I kind of wish I wasn’t writing a blog right now. I think if I wasn’t writing a blog I’d pay less attention to the news media, and I probably would have taken an “I can’t cope with knowing this” position on the Louise Nicholas case. As it is I’ve been reading the papers, and listening to morning report and checkpoint on-line (talking of which, Radio New Zealand’s headline for the story is: “Alleged rape victim Louise Nicholas breaks down in court” – fuck off radio New Zealand).
I feel almost invasive writing about it, at this point. They cleared the court while she gave evidence today, but the newspapers are reporting her testimony as if they’re enjoying the salacious side of it.
What I’m scared of is the cross-examination. There are three defendants, and each of their lawyers will be able to try and rip her apart, one after another, with 20 people from the media, and the men who raped her watching. I’m sure I’ll write more about this in the next few days.
I just wish I could offer some form of support to Louise Nicholas. By giving testimony, even though she’s going to be treated like shit, then she may be able to show that even the powerful are not immune.
Also posted at my blog.
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Hmm. I hate to be a stereotypical male and offer a solution to a problem, rather than a sympathetic ear. But my intuition tells me (perhaps wrongly) that what you’d actually find sympathetic is at least a gesture toward a solution.
Not to the problem of rape (I wish I could fix that one) but to the problem of not being able to offer support to Louise Nicholas.
I would suggest creating a single-purpose web blog. Use Google’s Blogger; it’s free and easy. Make it the “Louise Nicholas Support Forum”, impose a simple barrier against trolls &c, and ask feminist sites for links. If the maintenance time grew/grows onerous, put up a “please donate for site expenses” box. Take about fifteen minutes to set it up, and then as much time and energy as you can put into promoting it by asking people for links. Contact her and let her know the site exists. If you need assistance setting it up, I’ll be glad to lend a hand.
As well, the infinitesimal promotional energy of my tiny empire are at your disposal.
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So far, this trial seems to be an awful repeat of Our Guys by Bernard Lefkowitz: it’s the same problem of victims nearly being prosecuted themselves. It’s a riveting book that you should take a look at.
And it’s a disgusting phenomenon.
I would support a web-site for Louise Nicholas, those guys are foul, odious monsters!!!
Aussie foot-teams, and rotorua police, what is it about hypermasculine, testosterone fuelled culture want group sex with one woman?
However I have a horrible feeling they’ll get off, and part of me thinks that maybe they were so arrogant they couldn’t concieve of it as rape, if so is it really rape?
I wish there could have been a truth and reconciliation type commision, like they had in South Africa, so monstorous things can be openly talked about…instead of this adversarial, black or white, no shades of grey…there could be an open discussion of why a woman under duress would feel the need to acquiese with socially appeasing smiles etc. If they only said to her, “We are sorry if you felt we coerced you into doing things you didn’t want to do, it was the arrogant police culture of the time, and we are sorry you have felt so hurt by it”.
But their demenour in the witness stand, only goes to show they are still pigs.
She is a gutsy woman, and good on her.
I am for the suggested ‘Louise Nicholas Support Forum’ idea. I am disgusted byt he manner in which Nicholas was on trial more than her attackers.
I am really interested to read the information supplied in the leaflets by Grace Millar etc. which shed some light on the information that we are not allowed to know and which was discluded as evidence in the trial.
Injustices in Aotearoa-N.Z are many and the old addage applies to a system which selectively operates to favour a few over many.
See no evil
Hear no evil
Speak no evil
http://threesimians.blogspot.com/
I’m a Kiwi living in Canada. I read the Hearld and the Press every day. I’ve been following the rape trial as well. The arrogance of the police in 1985 and 1986 is still alive today. In October 2004 my daughter was raped by two American’s who were in Canada for an N.F.L football game. The first police officer to respond was, get this, from N Z. His first comment to her was “I know alot of girls who go out at night for fun and then call the police in the morning because they feel guilty.” We know he is from N Z because the bastard’s personal license plate is Kia Ora 1. After he said that to her she shut down and didn’t want anything to do with the police or ever seeing these guys again. She is gay. That is obvious with the way she dresses but because she was at a bar these guys were at and was singing and drinking and so were they the Crown Attorney decided not to press any charges. She could appeal this but because of the cop’s comment she just wants to forget it happened. I, as a mother, can do nothing because of her age. She was 22 when it happened. My heart goes out to Louise Nicholas for having the strength to face her attackers. I to would like to know what is in the flyer’s. Obviously the suppression was for the defendants and not the victim. After all we got to read all her testimony.