Accused have rights, too | TheNews.org (My article in my university's newspaper)

PierceHarlan · 2011-12-05T15:03:43+00:00

This is an article I submitted to my campus' newspaper that was published in last week's edition. Tell me what you think. I'm awaiting the inevitable letters to the editor, which unfortunately I'll have to wait for until next semester. :(

Lawtonfogle · 2011-12-05T20:40:20+00:00

While I overall agree with the article, there are three major points I can see you being attacked over.

1.

This sentence right here is going to be an issue:

Better a guilty man go free than an innocent man to have his reputation sullied by a false accusation of rape.

You need something more like "Better a guilty man go free than an innocent man suffer at the hands of a justice system that just assumes him guilty."

The way it is currently worded is 'better to release guilty man than innocent man face accusation', which is a bad dichotomy. The dichotomy should be 'guilty man walk free vs. innocent man convicted'.

2.

19/15 is too big an age range for many people who just hear the numbers. A lot of people will feel the actions were justified because they are still caught up in the witch hunt mindset.

3.

You seem to be defending child pornography. Even if it is of a 17 year old made in a state where the age of consent is 16, that will not go over well. What is needed is for you to point out that an 18 year old who takes a sexual picture of his 17 year old long term girlfriend can face more time in prison for producing child pornography than a 40 year old who seduces and raped a 13 year old. Yes, you kinda make that point, but it needs to be stronger, otherwise people reading it will just be like "Did he just defend child pornography. Off with his balls!"

2011-12-05T15:17:41+00:00

Well said.

Seicair · 2011-12-05T19:42:45+00:00

Nicely written.

AryoBarzan · 2011-12-05T21:25:49+00:00

Excellent job, Devin. It takes courage to speak out on these matters and not enough people are able to voice their opinions like you. It is through individuals like yourself that we will finally gain independence from the wraths of a feminized judicial system.

pcarvious · 2011-12-05T18:03:04+00:00

Might want to do a followup on Romeo and Juliet laws. Not all states have them, but they could help a lot of people in the situation you describe.

hopeless_case · 2011-12-06T01:57:55+00:00

I really liked the way you structured your piece. You would cite a little theory, rephrase it as common sense, then cite a real world case that illustrates the consequences of the theory. You go through several rounds of this. That structure lends rhetorical force to the piece. you are a writer of some skill. Bravo.

Bobsutan · 2011-12-06T07:34:41+00:00

[permanently deleted]

Bobsutan · 2011-12-08T17:46:14+00:00

Better TEN guilty men go free than an innocent man to have his reputation sullied by a false accusation of rape.

FTFY

CertainlyHeisenberg · 2011-12-05T18:31:17+00:00

So you want to take nudie pictures of 16 year olds?

Title	Accused have rights, too \| TheNews.org (My article in my university's newspaper)
Author	[deleted]
Upvotes	43
Comments	19
Date	December 5, 2011 3:02 PM UTC (14 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/n153l/accused_have_rights_too_thenewsorg_my_article_in/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/accused-have-rights-toothenewsorg-my-article-in-my.1030943 https://theredarchive.com/post/1030943

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