An excellent book titled, "Blaming the Victim" by William Ryan, that I think was first editioned in 1973 has a section that I've always held in mind when reading about victims:
He writes: "Victim-blaming is cloaked in kindness and concern, and bears all the trappings and statistical furbelows of scientism; it is obscured by a perfumed haze of humanitarianism. In observing the process of blaming the victim, one tends to be confused and disoriented because those who practice this art display a deep concern for the victims that is quite genuine."
In summary this can be compared to when someone is talking to me about a sensitive subject and the preface it by saying, "No offense, BUT..."
It reminds me of the man who ran over his wife to try to kill her and then was angry at HER because this event made him late for work. Of this I know first hand.
Tom Bearson is not responsible for his own death. The events related to his behavior days and weeks before are reported in the news, in my opinion, to add color and heat to the article and make it more sensational. SHAME on the reporters for highlighting that information rather than concentrating on the FACT that there is someone or some people out there that actually murdered a young man!
Worth a second post just to emphasize the mentality behind victim blaming. Blaming Tom for walking late alone, taking risks, drinking in excess is exactly along the same lines as blaming rape victims for the way they dress.
Ultimately the truth is as simple as this,
the person that actually does the murder is responsible for the murder. They are responsible for not being able to control themselves enough to NOT murder someone. This is a basic FACT. It's exactly what separates a murderer from a non-murderer. Very simple.
Examples of thinking otherwise would be 1). Hitting someone and blaming them for hurting your hand. 2). Stabbing someone and blaming them for bleeding on the carpet. 3). Shaking a baby for crying. 4). Purposely driving your car into someone's car and then blaming them for the dents in your fender.
Blaming the victim for their actions in any fashion is the very first thin layer in the foundation for establishing JUSTIFICATION for abuse and murder. (That is a fundamental truth known to any defense lawyer, if you don't believe me call one up today).
The two issues MUST be separated by an enlightened society in order to bring about TRUE CHANGE.
A). A person is murdered in a case like this due to the inability of a homicidal prone person to control themselves.
Consider this scenario to clarify this
fact.
I meet Tom on the street at 3AM and I acknowledge this in my mind, "Oh there is someone else walking" and I just keep going. A homicidally prone person would begin interaction with him and that would end in a murder. The DIFFERENCE IS NOT WHAT THE VICTIM WAS DOING.
The difference is the person he encountered.
This is completely different in understanding what you SHOULD be doing to prevent this type of thing in your own personal safety. That is a completely different issue than what I am describing here.
(The ONLY exception to this is self-defense. Google the degrees in murder and all your questions shall be answered).
