#victim statements

I don't like sharing people's pain and suffering. The purpose of my blog here is for fun debates and fanfiction, not really social issues.

However, this past week I have been listening to clips about the Parkland shooting. I remember the protests and speeches in 2018 but they faded into the background after a while for me. Unfortunately, there are so many tragedies happening that empathy is a scarce commodity (at least for me anyway).

I listened to most, if not all, the victim statements. I saw the family members calling the shooter all sorts of names, and wishing rape (implicitly and explicitly), violent death and endless suffering on him. The pain they have endured is deep so no one can fault them for that.

However, Victoria's was the one that brought me to tears and really moved me. The shooter seemed the most affected by her too. With the angry parents, he was indifferent and unmoved but he visibly reacted to her words. She is grieving but she still wishes things could have been different for him. That he could have experienced the love and friendship she did. That he is not some creature or animal, but a human being who acted with depravity.

Her statement made me think of this Christian family who publicly forgave this man who murdered a family member (will find the article). As a Christian, I struggled to understand why they were visiting him in prison and continuing to involve themselves in his life. Why not just forgive him quietly, and move on? However, I understand now that they were being ambassadors. They showed the world that God can help us overcome our pain. Being angry and bitter is not going to bring their loved one back. As painful as it is, they are actually doing a public service. By ministering to the man who hurt them, they are helping to reform him so he does not continue to hurt others if he gets out. Not saying I would/could do something like that, but I think it takes a strong person to do this and I want to be that kind of person.

As for Victoria, I really admire her. It seems the comment section admired her as well. It's easy to demonize and wish a painful death on someone, but it's harder to wish them love. Not sure what her religion is if she has one, but I want to be more like her. Christians should be like her. Speaking love to our enemies. However, forgiveness or compassion does not mean lack of justice! Just putting that out there in case someone attacks me.

New Post has been published on https://www.stl.news/gymnastics-doctor-awaits-sentence-after-victim-statements/73710/

Gymnastics doctor awaits sentence after victim statements

LANSING, Mich./January 24, 2018 (AP)(STL.News) — One of the first athletes to accuse Larry Nassar of sexual assault confronted him Wednesday in a Michigan courtroom where the former sports doctor was due to the sentenced for years of molesting Olympic gymnasts and other young women.

The last of more than 150 victims to offer statements at Nassar’s sentencing hearing was a Kentucky lawyer who stepped forward in 2016 after USA Gymnastics was accused of mishandling complaints of sexual assault.

Rachael Denhollander said Nassar groped, fondled and penetrated her with his hands when she was a 15-year-old gymnast in Michigan. Denhollander’s statements to Michigan State University police put the criminal investigation in high gear in 2016.

“You have become a man ruled by selfish and perverted desires,” she told Nassar, who worked at the university and USA Gymnastics, the sport’s governing body, which also trains Olympians.

Nassar faces a minimum prison term of 25 to 40 years when he is sentenced later Wednesday by Judge Rosemarie Aquilina.

The sentence will cap a remarkable seven-day hearing that has given the girls, young women and their parents a chance to confront the doctor in court.

Nassar, 54, pleaded guilty to assaulting seven people in the Lansing area, but the sentencing hearing has been open to anyone who said they were a victim. His accusers said he would use his ungloved hands to penetrate them, often without explanation, while they were on a table seeking help for various injuries.

The accusers, many of whom were children, said they trusted Nassar to care for them properly, were in denial about what was happening or were afraid to speak up. He sometimes used a sheet or his body to block the view of any parent in the room.

“I’d been told during my entire gymnastics career to not question authority,” a former elite gymnast, Isabell Hutchins, said Tuesday.

The judge is likely to be unsparing in her treatment of Nassar. Aquilina has praised the victims who have appeared in her court since Jan. 16, calling them “sister survivors,” while also assuring them that their perpetrator will pay. The women have included Olympians Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber and McKayla Maroney.

“Your words are vital. They are as strong as your martial arts,” Aquilina told Christina Barba, who has known Nassar for decades and practices karate. “They will take him down quicker and cleaner than any kick you’ve got.”

Hutchins and Mattie Larson, a former national gymnast, talked about how Nassar won their allegiance with candy, Olympic trinkets and encouraging words while they were under constant scrutiny from their demanding coaches.

Brooke Hylek, a gymnast who plans to compete in college, heaped scorn on Nassar.

“I cannot believe I ever trusted you, and I will never forgive you,” she said Tuesday. “I’m happy you will be spending the rest of your life in prison. Enjoy hell by the way.”

Emily Morales had a softer message.

“I want you to apologize to me right here,” the 18-year-old told Nassar. “I want to forgive you, but I also want to hear you tell me that you regret all the hurting you caused.”

He did. She replied with, “Thank you.”

Nassar has already been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for child pornography crimes. He is scheduled to be sentenced next week on more assault convictions in Eaton County, Michigan.