a must watch. hat tip to shakesville, who have a full transcript.
15 comments:
Anonymous
said...
It's interesting he seems blind to the fact that his little story about his rape of Sheila omits one massive fact. The fact that he is able to give this speech is because he was never arrested for his crime. His freedom is a result of his male privilege.
If he really wants to disown his privilege it seems the first step would be heading down to the police station and turning himself in. That'd be a lot more meaningful than a lot of speeches about how hard it is to be a man.
No I'm not trying to say anything of the sort - are you trying to put words in my mouth? If you'd written: "It's interesting he seems blind to the fact that his little story about being an accomplice to rape of Sheila .. ." I wouldn't mind, but what you said was:
"It's interesting he seems blind to the fact that his little story about his rape of Sheila. . ."
It's there in black and white, written by you, so I don't think it's particulary ethical to misrepresent what you said in order to score a daft point. Listen to the speech. Read what you wrote. It's not rocket-science. The kid was 12. He's grown up and is spreading a message of liberation which requires investment of both genders. I find it ironic that you completely - sorry - utterly - appear to have ovelooked that.
And I find it ironic that you, a self-identifying feminist ally on a feminist blog, seem to be saying that people should be allowed to get away with being an accomplice to rape if they make the right speeches.
I agree with the content of his speech, it's just really sad to me that he seems to lack the courage of his convictions. So this is more of the same. Men who insist on their feminist credentials but do nothing to disown their privilege. Men who talk about how patriarchy is terrible while remaining snugly nested in it.
I should say I know it's hard to disown privilege as a man. This is why what Porter is doing makes me angry. He has a very clear path to disowning his privilege, taking legal responsibility for his crimes. But he seems to think it's enough to just talk about them. I wonder if Sheila would be OK with that. Where is her voice in this story? Obscured. Instead we are all listening to a man's story of her rape. Very sad.
Crime? What crime? The guy was a kid...lured into a situation no kid should have to face....a rape of his own innocence and tender identity. The fact that he can now see it for the horror it was makes this guy a hero. Put the harsh judgment aside for a while and allow someone who fucked up, make good. Nic
I'd say he is a witness. One that didn't report the crime he witnessed. Possibly because he was 12. Or perhaps because he was scared or conflicted. Or perhaps because he didn't have much faith in the police around Harlem and the Bronx several decades ago, and being aware of his skin colour.
Whatever his reason, I'm not about to condemn a 12 year old kid for failing to report a crime.
*I'm not a lawyer and I am not familiar with New York laws of that time.
Rape- an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse; despoliation; violation: (dictionary.com).
Porter was 12....a child....an appalling situation for anyone to find themselves in....I hope at 12 I would have responded differently but then I grew in a safe, middle class home with parents that taught me to love and be loved. This kid grew up in the Bronx surrounded by human destruction..the only thing I will judge him on is his willingness to look back and see the situation he found himself in as truly appalling. Nic
Nic, I don't care what dictionary.com says. For feminists rape is sexual activity that somebody doesn't want but that is forced on them. Nobody forced Porter.
Your claiming that Porter is a rape victim is as despicable as Chris Trotter claiming that Winston PEters is one. I am going to ask the mods to delete your comment as it demeans all rape victims and all women.
Great...I'd be interested to see if the mods think I am being demeaning or arguing for due consideration for the kid too. Chris Trotter's comments...yep...wide of the mark and your comparison with them...well...not even close so hard to take this seriously. I am really interested in why you judge Porter so harshly! Your narrow and hyper-sensitive reaction to the call for compassion for Porter does not reflect the obvious compassion you have for the girl. Nic
Porter didn't violate anyone and he is not a rapist. I'll say it again...he was a kid....12 years old....lured into the room by the creep who was raping the girl..your persistence in seeking to crucify this kid (god knows why you are calling him a man) for making the mistake of being there and failing to speak out, is way over the top. You do rape survivors no justice by such sweeping and inappropriate judgments. Nic
15 comments:
It's interesting he seems blind to the fact that his little story about his rape of Sheila omits one massive fact. The fact that he is able to give this speech is because he was never arrested for his crime. His freedom is a result of his male privilege.
If he really wants to disown his privilege it seems the first step would be heading down to the police station and turning himself in. That'd be a lot more meaningful than a lot of speeches about how hard it is to be a man.
Sorry, that last was me
Yes the US prison system isn't yet filled to capacity with African American men who didn't actually commit the crime of which they are accused.
Are you trying to say he isn't an accomplice to rape? By his own account, it seems utterly clear
No I'm not trying to say anything of the sort - are you trying to put words in my mouth?
If you'd written:
"It's interesting he seems blind to the fact that his little story about being an accomplice to rape of Sheila .. ." I wouldn't mind, but what you said was:
"It's interesting he seems blind to the fact that his little story about his rape of Sheila. . ."
It's there in black and white, written by you, so I don't think it's particulary ethical to misrepresent what you said in order to score a daft point. Listen to the speech. Read what you wrote. It's not rocket-science. The kid was 12. He's grown up and is spreading a message of liberation which requires investment of both genders. I find it ironic that you completely - sorry - utterly - appear to have ovelooked that.
And I find it ironic that you, a self-identifying feminist ally on a feminist blog, seem to be saying that people should be allowed to get away with being an accomplice to rape if they make the right speeches.
I agree with the content of his speech, it's just really sad to me that he seems to lack the courage of his convictions. So this is more of the same. Men who insist on their feminist credentials but do nothing to disown their privilege. Men who talk about how patriarchy is terrible while remaining snugly nested in it.
I should say I know it's hard to disown privilege as a man. This is why what Porter is doing makes me angry. He has a very clear path to disowning his privilege, taking legal responsibility for his crimes. But he seems to think it's enough to just talk about them. I wonder if Sheila would be OK with that. Where is her voice in this story? Obscured. Instead we are all listening to a man's story of her rape. Very sad.
@Acid Queen
Crime? What crime? The guy was a kid...lured into a situation no kid should have to face....a rape of his own innocence and tender identity. The fact that he can now see it for the horror it was makes this guy a hero. Put the harsh judgment aside for a while and allow someone who fucked up, make good.
Nic
I'll say he isn't an accomplice to rape.*
I'd say he is a witness. One that didn't report the crime he witnessed. Possibly because he was 12. Or perhaps because he was scared or conflicted. Or perhaps because he didn't have much faith in the police around Harlem and the Bronx several decades ago, and being aware of his skin colour.
Whatever his reason, I'm not about to condemn a 12 year old kid for failing to report a crime.
*I'm not a lawyer and I am not familiar with New York laws of that time.
Nic
Can you really read this story and view Porter as the one being raped?
@ Acid Queen
Rape- an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse; despoliation; violation: (dictionary.com).
Porter was 12....a child....an appalling situation for anyone to find themselves in....I hope at 12 I would have responded differently but then I grew in a safe, middle class home with parents that taught me to love and be loved. This kid grew up in the Bronx surrounded by human destruction..the only thing I will judge him on is his willingness to look back and see the situation he found himself in as truly appalling.
Nic
Nic, I don't care what dictionary.com says. For feminists rape is sexual activity that somebody doesn't want but that is forced on them. Nobody forced Porter.
Your claiming that Porter is a rape victim is as despicable as Chris Trotter claiming that Winston PEters is one. I am going to ask the mods to delete your comment as it demeans all rape victims and all women.
@ Acid Queen
Great...I'd be interested to see if the mods think I am being demeaning or arguing for due consideration for the kid too. Chris Trotter's comments...yep...wide of the mark and your comparison with them...well...not even close so hard to take this seriously. I am really interested in why you judge Porter so harshly! Your narrow and hyper-sensitive reaction to the call for compassion for Porter does not reflect the obvious compassion you have for the girl.
Nic
You can watch a man walk into a room and violate a girl and then say he was raped. If that's compassion, I don't want to have it.
I don't have compassion for rapists. And I don't ever want to. I hate rapists and I hate rape.
@ Acid Queen
Porter didn't violate anyone and he is not a rapist. I'll say it again...he was a kid....12 years old....lured into the room by the creep who was raping the girl..your persistence in seeking to crucify this kid (god knows why you are calling him a man) for making the mistake of being there and failing to speak out, is way over the top. You do rape survivors no justice by such sweeping and inappropriate judgments.
Nic
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