Ah, yes, another article on rape that's popped up on your news feed, in light of the recent and horrific Stanford sexual assault case. I know you're probably sick of hearing the news by now, and think that all these long-winded blog posts are the same. Plenty of people, I'm sure, will continue scrolling past this article.

Here's the problem, though: we can't stop the discussion on rape until assault itself stops.

By now, you might be rolling your eyes. Of course, any common sense individual would know that rape or assault, in any situation, is never okay. No one deserves to be put through the eternal torture and suffering of assault, and the devastating aftermath. If you're one of those people who believes this is common sense information, I applaud you. No, truly, I do.

It seems that we've somehow lost the capacity to understand basic human rights. We've forgotten the age-old phrase that your grandmother used to say whenever you fought with your younger sibling: treat others the way you want to be treated. Humanity has abandoned the fundamental arts of respect, kindness, and compassion.

The fact of the matter is, no matter how much we talk about sexual assault and rape, the concept simply cannot be grasped by some. This truly baffles me. How do you not understand that it's wrong to take advantage of someone, whether sober or intoxicated? How can you justify sexually assaulting an innocent individual, and expect to walk away after you traumatically turned someone's life upside down?

Consent is a verbal "yes." Intoxication is not an excuse. Clothing is not a justifiable reason. These are not difficult concepts to grasp.

In the Stanford rape case, it's the judge and the assaulter's father's response that is most shocking and repulsive. A simple slap on the wrist from a judge for assaulting another defenseless human being, and causing her physical and emotional harm. A father's letter chalk full of excuses, calling an innocent woman's pain and suffering as, "20 minutes of action".

Rape is not action. Rape is not an accident or a mistake. Rape is intentional harm. Rape is inhumane.

So, to the judge who handed down a disgustingly laughable sentence to a man who purposefully committed a vile and horrible crime: you are part of the problem. To the father of the assaulter, who attempted to justify his son's inhumane actions: you are part of the problem. People like you both will never be on the right. You will never fool us. Now, you have to live with the guilt of knowing you tried to devalue an innocent human being's suffering as 20 minutes of fun or a light six months of punishment.

To the people who take a stand against assault: whether you've helped intervene or prevent an assault from taking place, cared for someone who was intoxicated or passed out instead of taking advantage of them, or simply taken an active stance against rape, thank you. Thank you for providing the world with decency and hope.

To the victim of the Stanford assault, and to every other assault victim: I cannot even begin to fathom experiencing what you went through. You show courage in the face of suffering and pain and for that, you are inspirational. My heart goes out to you for your endurance, your strength, and your will. You will always have the support of not only me, but millions of people around the world.

And to Brock Turner: it's interesting to see how your privilege has put a disgusting, evil individual such as yourself above the law. But your privilege cannot erase the oppressive guilt that will remain with you for the rest of your life. It cannot make the immeasurable pain and suffering of your victim disappear. Privilege cannot save you in the eyes of the public. You're not a child anymore. You're a rapist.

I wonder, Brock. Now that it's all said and done, and there are consequences to your unspeakable actions, were those 20 minutes really worth it?

You're damn right they weren't.