I am writing in response to the letter from Patricia Carter of Bethel. (Aug. 15)

Ms. Carter writes about the rape charges against Kobe Bryant, and says “When a woman voluntarily goes to a man’s room, there is an implicit understanding that ‘something’ may happen, and, at the very least, she puts herself in possible harm’s way.”

Gee, if I am crossing a busy street and I am hit by a car, am I to blame for “putting myself in harm’s way?” Maybe you could argue that I was foolish for crossing that street, but that would not mean that I deserved to be hurt by someone else’s actions.

I am curious about this “implicit understanding.” How can we possibly know what the woman in question was thinking, or what she understood? Furthermore, when a woman voluntarily goes to a man’s room, she does not automatically give up her right to be safe or her right to say “No.”

It seems that the only “implicit understanding” here is Ms. Carter’s implication that this woman is lying. I don’t know what happened in that hotel room, and neither does Ms. Carter, but the District Attorney has decided that there is enough evidence of a sexual assault in this case to proceed with a prosecution. Ultimately, the court will decide.

In the meantime, let’s support the right of a person to report a sexual assault and pursue justice without this kind of victim blaming rhetoric.

Marty McIntyre, Auburn

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