Perusing the wonderful world of the web, I came across a board already posting on the highly publicized Kobe Bryant, who stands accused of sexual assault. A topic that I had already intended to blog about this morning, the following is my reply to a poster who believes, (as do many) that sexual assault is really a "small incident being blown into huge proportions."

I will go on the record, that while these allegations have yet to be heard by a jury, the Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert was quoted to having said, that he ''can prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.''

Still there is a presumption of innocence for Bryant, which this author will respect, until such time as he has been found guilty of committing the crime of which he has been accused.

The following is my post in its entirety:

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A poster writes:

"Mike Tyson has done hundreds of things that were either morally wrong, against the law, or both, but look at the ratings for his recent fights. "
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Sad but true, it amazes me that Mike Tyson is still allowed to show his face in the public spotlight and that there are people who are more than willing to forgive his grievances. Far from being rehabilitated, and certainly without any help from his chosen profession, Mike Tyson's history of violence is far from being a thing of the past. But this post isn't about Mike Tyson, the convicted rapist, it's about the allegations against Kobe Bryant.

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A Poster continues:

This is not like a murder charge, it was Kobe having sex. This is a small incident being blown into huge proportions because of his fame. His talent will make up for his poor judgment in this instance, but he has to be careful from now on.
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It is neither a murder charge or one for having sex, that Bryant is being accused of. It seems that the mass population of Americans, have a hard time understanding the meaning of the term "having sex." "Having sex" implies that it was a consensual act between two consenting adults. Forgive my overuse of the word consent, but I feel the need to make the point that the charges against Bryant are for SEXUAL ASSAULT. No where in the definition of sexual assault, will you find any form of the word consent.

I hardly think allegations of rape can be construed as a "small incident being blown into huge proportions." The fact that Bryant is a public figure, does put this case into the national spotlight and therefore will be sure to produce a media frenzy. Opinions will go back and forth, between those of us who know the facts and those of us who think we know the facts. But truth be told, his guilt or his innocence is up to a jury to decide. A jury who will be privy to more information than we would ever hope to know.

I ask all of you out there to consider how you would feel, if the woman pressing these charges against Bryant, were your sister, your mother, your daughter or even a close friend. Would that simple fact make you reassess your initial opinion, would it make a difference?

I for one, would like to believe that no woman would ever "Cry rape," where there was none. Has it happened in the past? Unfortunately the answer is yes. But that doesn't make every victim a liar, it makes the perpetrator of those lies indecent human beings for slandering the life of the accused and for every victim that was only trying to tell the truth.

Rape is a hateful crime, against the body, soul and mind of a person. It takes away a victims right to live her life unfettered by images of horror, terror and grief. To think that any victim can go on unscathed is naive, as rape is a crime against memory, once the physical body has begun to heal.

My only hope for this case and every other case of sexual assault, is that justice be done and the guilty be punished, no matter who that person might be.

Narrow views are a direct result of miseducation.

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