Where’s the outrage? Where’s the feminist fury? If Robati had been white and played league for the Roosters, would the media be falling over themselves to explain his “disadvantaged upbringing”, his “hope for redemption”, and his tough life growing up in a house with 15 others? The sob story practically wrote itself before the jury even came back.
He wasn’t convicted of rape, fair enough. That’s the jury’s decision. But within minutes, he was back on his feet, admitting to another assault. He grabbed a woman’s neck, breast and waist while she was out with her boyfriend. She didn’t ask for it. She didn’t consent. She pushed him away. A friend had to step in. Security saw it, contacted her, and a formal complaint was made to police. That’s not some misunderstood flirtation. That’s sexual assault. And no conviction was recorded.
No conviction.
Why? Because he was young. Because he had promise. Because he played league. Because of trauma. Because of Māori culture. Because of anything but accountability.
Robati’s lawyer says he’s “hopeful” of returning to the NRL. Are you serious? He shouldn’t be allowed within a hundred metres of a professional sports club, let alone representing one on the field. This isn’t a man who made one mistake, apologised and moved on. This is a pattern of entitlement and predatory behaviour that has been minimised, excused and waved away by everyone from his defence team to the judicial system.
We still live in a country where the co-leader of a political party stood on a street corner and proudly declared white cis men to be the source of all violence in the world. No nuance. No reflection. No mention of cases like this. Of men like this.
If Marama Davidson had any consistency, she’d be demanding that men like Robati face the full consequences of their actions. She’s nowhere to be seen. Because this doesn’t fit the narrative. Because the race and identity box isn’t ticked in the “problematic” column. And because, apparently, some perpetrators are more politically useful than others.
Women don’t feel safer because a jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict. Women don’t feel safer knowing that a man can admit to indecent assault, have it called “brazen” and “entitled” by a judge, and still walk away with no conviction. And women certainly don’t feel safer when the people who claim to stand up for them go silent the second it’s not a white cis male in the dock.
So again, Marama. Still think white cis men are the cause of all the violence?
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
He wasn’t convicted of rape, fair enough. That’s the jury’s decision. But within minutes, he was back on his feet, admitting to another assault. He grabbed a woman’s neck, breast and waist while she was out with her boyfriend. She didn’t ask for it. She didn’t consent. She pushed him away. A friend had to step in. Security saw it, contacted her, and a formal complaint was made to police. That’s not some misunderstood flirtation. That’s sexual assault. And no conviction was recorded.
No conviction.
Why? Because he was young. Because he had promise. Because he played league. Because of trauma. Because of Māori culture. Because of anything but accountability.
Robati’s lawyer says he’s “hopeful” of returning to the NRL. Are you serious? He shouldn’t be allowed within a hundred metres of a professional sports club, let alone representing one on the field. This isn’t a man who made one mistake, apologised and moved on. This is a pattern of entitlement and predatory behaviour that has been minimised, excused and waved away by everyone from his defence team to the judicial system.
We still live in a country where the co-leader of a political party stood on a street corner and proudly declared white cis men to be the source of all violence in the world. No nuance. No reflection. No mention of cases like this. Of men like this.
If Marama Davidson had any consistency, she’d be demanding that men like Robati face the full consequences of their actions. She’s nowhere to be seen. Because this doesn’t fit the narrative. Because the race and identity box isn’t ticked in the “problematic” column. And because, apparently, some perpetrators are more politically useful than others.
Women don’t feel safer because a jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict. Women don’t feel safer knowing that a man can admit to indecent assault, have it called “brazen” and “entitled” by a judge, and still walk away with no conviction. And women certainly don’t feel safer when the people who claim to stand up for them go silent the second it’s not a white cis male in the dock.
So again, Marama. Still think white cis men are the cause of all the violence?
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
4 comments:
So project the consequences onto the woman to protect the brute. She didn't ask to be assaulted. So why should she bear the consequences of some one else's excuses?
The message- it is less important that an innocent woman is hurt than a young brutish male get a sound or third or fourth chance.
And/ or it is less important that a. Innocent woman is hurt than a brute gets another chance to play football.
Medieval thinking here.
Yes, and how many never even make it to the dock because of the leniency attitude of our enforcement officers? While admittedly typically a different level of crime, you only had to watch Police Ten 7 to see more 'accommodation' in action.
Mr Kahurangi, selection is not only for sports teams , Your contributions suggest you could ACTually be a valuable member of a political team. Just musing not offering or a politicl decision maker. .
No - tribal.
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