Last weekend a 15 year old girl was gang raped, robbed and beaten outside her school during the homecoming dance in California. This is really bothering me. According to news reports as many as 20 people could have been watching and taking pictures during the 2 hours that the victim was being raped. Supposedly, they lured her into a secluded court yard/alley with alcohol and after she'd drank enough to be drunk, started raping her and beating on her.
The people who hurt this girl are obviously horrid creatures and hopefully our justice system will give them the maximum punishment allowed by law. Honestly, the beast in me would like something more horrible to happen to them, but I guess that would make me just like them.
However, the people that stood and watched and took pictures are just as bad. How could someone just watch, take pictures, laugh about it all? How would they feel if it were them or someone they loved? Would it be a photo op then? Would it be funny? How would they feel if people just stood by and allowed something to happen to someone they loved?
To anyone who has just stood by and let something happen I hope you live with shame and guilt your whole life. I hope the fact that you did not help the person who needed it haunts you with every breath you take. It is not just because of rapists, murderers and other sick minded criminals that people feel unsafe in this world, it is also because of all of you that just sit there and watch that causes this world to be unsafe. There are so many things I would love to say to those of you who fall into this category, but one of the improvements I'm trying to make on myself is to not let anger and rage take over in my heart.
For anyone who has kids, hold them close. Let them know every day how much they mean to you and how much you love them. Talk to them about the dangers of going off with others into secluded areas drinking alcohol. Keep your lines of communication open. It is never the victim's fault when these things happen. Our only hope is to try and arm our children with as much power and knowledge as possible against people who want to hurt them.
This poor girl that was so brutally victimized may never be able to heal emotionally from what was done to her. The only way she would have any hope of recovering is if she has the love and support that everyone needs from her parents and family. I cannot even imagine the road she has ahead of her. She's only 15 and this one horrible night will probably effect her the rest of her life. She was victimized not only by her attackers but by those who decided it was a fun show to watch.
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