I am horrified by the lack of sensitivity and understanding reflected by your article about the 14-year-old girl being gang-raped. Not only is it bad enough for her to have this information splattered all over the front page of the
I am horrified by the lack of sensitivity and understanding reflected by your
article about the 14-year-old girl being gang-raped.
Not only is it bad
enough for her to have this information splattered all over the front page of
the newspaper, but to then have you quote the police as saying, “Her
injuries were not substantial,” is unbelievable.
Her injuries were
not substantial!? Where did you come from to believe that anyone, much less a
child, could endure a rape, much less a gang-rape and have her injuries NOT be
substantial.
This girl is a child. Not only is the act of rape violent,
but it will affect her in every way for many years, if not for her entire
lifetime. I call that SUBSTANTIAL.
As a therapist, I have worked with rape
victims, both male and female, for many years. Victims may develop panic
attacks, mood disorders (depression and anxiety), sexual dysfunction,
flashbacks, addictive behaviors, self-destructive or suicidal behaviors. Some
develop phobias and have extensive relationship problems. I call these results
of rape SUBSTANTIAL.
I hope that the police were misquoted in that quote
because if any one of them said it, he or she needs to be educated about the
consequences of rape on the victim.
To the victim (and family) of this
terrible act: Please get good counseling now so that you don’t develop the
problems mentioned above. The sooner that you get help with this trauma, the
better you will feel both now and in the future.
Claire
Hill,
Kapa’a
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The police report was not misquoted. The
report, dated 4/24/00, reads: “No substantial injuries to the victim.”)