The take-home lesson for women is that if you don’t want to be raped, don’t put yourself in a vulnerable position. The day judges are stripped of their discretion to issue “lenient” sentences for rape is the day judges start applying the appropriate criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt more rigorously.
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The law-and-order and women-as-victims folks should be wary of what they ask for. Rather than acquit, his compromise was to find the man guilty and then invoke mitigating circumstances to reduce the normal sentence, bringing condemnation upon himself. It is apparent that the judge in this case had reasonable doubts about the rape allegation. And when they are uncertain about the facts, judges typically search for a compromise position. In my career as a family lawyer, I came to realize that judges are abysmal at discerning liars from truth-tellers. Re: No Jail For Rapist Because Victim ‘Wanted To Party ,’ Feb. Today's letters: 'Take home' lessons on rape Mike Fegelman, executive director, HONESTReporting Canada, Toronto. Hamas’ words, and more importantly, its deeds should be the yardstick that measures if this group has repudiated violence and become moderate. Until this group publicly renounces violence, ends the capacity for violence (stops smuggling deadly weapons/rockets and destroys its arms depots ), amends its charter calling for the destruction of Israel and the genocide of Jews and stops indoctrinating their children towards martyrdom, I will believe that this organization has undergone a Palestinian paradigm shift of sorts. ” As if it was a badge of honour, Hamas boasts the following “achievements” since its inception: “11,093 rockets fired into southern Israel, 1,117 armed attacks, 87 suicide bombings, 1,365 Israelis killed, 1,848 Hamas “martyrs.” As for Hamas, they have proven time and again that their commitment to a tactical hudna or truce - replenishing their strength during the quiet periods - is only a means to return with increased deadliness. According to Ismail Haniyeh, the de facto leader of Hamas in Gaza: “We affirm that armed resistance is our strategic option and the only way to liberate our land, from the sea to the River. Until the inverse is true, Israel and the international community cannot rely on speculative reporting claiming that it’s “set to reject violence.” Indeed, as this article itself points out, Hamas’ own pronouncements contradict notions that they are becoming pragmatic. Hamas praises death instead of celebrating life. Today's letters: Don’t believe that Hamas has rejected violence I can only think of one reason why abortion advocates are afraid of Linda - they are afraid she may be successful in putting them out of business. I have had the privilege of watching Linda counsel a young woman who was planning to have an abortion. Linda stands on the sidewalk with her sign, hoping that she will get women to rethink their decisions and consider the other options. She has seen them confused, frightened and emotionally distraught. Do we really need five police officers to arrest a 63-year-old grandmother who stands outside an abortion facility holding a sign with the words “Why Mom? When I have so much love to give”? Is she really a criminal, a threat to our society? Why are those in the business of doing abortions afraid of this woman? Linda Gibbons has spent most of her life offering help to women who find themselves dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Re: Anti-Abortion Crusader Arrested Once Again, Dec.
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Today's letters: This woman is not committing a crime Smith gives tacit approval of Hunsperger’s appalling remarks by passing the buck, she reminds us why we didn’t elect her as premier of Alberta, and for this I am grateful. In the end, Albertans exercised their freedom to vote by rejecting the bigoted views, firewall politics and regressive outlook of the Wildrose party. Smith’s refusal to take responsibility for one of her fellow candidates speaks volumes about the type of leader she would have been. I think freedom of speech, and freedom of religion are alive and well, as evidenced during the Wildrose campaign, and that Ms.
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Selley seems to think freedom of speech is so beleaguered in Canada that we need people like Smith to remind us that a few mean words won’t hurt us. I, too, applaud Danielle Smith’s refusal to apologize for Allan Hunsperger’s remarks (that gays will “suffer the rest of eternity in the lake of fire, hell, a place of eternal suffering”), although not for the same reason Chris Selley does. Re: Speaking Their Mind, Chris Selley, June 15.