1) Claiming these kids’ lives would be “ruined”.
Trayvon Martin’s life was ruined. George Zimmerman’s was not. Inconvenience isn’t ruin. Consequences aren’t ruin.
Predatory cultures don’t meet up for community coffee and soul-search about things they believe aren’t wrong.
Again, I say this respectfully, but that projected identification and forgiveness has done more to perpetuate systemic racism than angry protests AGAINST racism have ever done.
Sharks are predators. They don’t become dolphins by merely adding some dolphins.
“...but this will be so bad for their college dreams.” is an answer that fixes zero Brock Turners and instead creates 100 more.
Should we feel sorry for the ways in which privilege and racism has turned into consequences and public scorn?
Not one damn bit. Maybe the next kid will think twice. That’s success.