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-Geoffrey Robertson, attorney for alleged rapist Julian Assange, quoted in today’s New York Times.

I know the Assange case is old news, but I found this quotation really interesting. (Interesting : disturbing :: potato : potahto.) In particular, I was captivated by the phrase “with further empathy.”

With further empathy a woman will recognize how fervently a man wishes to put his penis inside her own personal body. With further empathy she will enthusiastically comply with his wish. With further empathy she will transform into kindness and self-sacrifice incarnate, a Patient Griselda of sexual healing.

It’s almost admirably brazen to suggest that the people lacking empathy were Mr. Assange’s victims, Ms. A and Ms. W, and not Mr. Assange himself. Then again, I suppose the phrase could go both ways: “what may be unwanted one minute (refraining from penetrating an unwilling person) can with further empathy become desired.” When I interpret the statement like that, I find myself agreeing wholeheartedly. Every would-be rapist should pause, have some empathy for the human being who has not consented to a sexual act, and choose not to rape.

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Further reading (seriously, these two links are so good; please read them):
Jaclyn Friedman: Consent Is Not A Lightswitch
Thomas MacAulay Millar: Meet the Predators