Felony assault?

[somercet]

Montaigne was a conservative in politics… I sometimes wonder if we could reform the American government, but Montaigne would no doubt reply that we were created a lawyerly republic and should not change.

- Gore Vidal (from memory)
Dr. Helen reports a sad milestone on the Reign of Terror of the trial lawyers: two twelve year-old boys were arrested

Comments

[frogfarm]

Your linky, sir.

[elviswhataguy]

Interesting story. While the authorities' course of action is, at the very least, questionable, I also suspect -- and this is not condoning the heavy-handed (excuse the pun) response -- that part of the reason for the inequity pointed out by yourself and others in the treatment of the boys as opposed to the girls, is as least partly based on the age-old attitude that 'harrassment' from girls/women is something desired by boys/men (see, for instance, the responses on various opinion sites to Bill O'Reilly's recent, ludicrous story on the rampaging 'lesbian gangs' currently taking over your country; yes, the usual 'wow - sign me up', 'Gee, I should be so lucky ...' etc). Indeed, in reference to the current story, as one poster on Dr Helen's page recounts:

My, how times have changed. In 6th grade I walked a gauntlet (very slowly, mind you) [my emphasis] where I was swatted on the hind parts by every girl in my class. Four of us (all guys) went through the line. We had the highest grades in the class for the whole year. Maybe that was

[somercet]

… that part of the reason for the inequity pointed out by yourself and others in the treatment of the boys as opposed to the girls, is as least partly based on the age-old attitude that 'harrassment' from girls/women is something desired by boys/men…We all want to be sexually 'harassed' sometimes. Indeed, if we are not so 'harassed', we feel depressed and rejected. (Cf. "How Soon Is Now?", The Smiths.) As Hamlet noted, "the timing is all:" how much harassment and where? Workplace or Singles Bar? Did he/she bat their eyelashes at you

[elviswhataguy]

Agreed on just about every point (is this a first?)

I find myself reading the comments on the violent females some commenters have encountered: women who have lashed out apparently without physical provocation and who were never charged with assault.

Yes, I did see those and meant to mention them. I've no doubt this was the case; some women do these sorts of abhorrent things and are never charged. Again I would tend to look at societal prejudices, attitudes and expectations -- smashing glasses in guys' faces is not something women are supposed to do, therefore, what just happened couldn't have happened -- or at least can't be dealt with 'appropriately' given the existing cultural 'norms'. Which, of course, ties in with your suggestion about the DA's pitch to the jury. Society (as it stands) thrives on stereotypes and cliches and myths, and this has often been particularly true when it comes to women -- for every poor, victimized woman (the madonna), there's the rape victim who was 'asking for it' (the whore). It's convenient

[somercet]

It's spreading…

[elviswhataguy]

Oh, P.S. in the O'Reilly thing I mention, I'm referring to comments made by men -- the 'sign me up' might have been confusing, but I'm sure you get the gist.