
The girls who come know what is expected of them. You watch movies, see utube, know the drill.
That bitch fucked that athlete’s like and career up.
June 15th, 2016 at 8:39 am
Alycedale#25, I’m from the old, traditional south. Down here black bitches know to keep their mouths shut unless they are opening them to suck white dick.
My father reminds me of the day when “splitting black oak” was a young white males birth right to manhood.
You nigger bitches are lucky the law today allows niggers to testify against a white man. Otherwise we would still be taking black pussy at will.
June 15th, 2016 at 8:40 am
OMG! Some of these men are animals.
June 15th, 2016 at 8:41 am
Lionel #27, come on down, I’ve got some pussy for you. Bring that tiny pecker, let’s see what you’re made of.
June 15th, 2016 at 8:46 am
I am voting for Trump so he can make America great again. It’s time that the white man was Lord of his country again.
White women you have to stop this knee-jerk habit of accepting the whining of these nigger, spics, and kikes.
I am a Souther Baptist in South Carolina. This is a land where white women traditionally support their men and give them their due. The Bible says we are the head of our household. Read your Bible and get behind your God, Jesus Christ and the head of your household, your Husband.
Or burn in Hell.
June 15th, 2016 at 8:59 am
Howard#26, I’m a senior at a prestigious Southern college. I’ve been to hundreds of frat parties also. I don’t agree with your logic that they are thrown to rape intoxicated or incapacitated young women.
I’ve gotten drunk at a few of those parties in my freshman years. I wasn’t raped and I didn’t have sex with anyone. Later when I did have sex, it was when I wanted it.
Your attitude is what is wrong with our culture. You and your kind are predatory beasts.