Acceptable Victims
I wasn't going to write about the alleged rape of Jamie Leigh Jones because as with most criminal cases, I'm not privy to enough information to truly make an informed comment. On the other hand, I have no problem commenting on some of the reactions to the alleged rape, as some of them tend to be quite instructive.
The first is via mattbastard, who picks up this comment from Bread and Roses:
This has been an idea that has stayed in me [consistently] since hearing about this terrible act.[Bold in quoted version]
How many Iraqi children have been killed by the hoodlums of Blackwater, other ‘contractors’ and even some members of the regular armed forces? How many women raped, people maimed and humiliated in front of their loved ones?
Yet, when it happens to a pretty blonde white girl from Texas, with apparently connections to the Republican establishment - shit flows down from a great height, in the press, on TV and all over the internet.
The individual act is bad enough - but that it is only despicable when it happens to one of ‘us’ leaves me very uncomfortable.
At least this commenter is uncomfortable at the double standard. Chris Jones at RedState doesn't show any such qualms:
I have been a strident defender of allowing contractors to be immune from prosecution in Iraq. I don't really lose any sleep over Blackwater having to shoot one or more people for whatever reason.[Emp. mine]
Immunity for "contractor on Iraqi" crime is one thing, but I never considered that immunity would extend to "contractor on contractor" crimes. Or more specifically "American on American" crimes. Shooting an Iraqi in a war zone is one thing, but American contractors gang-raping a 20-year old American woman is f*cking outrageous.
As with so many other things, it's only important when it happens to "us". That Iraqis are being victimized, at probably far greater numbers and with more heinous crimes, simply doesn't matter. Immunity is fine and no punishment for such crimes is required. Just don't touch an American!
