A Perspective -Weinstein and the Grain of a Salt

By Korifaeus

While everyone supports every single woman having stepped forward to acknowledge they too fell victim to Harvey Weinstein’s indecent proposals, sexual harassment and groping, the ones accusing Harvey Weinstein of the most atrocious act, namely rape, are receiving some backlash.

They’re not being shamed or blamed in ways of Donna Karan’s unacceptable suggestion that, paraphrase:” Many ask for it by dressing too sexy”.
Rather met with criticism that two of the three women, Rose McGowan and Asia Argento, are tooting themselves as the brave initiators of speaking out about Movie Mogul Harvey Weinstein. After doing some research i discovered that some questioning the bravery of the three have a point, because being initiator of sort couldn’t be further from the truth; Rose McGowan and Italian actress Asia Argento were one of the last ones to come out, alleging to’ve been raped twenty years ago. Ashley Judd, amongst some others, were initiators due to speaking up in the New York Times Article of OCT 5, which broke the story wide open. Italian Model Ambra Battilana, though not named at the time,  was an initiator two years earlier, when she went directly to the police reporting having been groped by Weinstein, prompting the 2015 New York Times Article on Weinstein being investigated for sexual harassment.

That many young rape victims, whose rapists ended up behind bars, are appalled when learning that Miss McGowan and Miss Argento never reported the rape initially, through which they basically did nothing to prevent possible future raping of naive aspiring actresses, is understandable. Nor did they use their public persona and make these allegations public in talk shows, interviews and so on. Or, just a holler via twitter or Facebook in the past years.

Victims of rape and sexual assault are enraged, fully aware that they needed not suffer the trauma they had to endure, had previous victims been as brave as they and immediately call police, reporting the crime, bringing the men to justice.

But let’s take a closer look at what is being alleged by the three actresses accusing Harvey Weinstein of rape, and why some are met with criticism, in the fairest way possible.

Lysette Anthony, a British actress, filed a report with the police a little over a week ago, against Harvey Weinstein, who, according to her, raped her in 1982. He allegedly came to her home in London, then entered uninvited by basically pushing her out-of-the-way; then raped her with use of physical force, then let her lie there and left. Atrocious, shocking, scary and her descriptions of what occurred is 100% rape.

Whatever it was that behooved her not to call the police immediately is manifold. She is not the first rape victim not to report the crime, which is often due to the shock and trauma. Every person reacts differently to traumatic events. Some are so scared to see the rapist again they don’t report the crime and instead move to a different town, change their telephone numbers and at times even their names. Fear he would come after them and harm them again.
Some are so shaken they can’t think straight, can’t even remember the emergency telephone number and fall into a deep state off depression to never mention what occurred. Brain induced amnesia of the traumatic event is also not uncommon. Hence, not calling the police after falling victim to a violent crime is not unusual.

In hostage situations, suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, it’s not uncommon for the hostage to even become fond of the hostage taker and consent to sex. It’s a survival instinct to create a non-threatening atmosphere for the hostage taker to prevent physical harm and being killed.

What is unusual for free adults who’re not in any hostage situation, nor a dependent in a relationship, is to remain friends with one’s rapist and oblige to meeting invitations known to be of a sexual nature.
And that is the story according to Lysette Anthony. After the rape she continued meeting with him knowing the meetings would be of a sexual nature. She also shared that it was not a big deal to her because it would be over fast ( paraphrase of her own words) and she didn’t have to kiss him. ( Instantly reminiscent of ” Pretty Woman” who would not kiss her Johns).

Lysette argued that she felt pressured to see him, to assure her career wasn’t ruined by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. But there is a problem with her argument which is that Harvey Weinstein had just about completed two movies in 1982 and wasn’t even known in the movie industry.

Then we have Italian actress Asia Argento who also alleges rape, which according to her occurred twenty years ago in 1997. She alleges Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her. This act of allegedly having forcibly performed sex on her is the rape she accuses him of.
Though rape is legally defined as forced intercourse, performing oral sex on an adult woman against her will is also a sexual and physical assault, but only possible when
1. The woman is physically restrained
2. The woman is drunk or drugged
3. The woman is unconscious or asleep

According to Asia Argento neither was the case and she eventually “consented” to sexual intercourse that same night. But it is absolutely possible that sexual assault took place, indeed and the not fighting off was due to shell-shock. Shell Shock, however, leaves one immensely traumatized to the point of avoiding the nearness of an attacker at all times; also sex acts that could be a reminder, because it triggers the trauma.
Instead of avoiding Harvey Weinstein, Miss Argento had a relationship with Weinstein for several years following the alleged assault.

Finally there is Rose McGowan whose allegation against Weinstein is rape, as well, but no details in reference what exactly occurred were given. According to some reports she first gave an account about the alleged assault to Ronan Farrow earlier this year, but later retracted her story. The New York Times reached out to her as well, prior to publishing their now famous article of October 5 of this year. Miss McGowan wished not to comment. It was reported that she accepted a settlement of 100K from Weinstein for an incident that occurred in a hotel room during the Sundance film festival of 1997. The proposals made to her by Weinstein,according to Rose McGowan, read similarly to the reports other women shared.

One thing all three women have in-common is that they’re 1) alleging rape, 2) went on to have an amicable, and/or sexual relationship with the accused after the alleged rape, and 3) did not report the crime and were silent about it for twenty years,  and thirty-five years of silence in the case of Lysette Anthony.

Should rape and assault victims be outraged that these three women made a pact with the devil and didn’t have the courage, nor the bravery, to report the crimes they’re now alleging happened twenty and thirty-five years ago ? Surely they have a right to be outraged that the three also toot themselves as heroes for speaking out now after the damage has been done and the accused no longer in a position of power, which counts for yet the second wave of opportunism.

None of the three said a word after the first New York Times Article against Harvey Weinstein was published in March 2015, nor in the two years following that article.
Click here for The first 2015 NY.TIMES Article about Harvey Weinstein

None of the three were mentioned in the New York Times Article of October 5 this year, that finally broke the story wide open, outside of Rose McGowan who wished not to comment. Click here for October 5 Article NY.TIMES

Two days after Harvey Weinstein was fired on October the 8th of this year was when Rose McGowan’s rape allegation became public for the first time, via Ronan Farrow’s article in the New Yorker. Followed by Asia Argento, whose rape allegations became public for the first time shortly after and finally Lysette Anthony.

First: SILENCE to assure oneself opportunity ( One sucks-up to the powerful in means of ability, availability and possibility )
Last: NOISE to assure oneself opportunity ( Condemn the ones being denounced by a majority)

Let me say this to the two of you who are making the most noise.
There are always some who trip over a stone, then place it on the side of the road so no one else will trip over it and hurt themselves. And then there are people like you three, who just continue walking after they trip over a stone.
It’s heroic to bring a man, misusing his power, to his knees, and then to his fall.
It’s cowardly to wait until a man is on the ground, and then start kicking him hoping for applause.

The Heroes are the ones who said NO.
The Heroes are the ones who went to the Police.
The Heroes are the ones who stuck to their initial comments to Ronan Farrow and the New York Times. Not the ones waiting until hollywood denounced him already in a unison voice, which is the three of you.

I now am hoping that the Hotel rooms, in which the two assaults of 1997 allegedly occurred, had hidden security surveillance in TV screen, lamp or bedside table radio, as is common in high security Hotels; and that the data was saved for twenty years and given to the courts for private viewing so a fair trial for all involved can be assured and justice be served.

IN GOD WE TRUST !
.