THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
(apologies to Keith Olbermann)
Dan Turner
THIS. IS. RAPE CULTURE!!!https://t.co/GsmZoK3gic
— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) June 6, 2016
The father of Brock Turner, the ex-Stanford swimmer who was given a paltry six-month sentence in a county jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman in 2015, is defending his son’s crime—and saying that he should not be imprisoned for only getting “20 minutes of action.” In a letter Dan Turner penned as a diametric opposition to his son’s sentencing—which, in effect, became an indirect defense of his son’s actions—the father of the convicted 20-year-old rapist argued that his son is “not violent.” Pointedly, he barely addressed the nature of his son’s crime, and instead focused on how the life of the former swimmer (and at one point a projected future Olympian) “has been deeply altered forever,” and that he will “never be his happy go lucky self [sic]” again.
I understand a father’s desire to protect a son. At least I think I do; I’ve never had children, but I don’t believe that makes me incapable of understanding the depth and intensity of the emotions Dan Turner must be feeling. His son, who had a promising future in front of him, did something unbelievably stupid, horrible, and criminal- he raped a woman. Instead of focusing on the criminal behavior of his son and the well-being of the victim, Dan Turner has chosen to see what he so blithely characterizes as “20 minutes of action” as insufficient cause for marring his son’s future.
A question for Mr. Turner: Are the victim’s future and her well-being of no account? Is she to be considered merely collateral damage and your son the true victim? Are you really so selfish and self-absorbed that you can’t acknowledge the damage your son is responsible for?
I recognize that Mr. Turner is undoubtedly dealing with intense and unimaginable pain and anguish; his son did something unthinkable that damaged an innocent woman and will color the rest of his life. Instead of recognizing the severity of his son’s crime, instead of admitting that he raped a woman who deserved to be treated with respect and dignity, he’s traveling the path of denial. By minimizing the horrific nature of his son’s crime, he’s disrespecting the victim, in effect treating her as if she’s a mere adjunct to the tragedy which has befallen his poor, precious snowflake. I can think of no other way to describe Mr. Turner’s letter but as disgusting, inappropriate, and thoroughly disrespectful. He should be ashamed of himself, his attitude, and his willful, entitled coddling of his progeny.
Perhaps if I was more charitably inclined, I’d attribute Turner’s astonishing, incomprehensible disregard for the woman victimized- raped- by his son to grief and fear. He’s had to come to grips with the reality that his son’s a rapist- a felon who will be forced to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Was it a horrible mistake on his son’s part? Perhaps; but that “mistake,” that “20 minutes of action” has significantly and adversely impacted the life and psyche of a woman who didn’t deserve to be raped. This is the textbook definition of “rape culture,” a mindset awash in a “boys will be boys” mentality and the conviction that women exist primarily for the sexual gratification of men.
That Dan Turner is perfectly willing to disregard the plight of the victim and hold up his son as a martyr is as monstrous as anything I’ve come across. Perhaps in his world women are disposable objects who exist for the sexual use and gratification of men. Perhaps he’s unable to see women as anything but things- possessions to be used and discarded when the novelty has worn off. Or perhaps he just can’t admit the truth to himself- that his son’s a rapist and a felon and will be deservedly suffering the consequences of those “20 minutes of action” for the rest of his life.
#brockturner father: son not "violent" only got "20 mins of action" shouldn't have to go to prison. @thehuntinground pic.twitter.com/IFECJs687b
— Michele Dauber (@mldauber) June 5, 2016
It seems the very definition of irony that Turner signs his note, “Very respectfully,” because the one person he’s completely disrespecting is the one most worthy of his respect and concern- the victim. Her victim impact statement make it clear she understands being raped is something she will carry with her for the rest of life, and she and Brock Turner will forever be linked.
Through his words, Turner makes it clear that he feels the true victim in this sad tale is his son. The woman, and the trauma she’s still working her way through? That’s someone else’s problem.
Yes, being branded as a sex offender and legally required to register as such for the rest of his life will adversely impact Brock Turner’s life and future prospect. It’s not supposed to make things easier for him; it’s supposed to provide a mechanism for protecting society from him. His status will impact where he lives, where he works, where he visits, and whom he interacts with. Is that an overly harsh sentence? Perhaps…but no harsher than what Brock Turner’s “20 minutes of action” sentenced the victim to. She was raped; that will be part of her reality for the part of her life. Hopefully time, therapy, and the love and support of friends and family will lead her back to health- or something close to it- but those “20 minutes of action” will be with her until her last dying breath.
No one deserves that…and her well-being should be the primary focus of society, not the future prospects of a rapist whose own father refuses to acknowledge the enormity and severity of his son’s crime.
Oh, but he’s a talented swimmer and a good (White) kid with a bright future in front of him, right? Is it really necessary to punish him for a mere “20 minutes of action?” Shouldn’t sentencing him to lecturing high school students about the evils of alcohol be sufficient punishment for a young (White, privileged) man with the whole world spread before him? Shouldn’t we be holding the woman responsible for her part, for being so drunk she’d passed out?
This is how a convicted rapist was portrayed by @washingtonpost. Include his swimming creds, avoid the word "rape" pic.twitter.com/sJj11s0hFE
— Kelly Ellis (@justkelly_ok) June 6, 2016
Brock Turner was sentenced to six months in jail when he could (and probably should) have been sentenced to as much as 14 years. Rape culture? White privilege? Apparently, they’re real things…and they send the clear and undeniable message that what Turner did wasn’t “legitimate” rape. Those “20 minutes of action” were just the unfortunate result of too much alcohol, poor decision making…and a woman who really should have been more careful.
As a male, I’m both ashamed and offended. I’m ashamed that another male could for any reason think it appropriate to take from a woman something which should only be given willingly and consensually. Brock Turner decided to violate a woman forcibly, and blaming it on alcohol is a coward’s way of evading responsibility for his actions. While he and his father may choose to rationalize and minimize the severity of his actions- he raped a woman who in no way deserved to be treated like property.
I’m offended that a father could so blithely disregard the horrific nature of his son’s crime. His son raped a woman- that “20 minutes of action” wasn’t merely a poor decision on his son’s part. It was a violent sexual assault on a woman who should have been able to expect to be treated with respect and courtesy.
The pitiful, pathetic slap on the wrist given to Brock Turner is yet another example of how White privilege and rape culture can combine into something toxic and despicably unfair to victims of sexual assault. The message implied by the verdict (six months??) is that “boys will be boys”…and that women just really need to be more careful to ensure they don’t end up in a compromising situation.
What did the victim think was going to happen once she started drinking, right?
There are few aspects of this case that shouldn’t be viewed as being thoroughly disrespectful of the victim and her dignity. She deserves better than the shoddy dismissiveness Brock Turner, his father, Stanford University, the media, and- most egregiously of all- the judicial system have shown towards her.
As a man, I’m disgusted with Brock Turner for raping a woman, for forcibly taking something that wasn’t his to take. He deserves far more than the sentence he received. Having to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life is small consolation to his victim, who will carry those “20 minutes of action” with her for the rest of her life. There should be a special place in Hell for his father, who in advocating for his son chose to minimize the severity of the crime, thoroughly disrespecting and discounting the victim.
I hope the victim will in time be able to overcome the trauma she’s suffered, and that she’ll be able to lead a happy and productive life. Those “20 minutes of action” will be with her for the rest of her life, but my hope for her is that those horrific 20 minutes won’t come to define her, that she’ll find the strength to move past being raped.
More than anything, I hope that society will finally recognize that rape is rape, I hope our judicial system will recognize and acknowledge that in a just society color, socioeconomic class, athletic gifts, and/or future prospects cannot be interpreted as mitigating factors. Brock Turner should consider himself fortunate; this miscarriage of justice means his punishment is far less than what he deserves.
Dan Turner deserves a special place in Hell for minimizing the criminal behavior of his son and for thoroughly disrespecting the victim- the women his son raped. She deserves better…but it seems neither Turner nor our judicial system share that assessment.
