Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Slap On The Wrist For Sexual Assault?
I am ashamed to live in Arizona tonight.
Why? Because of a news item I just heard that sickens me.
Two young men in Arizona were arrested for sodomizing 18 boys at a youth camp last summer. These junior counselors used broomsticks and flashlights to traumatize these boys, aged 14 through 16.
Who are these sick perverts preying on young boys under their charge? Decrepit, corrupt homosexual men sucking on the bone marrow of murdered girls? No! Eighteen-year-old Mormon boys, one of which happens to be the son of Arizona Senate President Ken Bennett.
Clifton Bennett, 18, and Kyle Wheeler, 19, were arrested for allegedly holding down boys and, "for discipline purposes," ramming a broomstick or flashlight into their butts. Supposedly they were clothed, so the police think of it as a "hazing" and had no sexual motive. Yet parents of the sodomized boys cite the boys' trouble going to the bathroom, fear while sleeping in their own beds, sleepwalking, and other post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. I doubt whether anyone would have emotional problems like that over a little poke on the fanny.
They're trying to brush off the seriousness of this disturbing crime, but sexual motive or not, sexual assault is still sexual assault. The defense is making a lot of the fact that Master Bennett is a church-going Mormon, and the fact that he's the son of the President of the AZ Senate doesn't hurt his case. In fact, if he pleads guilty, the charges will be largely dropped, probably with some punitive community service being levied against him. Wheeler faces additional charges of assault, for also choking into unconsciousness three boys.
It was reported in the East Valley Tribune that, "The camp is intended for Arizona junior and middle school student council members to develop leadership skills and learn more about how student councils operate." Some leadership, eh? Is this what passes for leadership in Bush's America? Sadistic, sexual deviant hazing?
This seems to be another episode of the "good ole boy" attitude that passes for male comraderie in this country. It's OK to be mean and insulting to your fellows; it just proves you're one of the boys! Cutting down the other guy is the spirit of competition! And if it gets a little physical, well, boys will be boys! Just wait until next time, it'll be your turn to get the upper hand!
Unfortunately, this attitude exists in people well beyond high school. It's time we taught our young men and women to pull together toward a common goal. They'll never get that from our Government's example.
The most disturbing part is that it'll probably be presented as "blown out of proportion" and a slap on the wrist will be the only punishment. Not very much comfort for those 18 boys and their parents.
It is not best that we use our morals week days; it gets them out of repair for Sundays. -- Mark Twain
Why? Because of a news item I just heard that sickens me.
Two young men in Arizona were arrested for sodomizing 18 boys at a youth camp last summer. These junior counselors used broomsticks and flashlights to traumatize these boys, aged 14 through 16.
Who are these sick perverts preying on young boys under their charge? Decrepit, corrupt homosexual men sucking on the bone marrow of murdered girls? No! Eighteen-year-old Mormon boys, one of which happens to be the son of Arizona Senate President Ken Bennett.
Clifton Bennett, 18, and Kyle Wheeler, 19, were arrested for allegedly holding down boys and, "for discipline purposes," ramming a broomstick or flashlight into their butts. Supposedly they were clothed, so the police think of it as a "hazing" and had no sexual motive. Yet parents of the sodomized boys cite the boys' trouble going to the bathroom, fear while sleeping in their own beds, sleepwalking, and other post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. I doubt whether anyone would have emotional problems like that over a little poke on the fanny.
They're trying to brush off the seriousness of this disturbing crime, but sexual motive or not, sexual assault is still sexual assault. The defense is making a lot of the fact that Master Bennett is a church-going Mormon, and the fact that he's the son of the President of the AZ Senate doesn't hurt his case. In fact, if he pleads guilty, the charges will be largely dropped, probably with some punitive community service being levied against him. Wheeler faces additional charges of assault, for also choking into unconsciousness three boys.
It was reported in the East Valley Tribune that, "The camp is intended for Arizona junior and middle school student council members to develop leadership skills and learn more about how student councils operate." Some leadership, eh? Is this what passes for leadership in Bush's America? Sadistic, sexual deviant hazing?
This seems to be another episode of the "good ole boy" attitude that passes for male comraderie in this country. It's OK to be mean and insulting to your fellows; it just proves you're one of the boys! Cutting down the other guy is the spirit of competition! And if it gets a little physical, well, boys will be boys! Just wait until next time, it'll be your turn to get the upper hand!
Unfortunately, this attitude exists in people well beyond high school. It's time we taught our young men and women to pull together toward a common goal. They'll never get that from our Government's example.
The most disturbing part is that it'll probably be presented as "blown out of proportion" and a slap on the wrist will be the only punishment. Not very much comfort for those 18 boys and their parents.
It is not best that we use our morals week days; it gets them out of repair for Sundays. -- Mark Twain
