Comments on: Don’t confuse DSK’s sex life with assault

By: oalva

oalva — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 05:18:12 +0000

Ms Freeland makes clear the point of the subject, there is a huge difference between consensual and forced sex. There are many circumstances in which a man can coerce a woman. The French culture doesn’t have the monopoly on these situations, this happens al over the world. Besides that is the hole point of statutory rape, because a minor is not in the position of saying no. There is power that a man (or a woman) can exert were the woman (or man) has no choice.
Culture can only make it seem permissible what is not right, but it can not make it right. There are many circumstances were it would be impossible for somebody to say no and not suffer the consequences, and even be credible after the fact to get justice. This is not about culture; it’s about nature, nurture, but mostly about personal decisions, character, conscience and doing the right thing. Intimacy is about demonstrating love to one another, not about brutalizing somebody.

By: Acetracy

Acetracy — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:18:19 +0000

Ms. Freeland, your article sounds like Reuters just got a phone call from the DSK PR machine which of course in in overdrive these days. To make this kind of apology for DSK that he is a promiscious and not a rapist makes me sick and truly wonder how you got your job.

I have seen over and over again where men in a position of power use their position to get women subordinates to sleep with them. A subordinate sleeping with her boss is perhaps Consensual in the sense the woman was not a knife or gun point, but the trigger on her career aspirations was certainly in effect. If a woman says no to her boss or other superior, does she really think she will still get promoted. Most like no.

That’s why for all sense and purposes it is rape. The woman has no position to say yes or no unless she wants to give up her job and career. Is that fair? Is that justice?

DSK is a pig. How the IMF, the French Socialist and his wife can ever have supported him is beyond my comprehension.

By the way, I am male and find it absolutely disgusting when women are treated like a as a toy.

By: Smitty77

Smitty77 — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:07:57 +0000

Let’s face it! Americans hate the French!

By: MarcoCota

MarcoCota — Fri, 27 May 2011 05:44:53 +0000

The Predatory instinct is in all males, most males have this in control and do not offend. What constantly shocks me is that people cannot understand that men in power are at the same risk of losing control as a general laborer. Those in power who get caught offending seem to defy logic to the average person, but think about it, power is associated with predatory traits. The person in power will gradually show his predatory traits if he has been overlooked, or permitted to do as he pleases due to his position. Respect can only go so far, we have to see with clear lenses that are not biased.

By: sad_noodle

sad_noodle — Tue, 24 May 2011 11:34:29 +0000

You’re right Ms Freeland, don’t confuse the two.
So why are you doing just that?
Furthermore, to suggest that his power grants him anything so he doesn’t need to rape cleverly rewrites the fact rape is not immune to power.

All kinds of people rape, not just non-rich, crazy drunks.
DSK is just as likely to rape as the next guy.

Meauxus, I hope you don’t have any daughters. God forbid if they get raped and you don’t believe them.

By: Meauxus

Meauxus — Sun, 22 May 2011 08:22:22 +0000

Are you guys serious? Please be HONEST for a minute… We all read the court documents and we are among grown up adults, OK? And you mean to tell me that a 62 years old dude, fat,non sportive unarmed and in birth suit would be able to grab a FULLY DRESSED woman in her 30s, undress her, force her to perform oral sex (quite dangerous…)bruising her all over and eventually penetrating her? All that with no noise and without him being scratched or bruised of course… Hahaha what a JOKE! If such a guy would start to have this kind of behavior, ladies, would you let it all happen or slap the c**p out of the idiot, open the door and walk away in 2 seconds???? I do NOT buy this Rape story.

By: xcanada2

xcanada2 — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:04:11 +0000

Apparently, powerful men regularly get hung up by their petard: Clinton, Spitzer, Assange, DSK are recent cases.

I’d be very suspicious about honey traps. There are many unscrupulous billionaires at jeopardy, and billions of their dollars at risk. Plus, it is a fact that many woman are particularly attracted by power. And then you have the prosecutors who are repelled by other’s power. I’m just surprised that such cases aren’t more common.

By: Citrine

Citrine — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:14:08 +0000

Philanderers very much enjoy the company of women and like sex with them; on the other hand, rapists hate women and are violent towards them. These two concepts and behaviors do not go together in the same individual. Indeed, rape is not a sexual act, although it may involve sex; it is a violent assault, much closer to the category of homicide, and many times ending in homicide.
It is not possible to determine in advance how aggressive and insistent a pursuit or conquest can be, because this is defined by cultural and social contexts. Similarly, consent is seldom a matter of Yes or No, since the interplay rejection/ acceptance is a major part of the seduction and foreplay process. Indeed, women who have graduated from feminism are able to see how much they enjoy the Yes/No cat-mouse game, which reportedly provides them with a much greater level of sexual excitement. I believe all these elements may have played a good part in the DSK incident.
In a puritan country like the USA, fascinated with sex but unable to fully accept it and exercise it, alleged sex crimes are culturally viewed as much worse than homicide. False concepts lumping together sexual behavior and rape are easily introduced and repeated, and then go on without any questioning. Aware of the average person’s lack of knowledge and sophistication in these matters, law enforcement certainly supports and promotes these confusions, to the point that presumption of innocence does not exist in sex cases. It does in murder cases.

By: kerrythetool

kerrythetool — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:38:18 +0000

Another Bernie Madoff?

By: Ralphooo

Ralphooo — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:04:25 +0000

If I understand correctly, you emphasize that neither accused nor accuser should ever be subjected to inferences or questioning about prior sexual history, sexual experience, number of past partners, apparel, or any other aspect of sexual or other personal behavior, insofar as the prior history has no connection with allegations of assault. So, for example, if an accused person had previously been convicted or credibly accused of forcing sexual contact on another person, that information might be relevant in the context of the current case, but habits such as reading pornography or having multiple past sexual partners are never relevant. Likewise if the complainant had a prior history of making unsubstantiated accusations of sexual assault, that might be relevant, but the complainant’s appearance, demeanor, manner of dress, past sexual history or number of prior partners are never relevant. The only question to be adjudicated, then, is whether or not the accused made forcible or otherwise coerced sexual advances upon the accuser.

ll this seems so logical and even-handed that it would be difficult to take exception to any of it.

I would merely point out that such personal matters (along with many others) might be legitimately raised in connection with a character witness, but otherwise not at all.