Thursday, January 25, 2007
I know many of you have been keeping up with the ongoing saga of the three Duke lacrosse players accused of rape. What a mess. These three student athletes were tried and convicted in the court of public opinion. The team was punished, the students suspended, and their story published across the nation. There were protests and harsh statements from administrators, women's groups, and students. Race even played a part in rushing to judgement for or against the participants. The district attorney rushed to prosecute.
And then the accusor changed her story, then changed it again. Some evidence was not as clear cut as we were led to believe. Other evidence had not been properly weighed. Now it appears as if an incredible wrong has been done. Lives and reputations are ruined. The accused and the accusor will never be the same. Duke, athletes, and the legal system have had there reputations damaged. Groups that rushed to judgement now look foolish. What a mess.
Yet... did anyone really think a party with young men, strippers, and alcohol was going to have a good result? I wonder if some of this is not the natural consequences of a number of poor decisions by many people. What is the Christian response to this? How do we as Christians speak to this event? What lessons do we teach to our children and to our congregations from this?
What do you think?
And then the accusor changed her story, then changed it again. Some evidence was not as clear cut as we were led to believe. Other evidence had not been properly weighed. Now it appears as if an incredible wrong has been done. Lives and reputations are ruined. The accused and the accusor will never be the same. Duke, athletes, and the legal system have had there reputations damaged. Groups that rushed to judgement now look foolish. What a mess.
Yet... did anyone really think a party with young men, strippers, and alcohol was going to have a good result? I wonder if some of this is not the natural consequences of a number of poor decisions by many people. What is the Christian response to this? How do we as Christians speak to this event? What lessons do we teach to our children and to our congregations from this?
What do you think?
