Tag Archives: sexual assault

Justice and Mercy, By Louise Annarino,March 20,2013

Two words seem to define the response to the rape of a teen-age girl by teen-age boys in Steubenville,Ohio: fear and loathing. I am aware of the crime itself and the ancillary threats,denials,cover-ups,and diverse opinions expressed by the public and news media.I heard the apologies of those convicted and the statement made by the victim’s mother. The hate expressed against the rape victim and her defenders, and that expressed against the perpetrators and their defenders leave me saddened and dismayed. Having experienced sexual assault as a young woman, and lived with nightmares and flashbacks since, my heart bleeds for the victim in this case and for all women. We women face objectification and sexism daily. However,I suggest we put aside our fear and loathing and reflect upon two other words: justice and mercy.

Blindfolded Lady Law holds a set of scales,but not merely to weigh evidence. Those two plates on the scale also represent justice and mercy. When judges apply the law they must provide justice for all parties, and mercy for all parties.

As a prison social worker I worked with inmates who had committed truly heinous crimes,and some less appalling. By serving a sentence of incarceration justice was served. By participating in rehabilitation,mercy was applied. As a social worker,I sought to balance the two, as Lady Justice personifies. When I later became an attorney, I continued to seek justice and mercy for my clients. Only when justice is balanced with mercy do we create peace,for each victim, for each perpetrator, and for our entire community.

It is impossible to overestimate the value of balance. After any sports injury, surgery or illness; when planting a garden or teaching new ideas; while painting a picture or building a fence, the first thing one does is find and then maintain balance. Whether working to create a just society, a rehabilitation program,or a federal budget we must strive for balance. Justice and mercy. Both are essential.

All boys and young men,all girls and young women are in desperate need of our protection and guidance. We cannot expect a child born in poverty, or awash in the acid drip of discrimination,or subject to the benign neglect of overworked parents to stand strong against the sexually derogatory messages  in their dress-language-social media-music-movies-television-gaming. We think because boys and girls talk,dress and act out adult behavior that they are mature. They are still children. They make stupid and harmful decisions. This fact is more readily acknowledged for boys who are white, athletes or scholars than boys who are sagging and hanging on a corner. Too often our latent racism blinds our reality. Boys carrying guns in gangs are still boys. Girls exploring their sexuality are still girls. How can we expect our children to show self-respect when we adults show them so little respect?

Decisions made by boys and girls have consequences; often,adult consequences. Facing the consequences of one’s actions is just. Caring for those facing consequences they never imagined in their young minds and hearts is merciful. Mercy does not condone sexually objectifying girls and women; but, it may provide a means to address the problem. Let us respect our children by paying attention to their needs, and being willing to pay the cost. How can we expect our children to deny their self-gratification when we are unwilling to sacrifice our own?