04.10.2013 03:24 PM

Glen Canning: Rehtaeh Parsons was my daughter (updated)

There’s more, here.  It’s hard, but you should read all of it.

“To the Justice Minister of Nova Scotia

Rehtaeh Parsons thought the worst outcome for her case would be no charges against the men who raped her but we all know better. The worst thing that could happen would be charges. That they would be found guilty, and that Rehtaeh would sit on a court bench and listen in utter disbelief as they were given parole, or a suspended sentence, or community service. All for completely destroying her life while they laughed.

Why is it they didn’t just think they would get away with it; they knew they would get away with it. They took photos of it. They posted it on their Facebook walls. They emailed it to God knows who. They shared it with the world as if it was a funny animation.

How is it possible for someone to leave a digital trail like that yet the RCMP don’t have evidence of a crime? What were they looking for if photos and bragging weren’t enough?

Why was this treated like a minor incident of bullying rather than a rape? Isn’t the production and distribution of child porn a crime in this country? Numerous people were emailed that photo. The police have that information (or at least they told us they did). When someone claims they were raped is it normal to wait months before talking to the accused?

You have the opportunity here to do something good and lets face it; the court system in Nova Scotia was just going to rape her all over again with indifference to her suffering and the damage this did to her.

My daughter wasn’t bullied to death, she was disappointed to death. Disappointed in people she thought she could trust, her school, and the police.

She was my daughter, but she was your daughter too.

For the love of God do something.

***I’ve been contacted from media outlets from all over the world and as a past member of the media I understand why you all want to speak with me. You have all been very courteous, professional, and respectful. Please know, however, this is the only statement I am able to make. I’m too devastated.***

I feel like I’m dead inside.”

 

UPDATE: And her mother has spoken out, as well, here.  She wants the legal system to reopen the case, but she doesn’t want the perpetrators physically harmed.  We should listen to her.

15 Comments

  1. Pipes says:

    Firstly-Lawrence Garvin go fuck yourself (referencing his comment on Warren’s previous posting).

    Secondly-I don’t know how much more I can take of this. My God, I am a father of two-and Mr. Canning’s letter is one of, if not my worst nightmare. If he is reading your website and happens to read my comment-he should know that I am there with him and praying for him and his family and I have written letters and signed a petition to help. Everyone should do something tangible. I don’t think it is enough just to leave comments and opinions this time. Everyone-please do something.

  2. Dan C says:

    If you are experiencing issues following the link because the web server has reached resource limits, please follow this link to a text only cache of the original post. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:glencanning.com/2013/04/10/rehtaeh-parsons-was-my-daughter/&hl=en&strip=1

  3. Lynn says:

    IMO, The institutional response in the province of NS is still very dependent on who one is connected to in NS (translation: what’s yer father’s name?). I am not surprised at the response of the school, the police, the dept of education, and all the places who have studied, commented repeatedly every time there is an ugly incident and done virtually nothing concrete to help the victims. They are sure scrambling to cover their asses though and let the boss know that they did their part with the “Anti-bullying strategy”. Not all kids are like the ones who perpetrate these acts, so where are the bystanders in this? I am mystified why not one teacher, student, anyone would stand with her and say enough — teenage life is ruthless but this is criminal. I have experienced bullying and lies being told about me in the workplace so I know a bit about the mental torture and depression that can overtake you and I weep for the pain she experienced while those “big guys on campus” laughed at her and influenced her peers to do the same. The pain that poor young woman/little girl felt to do what she did has me in tears — she was just a kid and a lovely kid by all accounts,

    • ray says:

      nothing will happen.
      there is only one part of Canada that still fights for its rights. Quebec and good on em. Do you think for a moment the “Maple Spring” would have happened anywhere else. It will take a relentless Maple Spring to stop the bullying of our children to the point where they are “disappointed to death.” The rest of us myself included rage inside but we have been cowed by assorted gangs of government goons who routinely beat the people that pay them (G20) and then we do nothing afterwards. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard fellow citizens here in Kingston say about the G20 “they should have stayed at home”. So there it is. We crashed at the foot of compassion mountain. Unless and until we relentlessly demand justice from those we pay to serve and protect us they will continue to swerve and collect said monies to beat us into submission for daring to dissent and demand justice.
      To wit… Anonymous outed the prick that drove Amanda Todd to kill herself and still nothing has happened.

      Nothing happens until something moves
      A Einstein

  4. SM says:

    Has Barbara Amiel, Conrad Black or Tom Flanagan commented on this story? Oh, yes they have.

  5. Michael Behiels says:

    Thanks Warren for taking the lead on this very tragic story.

    Canadians joined the outcry over the gang rapes of young women in India. What happened in Nova Scotia was about to be buried until the social media took over.

    Having lived with my family in Nova Scotia for 11 years I can testify to the fact that the poltical, law and order, and legal authorities are ultra conservative and they spend a lot of time and energy trying to defend the status quo.

    This young woman’s parents were not of the right social class to ensure that they would get the justice that their ‘raped’ and humiliated daughter deserved.

    I agree with your attempt to shame the community into outing the young men who raped this young woman. The community should be ashamed for protecting these despicable young men.

  6. sharonapple88 says:

    Reading that letter was hard…. The question will remain, though, why did it have to come to this? That poor girl.

  7. Michael Behiels says:

    Thanks Warren for taking the lead on this very tragic story.

    Canadians joined the outcry over the gang rapes of young women in India. What happened in Nova Scotia was about to be buried until the social media took over.

    Having lived with my family in Nova Scotia for 11 years I can testify to the fact that the poltical, law and order, and legal authorities are ultra conservative and they spend a lot of time and energy trying to defend the status quo.

    This young woman’s parents were not of the right social class to ensure that they would get the justice that their ‘raped’ and humiliated daughter deserved.

    I agree with your attempt to shame the community into outing the young men who raped this young woman. The community should be ashamed for protecting these despicable young men.

  8. Geoffrey L. says:

    This whole thing makes me cry

  9. frmr disgruntled Con now Happy Lib says:

    You can find the rest of the letter here http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/glen-canning/rehtaeh-parsons-was-my-daughter_b_3056888.html?utm_hp_ref=canada
    Im not ashamed to say I wept while reading it…….such a tragic and needless loss of a beautiful human being……

  10. George Mills says:

    “She was never left alone. She had to leave the community,” her mother told CBC.

    Beside the viscous perversions of these young men (yes, they should be charged as adults – in my town they would be strung up) and the willfully blind powers-that-be, seems to me this whole “community” (a grotesque euphemism if ever there was one) should be boycotted in the extreme.

    Further, this country needs a “conversation” about raising the age of consent to 18, increasing the penalties to adults who supply alcohol to minors, the failure of educational and legal workers to adequately deal with assault, harassment, and extortion (bullying is another euphemism), and the general notion that society, parents most included, seem to think it is a-ok to let kids run wild, binge drink, take drugs, consume and produce pornography, and, in logical conclusion, engage in gang rape.

    I’m with Stock Day on this one – repeated strong doses of the Bible along with a good strong willow switch would help prevent further tragedies like this. This is the bitter fruit of Liberal/Marxist extreme moral relativism.

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