The rape case involving the Duke University Lacrosse players is ...

[RB TexLa]

[liberal N proud]

1. It is a local story that has been used in an attempted diversion

The list is long of these attempted diversions from otherwise local issues.
This does not however diminish the seriousness of the crimes. It just should be handled at the local level.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Both

The story itself is a local news story, but it can be broadened into a story that discusses the permissive attitude of college campuses toward their student athletes.

[mzteris]

6. and the have's and have not's

and racial inequality.

and male/female inequality.

[hippiechick]

3. just another 'testosterone attack' by spoiled jocks ...

... who think that regular rules of society don't apply to them.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. a logical and common outcome of our sick addiction toand worship of sports

it's national news only in the sense that they bothered to report this one. What they should do it report ALL of the times this sports-based sick bullshit happens, and then maybe America would be willing to rise up and say "No more!" to it.

But as long as we worship sports players and are addicted to arena games, sports players will continue to be protected and covered-up when they do shit like this.

Thankfully, these guys got caught and their school couldn't buy off or threaten the woman, so it's making news and they will be punished (more than likely).

Sadly, this is the very rare occurrance of sports-based abusers actually being caught and persecuted.

[SteppingRazor]

7. What were you, picked on by jocks in school or something?

I kid, of course, but I do have a point. This sort of thing could easily have happened among any group of people. The fact that these people are gang rapists doesn't follow from the fact that they are athletes. There's plenty of morally "good" athletes out there, and there's plenty of rapists who throw like girls.

I don't see us as having a "sick addiction" to sports. Instead, I think sports combine exercise, competition and teamwork -- all good things, no? And as for the sports enthusiast, how is being a sports fan "sick"? Isn't it just another hobby? Why is sports a "sick addiction" while other hobbies aren't? Is stamp collecting a "sick addiction"?

Well, OK, I'll give you that. Stamp collecting is, in fact, a sick addiction. But what about all these other recreational diversions? What makes sports such a "sick" thing?

[sproutster]

5. Rape is a NATIONAL problem

The opinions at the onset of this case underline why it is and should be a national news item.

Rape loves the dark.

Bring these opinions out in the light, and watch as people see how their initial ideas of sluts and ho's and strippers allowed them to demonize this woman, as the evidence bares her out.