[Trigger warning]
As Shakesville's (reluctant) resident expert on the rapist douchebag Ben Roethlisberger and the vast amount of rape apologia dedicated to his case in the media, I bring you two new editorials. (Personally, I preferred when I was just Shakesville's resident expert on Britpop, but what are ya gonna do?)
First up is Frank Deford's lovely piece from the venerable NPR. I'm not suggesting you actually read it, so I'll sum it up for you.
Deford contends that since Roethlisberger can throw a ball well (or whatever it is he does exactly; I am no sports aficionado) he shouldn't be a role model (correct), and that his off-field "behavior" (as a serial rapist) should be ignored (wrong.)
And then there is Jillian Conochan's article at the less-venerable (I assume) Daily Getup.
Conochan suggests, to put it bluntly, that Roethlisberger's victims are really to blame. Hey, they put themselves in the position to be raped. Plus, some fictional dude from Entourage (I had to google that; I'm no HBO subscriber) is a douche, so it's okay for Roethlisberger to rape people.
Anyway, that's the current commentary on Roethlisberger and his "behavior." Is any of it surprising? I wish it were.
More info as it develops.
[H/t to Shakers KatherineSpins and Momo.]
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