Spent a few hours at the bookstore in Center City reading Missoula, Jon Krakauer's latest examination of just one controversial topic in the United States, that is, rape. College rape, specifically, which is rampant across college campuses in the US. The book focuses on Missoula, Montana, where rape amongst college females is largely underreported in the community. And when I say it's a controversial topic, I mean people are still divided on the whole issue. There is the victim blaming approach, the alcohol influence, the regret, both parties needing to be held responsible, character assessment, male entitlement, female naiveté, false accusations, and so on and so on.
One does wonder why there is such an epidemic of college rape in America, but by merely looking around at the way a society conducts itself should provide enough answers, instead of constantly repeating, "rape is a crime". Is this just avoidance in confronting the root structure of one's culture, and what it generates? Because that would be dismissive, and therefore irresponsible.
Krakauer, whose books of which I've always been a fan clearly takes a biased stance on this issue, as do most liberals. That is the way of progressivism, and you can't blame a writer for using his or her voice and authority to align with a reformist position in combating a growing problem contributing to the ongoing neglect of women's rights. While certain cases of college rape in America specifically may come off as murky to many, the fight for justice extends to the women around the world who are subjected to rape, cases of which are clear and irrefutable, and the system that fails them continuously is the real crime in this modern age.
If you're familiar with Krakauer's investigate journalism style of writing, and are interested in the subject matter set specifically in the context of American culture, give it a read.
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