Why we shouldn't be watching the Ray Rice video -

[TBF]

Don't watch the Ray Rice video. Don't ask why Janay Palmer married him. Ask why anyone would blame a victim
That we feel entitled to images of a woman being abused speaks volumes not only about the man who battered her, but about us

Hannah Giorgis
theguardian.com, Monday 8 September 2014 16.20 EDT

Early Monday morning, TMZ released a “cleaned up” video of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice beating Janay Palmer, his then-fiancée and current wife, in the elevator of an Atlantic City casino. The footage shows Rice, the 206lb (95kg) NFL star, delivering a blow to Palmer that slams her against the elevator railing – that knocks her unconscious. He then drags her body, limp and unresponsive, out of the elevator with a shocking lack of apparent concern.

After investigating the accusations against Rice – to which the Baltimore Ravens running back pleaded not guilty and entered an intervention program for first-time offenders to avoid a trial – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell handed him a paltry two-game suspension in July. Thousands of people, far and wide, called into question the NFL’s judgment for such a featherweight punishment of an act so violent.

Now, within a matter of hours following the release of the tape, as those questions ratcheted up, the Ravens have terminated Rice’s contract. Strangely but not surprisingly, scrutiny has also increased around the woman’s behavior – the woman who, by the looks of that very tape, was brutalized.

That we feel entitled (and excited) to access gut-wrenching images of a woman being abused – to be entranced by the looks of domestic violence – speaks volumes not only about the man who battered her, but also about we who gaze in parasitic rapture. We click and consume, comment and carry on. What are we saying about ourselves when we place (black) women’s pain under a microscope only to better consume the full kaleidoscope of their suffering?

Much more here -- http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/08/ray-rice-domestic-violence-video-janay-palmer-victim-blaming

[Enrique]

1. I was wondering about that

and I heard Dave Zirin make the same point today on Amy Goodman's show. He said Chris Matthews was playing the video over and over in a loop while they were discussing the matter.

[leftstreet]

2. DURec

[Quantess]

3. What makes this particular assault

something we shouldn't watch? We see videos of police brutality, but nobody argues that we shouldn't watch it.

[TBF]

4. I think you need to re-read the article -

we are talking about different types of situations here. Do you think there's a chance Mr. Rice is going to be pulling you over when you're driving down the street in your neighborhood?

[Quantess]

9. I read the article, and I don't agree.

I don't think the argument is compelling.
It's obviously a positive thing that people are discussing the video and domestic abuse in general.

[TBF]

12. Agree that the discussion is really needed -

I actually posted this because I can see both sides of the argument and that kind of concerned me. Granted it's abusing her again, but then again it is finally nailing the asshole. So, mixed emotions for me.

[truedelphi]

5. A strange world we live in these days, isn't it?

We demand that the torturers be punished, and we are reprimanded for our sanctimony in doing that.

Now we are told that the salacious behavior that we witness on video and that is arising from Mr Rice's violence against his fiancee is on us - for watching the video?

As I see it, the video demonstrates proof of Rice's guilt - that this was not some minor event, but a sadistic and barbaric crime against a young woman that had done nothing to deserve it.

And with that proof, the Ravens' management team's initial decison that all Rice needed was a minor suspension is also proven wrong.

[TBF]

7. I didn't say that the Ravens' management team

shouldn't watch it.

But then again I am not one of those who believe they had never seen it ...

[truedelphi]

15. So you do think it is something that the management team should watch.

Then we the public, who offer up the money to that team on a weekly basis during the football season, we should have the information as well.

[BrotherIvan]

18. +1 This

I, as many others watched in horror as Rodney King was beaten by officers. I have seen just a short snippet of this video, and I didn't watch it for thrills. We are witnesses. Our outrage made his current consequences possible. This idea of telling us to close our eyes and look away is becoming insidious. It smacks of not wanting to show the carnage of war and the bodies of soldiers.

[TBF]

20. Yes - I can see that argument.

That is why I'm torn on the subject. As someone who experienced abuse earlier in life I am always going to see the victim first, but you and others are correct that we can't sweep these incidents under the rug and perhaps showing the horror is the way to reach people. This incident has certainly been the conversation for the past two days in forums/social media and that needs to happen. Thanks for your comments.

[BrotherIvan]

21. I appreciate your comments in this thread

You have brought a lot of civility and open discussion to the thread, and I want to say thank you.

I would just like to say that I think turning away helps the abuser far more than the abused. The abuser always demands silence and hiding. I understand that the victim may feel that this video is an invasion of her privacy and hates the way the media is making a spectacle of it. I empathize fully with that. But I do believe that the discussion has been helpful. Though I don't think any POS who abuses anyone won't be hindered one bit, I think it will help people learn to speak up and try to help victims. I think people are learning that there are resources out there. I hope so. Abuse of any kind is never ok. Not ever. I hope Jaynah knows that there are many people who are supporting her and will help her leave her abuser if she so chooses.

[ann---]

6. I don't feel "entitled" to

access and view that video, but I am certainly glad that it was made public. Not so that people can be voyeurs but that justice can be served and this animal charged with a crime, besides being fired from his job.

It is disgusting when TV news shows play the horrible scene over and over again. I feel so bad for her. He not only hurt her physically, but he threw her around like a rag doll after knocking her unconscious - so now whoever views that video can see what he is really like.

Just look at that girl's face in that photo. She looks totally defeated. I hope she has the courage to realize that what he did was NOT love and she leaves him.

[TBF]

10. I had to read the article a couple of times because

I was torn on whether I agreed or not. I think there is a lot of value in making it public. That said I can also see why it is another assault against the victim.

That is part of why I posted it - to see what the reactions would be.

[one_voice]

8. This, this, this...

10000000x's this:

That we feel entitled to images of a woman being abused speaks volumes not only about the man who battered her, but about us

My comment on this:

It should have been prosecuted...

but I don't see why people need to see it. Do we need to see children being abused? Do we need to see rapes to know the brutality? A written description would have sufficed. I'm certainly not suggesting it be swept under the rug.

Respectfully, she's being victimized over and over again. She's entitled to her privacy. Not to have probably one of the worst if not the worst day of her life on blast for the whole world to see.

Not too mention I'd bet good money that someone was paid handsomely for that video. Sickening.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5508905

and this:

Let me be clear...

I don't want anything hidden. I want him held accountable.

What I disagree with is the video. She's entitled to her privacy and not to be judged and tried in the media or on message boards. She's the victim. I find it strange that the people who are yelling the loudest about her being the victim have no problem with re-victimizing her over and over with this video. Metaphorically punching her in the face again and again....

The video is not needed. It could have been a written description.

When they entered the elevator they appeared to be having a disagreement. After a few minutes Rice punched Janay so hard that she fell hitting her head on the rail in the elevator car which left her unconscious for at least a minute and half.

Something like that. Do we really need to see her being punched? No I don't think so.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5509210

[Nye Bevan]

11. I think the shock and revulsion that resulted from people watching the video

was a good thing. People should be aware of this stuff.

[stevenleser]

14. Agreed. nt

[stevenleser]

13. I initially had the same reaction to holocaust video documentaries

The images of naked, starving bodies some dead, some half alive seemed profane and it seemed wrong that people were looking at them, particularly knowing that members of my family were among the dead and survivors.

But then I realized that it is important for people to see things like this in all their horror. People should not be able to shield themselves from it. They should see how terrible it is and understand what it is about. Then lets see people try to defend it or pretend it doesn't happen or that it isn't so bad.

[CentralMass]

16. The victim needs help. The video exposed

a dark incident that was being swept under the rug. Enabling an abuser, or letting the woman that he abused convince herself that letting her finance beat her into unconsciousness is ok is what is wrong.

[frazzled]

17. Wrong: we need to put a face on this kind of violence

Just as "outing" (a very controversial practice in its time) led to the recognition of the fact that good gay people are among us in all walks of life, and eventually to acceptance, tolerance, and laws promoting equal rights ... we need to "out" abuse, but this time with the OPPOSITE goal and effect: to end it.

If we keep abuse closeted and hidden, people will continue to fail to see its prevalence and its horror. We need to show exactly what we're talking about here: not just a push or a shove we might imagine in our minds but the life-threatening physical abuse that has ended thousands of women's lives; and we need to see that it happens among the rich and the poor, in all walks of life. Only then can we begin to deal with it and work to end it.

[Android3.14]

19. Guilters gotta guilt

Thanks Mom.