Blame Game: Who's Fault Is It Anyway?

I see a guy walking by the high school.  He's wearing a football uniform; and he's headed for the playing field.  It's obvious that he's a football player. So I can also assume that he's in remedial classes, right?  He's a jock; he must be dumb right?    And if he gets hurt while playing in the game, it's his fault.  He was asking for it.  Is that assumption wrong?

 I mean if you saw a girl walking down the street and she was wearing a low cut blouse and a short skirt, you'd assume that she was a slut, right? If she was attacked or raped, she was asking for it right?  Is THAT assumption wrong?

 What's the difference between the two?  I don't think there's a lot.  In both cases assumptions were made based on the way the person looked.  And if something bad happens to them while they are dressed the way they are; they are at fault.  That's the way we play the blame game, right?

 If you forgot to lock your door last night and you were robbed; it was your fault.  Even if you DID lock your door, but you lived in the "wrong" neighborhood; it was your fault.  You chose where you live; you chose the "look" of your home.  Maybe you had too many nice things on display.  Was your car in your driveway?  Was it broken into or stolen?  Maybe you shouldn't have left those expensive sunglasses on the dashboard.  It's your fault.  You are to blame.

 Is there any difference there between the jock or the slut?  Your home is burglarized and you think YOU are victim?  You are to blame!  You were asking for it.

 No, I haven't lost my mind.  (OK, maybe that's up for debate.)  I hope I've made my point.  (Yes, Beth we get it!)

 It's time to stop  the blame game.  ANYONE who is attacked (female or male...and yes it DOES happen to men too), is NOT to blame.  The guilty party is the attacker/rapist.  The VICTIM is not at fault...it doesn't matter what they were wearing or where they were or what they were doing.  Maybe they are at fault for being naive, but they are NOT to blame.

 Leaving your door unlocked is NOT an invitation for someone to rob you.  Wearing a short skirt is NOT an invitation for someone to rape you.  

 If I didn't make it clear (and I KNOW I have), THE VICTIM IS NOT TO BLAME!

 It's time to stop the blame game and start focusing on the perpetrators.  It's time to stop making excuses and start holding the guilty party responsible.  It's time to prosecute the perpetrator and PROTECT the victim. 

 The victim is NOT to blame.  The definition of victim IS:  a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.  That is the person who NEEDS our help and our support.  This is NOT the person who is at fault.

 Let's stop the blame game and focus on the solving the real problem(s).


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