Going through more old papers
and things I should throw away.
This used to be so important so lifeordeath
isnt' it? we know, we know, I know already so can we
stop
hearing about it
for one second
please?

92% of rapists go unpunished
Harper's weekly featured an item from the American Bar Association's journal noting that few rapists are punished for their crime: only one in ten rapes is reported, and only one out of 13 reported rapes ends in conviction. To demonstrate why most rape victims choose not to press charges, the dialogue asks us to imagine a robbery victim undergoing the same sort of cross-examination a rape victim does:


"Mr. Smith, you were held up at gunpoint on the corner of First and Main?"
"Yes."
"Did you struggle with the robber?"
"No. He was armed."
"Then you made a conscious decision to comply with his demands rather than resist?"
"Yes."
"Did you scream? Cry out?"
"No. I was afraid."
"I see. Have you been held up before?"
"No."
"Have you ever given money away?"
"Yes, of course."
"And you did so willingly?"
"What are you getting at?"
"Well, let's put it like this, Mr. Smith. You've given money away in the past. In fact, you have quite a reputation for philanthropy. How can we be sure you weren't contriving to have your money taken?"
"Listen, if I wanted--"
"Never mind. What time did this holdup take place?"
"About 11pm."
"You were out on the street at 11pm? Doing what?"
"Just walking."
"Just walking? You know that it's dangerous being out on the street that late at night. Weren't you aware that you could have been held up?"
"I hadn't thought about it."
"What were you wearing?"
"Let's see -- a suit. Yes, a suit."
"An expensive suit?"
"Well yes. I'm a successful lawyer, you know."
"In other words, Mr. Smith, you were walking around the streets late at night in a suit that practically advertised the fact that you might be a good target for some easy money, isn't that so? If we didn't know better, Mr. Smith, we might even think you were asking for this to happen, mightn't we?"

Issues burnout. I just want Joni Mitchell and coffee and warm lap.