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submitted 1 year ago by jeffw@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world
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[-] Guntrigger@sopuli.xyz 89 points 1 year ago

I'm very conflicted about this whole thing. On the one hand, yeah it's kind of a scandal and people have every right to be booing him every time he touches the ball.

On the other hand, he was convicted, sentenced, did time and is now back in society apparently showing remorse. People are calling for his career to end and various wishes of death on him. Why can't he continue his life?

Are we supposed to lock up all criminals forever? Kill them? Just not allow them to follow their chosen career after getting out? Or is it just sports they shouldn't be allowed to participate in?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 121 points 1 year ago

apparently showing remorse

He showed no remorse. He called it nonsense. He said he made mistakes as a youth. He has not even bothered to offer anything in the way of an apology.

[-] Guntrigger@sopuli.xyz 13 points 1 year ago

I also saw those statements on his wiki. Also saw some about it being "the worst mistake of his life". I don't imagine he would get parole without showing remorse.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 40 points 1 year ago

You don't imagine? Well then that proves it. He's very sorry he raped a 12-year-old girl over and over even though he's never said so in public.

[-] TheMetaleek@sh.itjust.works 77 points 1 year ago

He did barely a year of prison... I personally don't quite think it's enough for raping a kid, but hey that's just my opinion

[-] Johandea@feddit.nu 27 points 1 year ago

Enough for what? Your sense of vengeance? I don't know, only you can tell... Enough for rehabilitation? I don't know, but it is possible. Time needed for rehabilitation varies widely. It's quite possible the year was enough. One thing we do know is that the Netherlands is heavily in favour of rehabilitation over punishment, since rehabilitation actually forwards society

[-] TheMetaleek@sh.itjust.works 33 points 1 year ago

I am European and heavily against punitive justice. But I think one year of prison for a crime almost universally considered among the worst is not enough for rehabilitation, and I find this opinion validated by the lack of understanding or even remorse shown by the guy in public statements

[-] Guntrigger@sopuli.xyz 16 points 1 year ago

This is exactly the point I'm trying to make, but am getting downvoted because I apparently sound like a "child rape apologist".

I understand the crime is emotionally charged, but that doesn't mean anyone convicted of it should just be thrown in the oubliette.

[-] watersnipje 7 points 1 year ago

I would like to propose “forgettamatorium” as an English translation for oubliette.

[-] Reyali@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

I believe people can change and I think it’s important we hold space for people to do so. However, that hinges on the person actually growing, which often starts with showing remorse. I know you implied that this guy has done so, but I haven’t seen any evidence of that.

Even the quote you posted somewhere else about it being the worst thing he’d done, or something like that? That very much sounds like a, “I’m not sorry I did it, I’m sorry I got caught” kind of statement.

Asked if van de Velde had ever expressed any remorse to him for rape, Immers [his teammate] said: “No, he doesn’t, he doesn’t explain it.” (source)

"I have been branded as a sex monster, as a pedophile," he said. "That I am not — really not.” (source)

If there’s an apology or some actual statement showing his remorse, I’d love to see it, but I’m skeptical that it exists. This whole controversy he’s had a huge opportunity to step up, apologize, and rebuke his prior actions. Instead, he’s faced it all with silence and a reaction of ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ That is not the behavior of a person who acknowledges they were in the wrong, imo.

[-] yamanii@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Seems like this whole debacle is because he didn't make a press tour saying to the whole wide world how remorseful he is, but the comittee said that experts determined that he was remorseful though, so we shouldn't trust the experts now?

Van de Velde has fully engaged with all requirements and has met all the stringent risk assessment thresholds, checks and due diligence. Experts have stated that there is no risk of recidivism.

Van de Velde has consistently remained transparent about the case which he refers to as the most significant misstep of his life. He deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved. He has been open about the personal transformation he has undergone as a result. Since his return he has participated in major international events without incident.

from https://nocnsf.nl/en/nocstarnsf-takes-measures-to-ensure-a-safe-sporting-environment-for-all-olympic-participants

[-] Soulg@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

The problem is that people absolutely believe that.

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[-] ElliotCross@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago

This site is full of left wing fakers who blow their cover when it comes to stuff like this.

[-] friendlymessage@feddit.org 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Your pretentious pseudo-enlightened bullshit pisses me of. No, not everyone here is out for vengeance. But there's a middle ground between capital punishment and letting a child rapist go after only 13 months without them expressing remorse plus letting them represent their country at the Olympics. Travelling to another country to convince a 12 year old to have unprotected sex three times in two days, leading them to self-harm including an overdose is not "fornication", it's rape. This is not rehabilitation but a blatant failure of the Dutch justice system and society.

[-] yamanii@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Plenty are though, just scroll up.

[-] friendlymessage@feddit.org 1 points 1 year ago

True, Breezy is just one example. But that's not the ones they were discussing with.

[-] Guntrigger@sopuli.xyz 17 points 1 year ago

I agree, it seems like a small amount on the face of it.

But at the same time, I'm more inclined to trust the judgement of the prison system (at least in The Netherlands) as to whether he is ready to return to society.

[-] echodot@feddit.uk 4 points 1 year ago

It's not the prison system of the Netherlands that you should be considering, It's the legitimacy of the politicians that decided to release him. Clearly it was a political move do you believe that somebody else in his position would have been released so early?

[-] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 16 points 1 year ago

It seems like a lot of criminals who "did their time" really didn't do much at all.

Compare that to a lifetime of hurt caused to the victim(s) and their families, and it just doesn't seem good enough.

[-] FundMECFSResearch 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

While I agree this seems extremely small. The netherlands is not the US. The specifics of court cases are not made public. We have no idea about them. It might be a very ambiguous case that barely fit the definition of rape or whatever.

Not trying to defend rape or rapists, but we may need more context before we can judge the length of a sentence.

Edit: I just read a less opinionated in depth article on him, and from the details I see, man he fucked up bad, in my opinion he deserved more than 13 months. He got sentenced to 4 years at first but that got cut short.

[-] Goodmorningsunshine@lemmy.world 34 points 1 year ago

It's a good thing the court of public opinion still has a voice and doesn't approve of child rapists quite so heartily as the Dutch government. What "time" did he do - like 11months? And he was never remorseful in the slightest. If his only real punishment is going to be him and his country getting booed by the world at the Olympics, I'm happy there's at least that.

[-] echodot@feddit.uk 22 points 1 year ago

On the other hand, he was convicted, sentenced, did time and is now back in society apparently showing remorse.

He hardly did any time at all. Frankly you do more time for a parking ticket. Also when did he show remorse like whenever has he ever shown any remorse at all?

[-] Tja@programming.dev 19 points 1 year ago

How about "not put them representing your country, where other people might understand that as an endorsement as see him as a role model".

There is shades of grey between "killing him" and "send him to the Olympics".

[-] 100@fedia.io 19 points 1 year ago

he can continue his life, but get the fuck out of public positions like this if youre a fucking pedo rapist

[-] ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net 8 points 1 year ago

On the other hand, he was convicted, sentenced, did time and is now back in society apparently showing remorse.

He flew to England, raped a 12 yo, got convicted by the English for 4 years. He was deported back to Netherlands, they dropped it to 1 year.

This isn't justice.

[-] Skanky@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

It's simple really.

His judgement, sentencing and punishment satisfy the needs of the law. the law has done it's part (arguably terribly in this case) and is at rest.

This is vastly different than the judgement bright forth by the court of public opinion. They are not so forgiving.

Perhaps that's something the dude should have thought about before doing what he did

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this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2024
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