I recently read an article about a 21-year-old man named Genarlow Wilson who has spent the last two years in a Georgia prison after he was convicted of aggravated child molestation.
Before you spit in disgust, listen to the circumstances. He was convicted following a 2003 New Year’s Eve party where he was videotaped having oral relations with a 15-year-old girl. He was 17 at the time and the act was consensual. The law was changed in 2006 to make oral sex between teens close in age a misdemeanor with no mandatory prison sentence (Wilson was given 10 years).
On Friday, Georgia’s Supreme Court overturned the sentence, ruling 4-3 that the sentence was cruel and unusual punishment. They ordered that Wilson be released.
I’m not writing this post to proclaim that Wilson should stay in prison. I’m not outraged that he’s being released. It was a ridiculous sentence for an act that kids (unfortunately) engage in all the time.
Nor am I writing to champion Wilson’s cause. I’m quite certain that he’s a degenerate (he was also accused of raping a 17-year-old girl at the same part. He was acquitted, but it still makes me question his character). Not to mention, he’s already got Jesse Jackson at his side screaming of the injustice.
So you may be asking yourself: Why is Zizzle-Zot writing about Genarlow Wilson?
I’m glad you asked. Check this out, taken directly from the article I read:
“State lawmakers announced they had raised $4,000 toward a scholarship fund for Wilson, and Jackson promised another $5,000 from the Rainbow/PUSH organization.”
Are they kidding me? I feel bad for the guy’s plight and all…wait a minute, no I don’t. Not even a little bit. He videotaped himself engaging in a lewd act and got caught. Yes, the sentence was excessive. But are they really going to give Genarlow $9,000 because he got a bj from a 15-year-old?
I’ve always busted my ass when it comes to my education. I graduated high school at the top of my class, I did well on the ACT’s, I put together impressive applications, and (outside of school sponsored assistance) I couldn’t get a scholarship to save my life.
I guess instead of reading books and learning I should have been hanging out with minors at New Year’s Eve parties (video camera in hand).
That’s injustice.
Thanks for reading.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
I don't think they are giving him the money because he got a BJ. I think they are giving him the money because he was wrongfully imprisoned for two years. I mean, he was a very young guy, I can't imagine the prison culture was easy on him. Also, I think it's a tad bit quick to label this guy a degernerate. Maybe he is. Probably he is. But we don't know (or at least I don't).
The money isn't coming from your tax money. It's coming from donations. I don't see a problem with that.
I agree that the "victims" of civil right abuse, are wrongfully given a hero status (a la Jena 6). I don't know...this guy needlessly spent two years in horrible conditions. I guess I don't mind if people want to do their best to keep him out of prison the next time around.
Also, Grubes...my last post was almost specifically for you. I'd cry an ocean if I didn't get a rebuttle.
Gruber I do agree with you. Sure you can feel bad for the guy but I don't think giving him 9 grand is going to reinforce what he did was wrong, if anything it might help him forget some of his experiences, but then what will he learn?
Grubs,
I have to say i agree with you on the part that this kid probably shouldn't have served time for this. I am not condoning his actions, but it is reality and it is happening everyday. I don't see other people being punished for the same and even worse actions at that age, so why this kid.
As for the money part of it, i think that it is a stupid reason to fork over some money, but like Antagonist said if it is donations and i don't have to pay for it with my tax dollars than i guess i can't be too upset. And besides, i wouldn't want to spend two years in jail for $9000.00, would you.
PS. Cassel i would probably hide that video from our 1996 new years party that you and i had just too be safe.
Gruber, I think what you failed to understand is that this kid was an awesome athlete, with potential for college and pro football career. He held Calvin "the freak" Johnson (yes the detroit lion's rookie) to 4 catches in 2 games in highschool.
Why wouldn't we want to give him money? I mean, he wasn't a pro yet, but he was on his way. He should have gotten all charges dropped and then been given a full ride to Florida or VT or something. I mean, come on what kind of message are we sending, that you actually get punished for breaking the law? That isn't going to help future generations of pro athletes. They might not want to strive for athletic perfection if they might be treated like normal people.
All joking aside, I do think the sentence was a little harsh, but oh well. I do have the same issues as you do about who does and does not get scholorships no matter who the person/foundation is that is giving them the money.
I think the point that Gruber was trying to make, and if he wasn't then I am now is that this situation is getting national attention. What kind of message is it sending to youth? Go ahead and commit immoral/illegal acts. Even if we catch you and punish you we will then revoke it and try and buy your forgivenes. Bad message in my opinion.
Why does our society try to fix everything with money?
Personally, I don't think he should have been put in jail at all...considering that it WAS consensual and that BOTH parties were minors. I don't think that minors should be having sex, but I do believe that it is their decision. From health classes and whatnot, I believe that at 15 and 17, kids know what they're doing and all about the risks involved.
That said, I definitely think that there should be punishment for the video-taping of minors engaging in sexual acts. To me, that is unacceptable. There should definitely be a punishment for videos of minors, but the ruling against him was just for oral sex. A ruling that he spend 10 years in jail!!! That is ridiculous!
I read a little more about the situation and found that had Genarlow had intercourse with this girl, had he gotten her pregnant, he could only have been charged with a misdemeanor and punished up to 12 months.
10 years for oral sex is out of line, and unlike a few of the posters, I believe that he should be compensated in some way. According to articles I read, this kid got good grades, had no criminal history at all, and was a phenomenal athlete. Now, he has spent 2 years in jail, and will never be offered a scholarship for college.
Call me an immoral person if you want, but these two people were only 2 years apart in age, both minors, and made a stupid decision. The stupid decision has already ruined a life, and $9,000 won’t even come close to repairing the damage that has been done to this kid.
Gruber, I agree with you that it aint easy being male, middle-class and white. On another note, if you graduated at the top of your class and got good ACT scores, a public college would have given you a very nice academic scholarship. I’m not trying to be mean, just saying...
I agree that his sentence was harsh. What I'm arguing is more with Gruber on the back end that he doesn't deserve to get any pitty money. To me this is just another case for Mr. Jackson to use to try and show that blacks are still persecuted and to gets some face time on national TV. I'm not saying that unfair treatment doesn't happen in America anymore, but for gosh sakes, they are just going to keep using it as a crutch and as an excuse to not help themselves.
But, I will also argue for the sake of arguing that it couldn't be consensual. First of all. The kid was over 2 years older than her. He was Mr. popular at school and a great athlete. The Girl is barely coming out of puberty, of course she is going to try get popular by blowing the star athlete. I do not believe that she, in that situation, is capable of making a logical decision regardless of what she was taught in health class or whether she says she wanted to or not.
If you guys want to discuss affirmative action, I'll be more than happy to engage...but this isn't the issue to base it off of. If the money was in fact donated, then I really don't see why it is any of our concern.
At my school, they had scholorships that could only be won by hockey players. Recently, there was a news story where a girl's parents died and they threw a rock concert to raise money for her college fund.
If you think the people who gave this guy 9,000 dollars (which, as it was pointed out, doesn't come close to replacing two years of his life) are in the wrong, then consider it nothing more than them throwing their money away.
It's important to abide by the law, but it's also important to grant some leeway when it comes to common sense situations. Verdicts are not handed out by computer programs. Also, when you take an honest look at our prison system and see how close to broke it is...I can't believe we're spending tax dollars locking this kid up.
A 17 year old having sex with a girl 2 years younger...fill in whatever hypothetical context you want (he's so popular, she was so overwhelmed), I question if it adds up to a conviction of any kind, much less 10 years in prison.
I'm not saying that race played an important role in the sentencing, but insert familiar faces into this scenario, your buddy from highschool and a random sophomore, you'd call for his release too.
Whew!
I respectfully disagree with some things you say and on some issues I think I might be a little mis-understood.
The problem I have with the money is that there isn't an unlimited amount so it could have gone to someone more deserving. Plus, it gets played up and sends a bad message because the story is all over the national news. There were probably some people who donated to the push/rainbow organization who are not happy they gave the money to him.
I still have never said the kid deserved jail time. All I said is that his actions were wrong. Maybe he should have just gotten community service or maybe just a slap on the wrist. All I'm saying is that something needed to be done to show that his actions were wrong. It is unfortunate that the court system went overboard and this whole situation came about. In a way it is his own fault though. All his buddies pleaded guily and got bargain deals (I don't know what they agreed to, but they obviously weren't in jail with him), but this kid said he did nothing wrong and tried to fight it. Now he is the picture of sympathy from the nation.
P Corcs, much of my post wasn't responding to you particularly. So if you thought I misunderstood what you were saying, I probably wasn't directing it at you.
I just want to emphasis that if it is money based on donation, then it's at the mercy of the same rules that all donations are subjegated to. I didn't particularly enjoy that 3,000 dollars were given each year to a hockey player (of which there were usually two or three kids applying for it). Should any group decide to donate to a seemingly controversial cause or individual...they suffer the consequences as a group. Maybe they'll lose support, or membership. That's their perogative.
I guess we inherently disagree on the severity of what you think is a crime. That's fine. I understand and respect that. It's my opinion, nothing more. What I'm arguing is this: When there is a legal situation where a vast majority of people agree that a mistake was been made, then we shouldn't be afraid to rectify the situation out a fear to go against procedure.
That's a dangerous statement to make when applied to larger institutions and issues, but again...there is a common sense factor that needs to be recognized.
This probably doesn't need to be said. We seem to agree.
Wow...
You guys were busy today.
Interesting argument. I think that Pat is right on point... Yes, the sentence was harsh (extremely harsh.) However, this kid did break the law and therefore, should have been punished. He was, which is good. And although the sentence was unfair (which everyone agrees) there is absolutely no reason this kid should be given money.
Giving him any sum of money proclaims a wrong message, "Sorry you broke the law sir. We shouldn't have sentenced you (wrongfully?). Here is some money. Get yourself some new kicks and a tight pair of jeans... you got a party to attend."
Post a Comment