I read one of the most ridiculous articles I have ever read on Friday.  I just now have time to write about it.  The article concerns 13 year old Hope Witsell of Florida.  Hope committed suicide after being taunted with the labels “whore” and “slut”.  These taunts were in response to a picture Hope had taken of herself naked and sent it to a boy she liked.  The photo was then circulated around the school.

The article in question, 13-Year-Old Girl Commits Suicide After Classmates Spread Nude Photos at the site The Curvature: a feminist perspective on politics & culture, uses some rather twisted logic to place the blame ENTIRELY on the classmates of the girl for spreading the photo and NO responsibility on the girl herself.  Even the title is biased to make it sound like Hope had nothing to do with the photo.  Let me state, unequivocally, that I DO NOT think Hope deserved the taunts nor should those involved in circulating the picture get away with no punishment.  What I will say is the obvioius – if Hope had never taken the picture, none of this would have happened.

The author, Cara Kulwicki, insists that Hope bears no responsibility for what happened and that saying she bore any responsibility for the situation would be a case of “victim-blaming”.  That, to me, seems silly.  Here’s a taste:

Non-consensual sexual conduct is no more consensual, no more right, and no less devastating when committed by a girl against another girl. Bullying is no better when committed by girls — and anecdotal evidence seems to show that while boys are more likely to spread the photographs in the first place, girls are more likely to attack the victim afterward. Sexual harassment and slut-shaming does not magically turn into something else when it’s not boys doing it. And while a partial explanation, internalized misogyny is no more of an excuse for girls and women who commit such acts than rape culture is an excuse for boys and men.

And no matter who is the perpetrator, victim-blaming is still victim-blaming, which is something else Hope was made a victim of. First, she was a victim of cultural messages that told her that what her classmates did to her was her own fault:

At the same time, friends say, Hope knew that the biggest mistakes made were her own.

“She didn’t blame it on anybody,” said Rebecca Knowles, 14. “She realized it was her fault for sending them in the first place.

Secondly, she was a victim of attitudes like ones in that quote right above: attitudes that confirm and refuse to contradict this false belief. Even after she died because she couldn’t cope anymore, the newspaper is sitting there telling her that she was the one to blame. Hope didn’t believe that she made the biggest mistakes. She didn’tthink it. Apparently, she knew it, because who could ever question the idea that if you send a nude photograph of yourself to another person, you’re obviously a slutty slutty slut slut who deserves whatever is coming to you?

That is some twisted logic.

Personally, I don’t think the school should have punished Hope at all.  If she wants to send pictures of herself to someone, whether naked or not, she should be able to do so.  If that other person is of similar age (i.e. not over 18 if the sender is a minor) and has no objection, I don’t see why it’s a school issue.

I am truly sorry for Hope’s friends and family for their loss.  I can’t imagine their grief and I’m not trying to make things worse for them.  I just think that you cannot look at this situation without placing some of the responsibility at the feet of the person who actually took the picture – Hope Witsell.

Noah Biorkman passed away today; he was freed from his suffering this morning.  God bless him and his family.  Farewell, little angel.

After a long battle with Stage IV Neruorblastoma cancer, Monday morning at 8:02 AM, Noah Biorkman passed away at his home in South Lyon, Michigan.

Scott and I, along with our families, would like to thank everyone for the continued support over the past few years during Noah’s illness. As most of you know, Noah has received more than one million Christmas cards over the past few weeks. The outpouring of love and compassion has been remarkable and we are extremely grateful. We are now asking for everyone please respect our privacy during this very difficult time. The funeral services will be for family only. We are asking that instead of sending cards and flowers to Scott and me; please make a donation in Noah’s name to either of the organizations below. With your donation, Noah’s legacy will live on for many years to come, if not forever.

Thank you so much for your support and love.

Sincerely,
The Biorkman Family

Please send donations to the following:

Department of Pediatrics and Oncology
University of Michigan
1500 East Medical Center Drive
D4202MPB
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5718
Checks payable to: The University of Michigan – Noah’s Pediatric Oncology Fund

OR

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan
230 Huron View Blvd.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
Checks payable to: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan – Memo: Noah Biorkman

WOW!  More than 1 million cards.  What a showing of love and support.  Thank God that little boy got Christmas this year.

More fun from our government-run schools by way of Garland, TX.   This is what a school there thinks is a summation of the Second Amendment:

We can get permission to own weapons to protect ourselves.

Uh, not quite.  It actually says:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Notice the lack of the word “permission”.  As a matter of fact, this is the only amendment which states that a right “shall not be infringed”.  It doesn’t say the right to bear arms shall not be infringed unless the gun looks mean.

The completely list of the summations of the Bill of Rights is here.  Thanks to Jerry at At the Root.

Now, Republicans are siding with the terrorists if they mock Obama winning the Nobel “Peace” Prize.

From Infidels are Cool:

“The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists – the Taliban and Hamas this morning – in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize,” DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse told POLITICO. “Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize – an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride – unless of course you are the Republican Party.

“The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It’s no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore – it’s an embarrassing label to claim,” Woodhouse said.

And what about the last eight years?  What about every time that the left cheered a Bush failure or a perceived failure?

Asshats.

Here are some more stories to illustrate how out of control some people are when it comes to “protecting” children.  I like to take photographs of lots of things, but I wonder if that’s safe anymore.  I haven’t had any trouble yet, but I supposed it’s just a matter of time.

And what if someone reports me when I take my sons to the park to play?  People need to calm down a bit.

Love it.

How's Your Commute?

Some people do not belong on Sex Offender Databases.  That’s just a fact.  It may be a case of an 18 year old boy having sex with a girl who is 16.  He is then convicted of statutory rape and branded for life.  All the database will say is “sexual assault of a minor” or something similar.  The date listed in the database is probably not the date of offense – it’s more likely the last registration date or the last court date.  This can make it look like a 25 year old raped a 16 year old when, in fact, it happened 7 years ago when the “offender” was 18.

I know people in this situation (or a similar situation).  A bad decision has branded them as an “offender” for life and anyone who looks it up online thinks the worst.  Don’t get me wrong – there are people who need to be on this list.  Violent offenders and true child molesters should be there.  However, many people should not.

Please think about this the next time you look at one of those databases.  Look up the case in the county court records and see what really happened and what the actual date of the offense was.

Here’s a good article on the subject.  People are just going crazy.

Why would anyone want to read a bill before signing it?  Maybe because there can be things hidden within.  This is why it stuns me when I hear congressmen say they just don’t have time to read the bill or it’s not feasible to read all the bills.  Well, make time and make it feasible.  Maybe bills are TOO COMPLICATED!

Repeat after me – READ THE BILL!

H/T to HotAir

Two guys attack a pair of transvestites only to find…

Please, read the article.

WOW! The White House is so afraid, they have started going after Fox News directly.  I guess they have good reason to be afraid, since Fox is the only mainstream media outlet not afraid to put out the truth about Obama, even if it’s negative.

H/T to Newsbusters