THE EDITOR, Sir:I WAS really disturbed by the report of Rev. Herro Blair's sermon blaming women for inciting rape by wearing skimpy, sexy clothes. Whereas Rev. Blair could be understood if he preached to his congregation about skimpy clothes being immoral, to equate it to an incentive to rape is wrong.
All the empirical data point to rape being a violent crime based on the needs of warp minded men to control, degrade and exercise power over women. This is why most cases of rape are committed by persons who are known to the victims (e.g. relatives, family friends, ex-spouses and dating partners).
Its ironic that this sermon might have more to encourage rape, by blaming the victim, instead of any skimpy clothes that women might wear. This is because by blaming the victim it will make them unwilling to report rape to the police because of perceived stigma and guilty feeling.
GREATEST DETERRENT
We are all aware (including Rev. Blair) that the greatest deterrent to rape, like any other crime, is the likelihood of the criminal being caught and punished. This chance is seriously decreased by victims having guilty conscience and not reporting these crimes.
In addition, rape victims are extremely traumatised and need counselling and compassion to overcome their ordeal. How can Rev. Blair with his warped, biased ideas about skimpy clothes rape victims, properly execute his responsibility as a pastor and trained counsellor to them?
Rev. Blair must realise that as a respected leader in Jamaica he has a greater responsibility in making public statements, especially when they are not factual, regardless of his personal bias. This is especially so when the subject is as sensitive as rape, and the statement is so pregnant with the possibility of doing so much harm.
I am, etc.,
AINSWORTH DICK
Kingston
