The sentence was handed down to Lance Corporal Daniel Smith in a Manila courtroom for the rape of the woman in a van at a former US navy base.
Three other defendants, Lance Corporals Keith Silkwood and Dominic Duplantis and Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier, were all cleared of rape.
The case had sparked strong protests from women's and left-wing groups.
About 100 protesters were outside the courthouse for the verdict.
They sang the nationalist song My Country and called for the end of the Visiting Forces Agreement that covers the use of overseas troops in training exercises.
Damages
The attack took place at the former US naval base of Subic Bay, west of Manila, in November last year.
Smith, 21, from St Louis, Missouri, had said the sex was consensual.
He said the length of the sentence was aimed at "protecting women against the unbridled bestiality of persons who cannot control their libidinous proclivity".
Smith was also ordered to pay the defendant 100,000 pesos ($2,000) in damages.
The marines had been held in custody at the US embassy, after the US refused to hand them over until the end of the trial.
The defendants were stationed in Okinawa, Japan, but had just finished manoeuvres in the Philippines when the attack occurred.
The case created strong emotions in the Philippines, with protesters often appearing at the courtroom.
They had held placards including the phrases "Justice for Nicole," "Jail the Yankees," and "Rage Against Rape".
Nicole was the pseudonym given to the victim, now 23, in the case.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/6205324.stm
Published: 2006/12/04 07:39:13 GMT
© BBC MMVI
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I post this article because when I was in the marine corps, I remember "having sex" -- on more than one occasion -- when I was way too drunk to have any say in the matter. And without a doubt, the party(ies) in question would have said it was consensual.
Speaking for myself, I can't help but take responsibility. If I was the one being drunk, trusting and gullible, I'm the one who put myself in situations where unscrupulous persons would take advantage. I just wish I'd had more common sense in those days, realized sooner that I wasn't special or even particularly desirable, and that none of those guys gave a hairy rat's ass about me. It makes me sad thinking about it, so I won't.
I like my life so much better now.
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On a completely different note, I keep having dreams about a certain someone who was in my high school class and is now an actor. Jeezus. I think he's the figure in my subconscious who'll sweep in, accept me, love me, and make everything all right, when in truth I'm sure he doesn't know -- or, more importantly, care -- that I exist [and I'm cool with that; I wouldn't expect him to]. All I know is, those dreams irritate the shit out of me. My waking self revels in the fact that I'm by myself and don't answer to anyone, while my sleeping self yearns for a "soulmate." Gimme a fucking break.
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On another completely different note, here's an entry from V in its entirety:
Friday, November 03, 2006
This could be the best place yet - but you must overcome your fears.. - George O'Dowd
Time Clock of The Heart
I was going to say how how fast 2005 went by, and then realized that its 2006.
It's really the same as any other years with not much gained and a loss of a lot of things. Hair is one thing.
Friends are scarce and I'm trying to accept this as the norm for my life. I just happen to be one of those people. Judge me only by my Un-popularity.
Tammy said to the new girl "Oh, and that's V. Everyone hates him"
This was 6Th grade.
Stop laughing. It wasn't that funny. It's true. I wish I could say that it WAS true. But I can't because it still IS true. Tammy is still around in many other forms telling, whispering to people in their ears - "everyone hates him."
Tammy could be god. Or energy. Or just something in the air. A force of some sort or the source itself. Though I'm told that the source only knows how to give love. So it may be some other thing. It is a code you are born with. It's in your DNA. It's an instruction. Information.
But this morning, someone whom I was sure that hated me, actually held the elevator door for me.
And I wondered if this was to be my last day here.
Even to those that live a 100 years. It's really a very short trip. This stopover. This brief intermission is but a spark. In the cosmic scheme of things our lives are just flashing on and off. This is true in both science and the spiritual.
I just don't know what is what, but what I know is that it plain sucks that this is the way I have to spend my human existence here on earth.
Just want to get off the train and continue on. Let me become the vibrations that I am and let me not have any earthbound feelings anymore.
I cannot tell you how much I relate to this post. Only difference is, yesterday during a meltdown (ran out of meds and the refills haven't arrived yet) I started questioning the existence of god. Usually I'm of the opinion that there's a higher power of some kind, even if it exists beyond our comprehension. It's necessary for me to believe that there's a reason of some kind for all this shit. But during my meltdown yesterday I was convinced that everything is for nothing, that it means nothing. Check me out, I'm getting all nihilist and shit.
It's been years since I've had a crisis in spirituality. I'm going to take some philosophy classes, regardless of whether they apply to my degree or not. I think I need a break from the usual anyway; I've had the doldrums for quite some time.
posted by Newpeep, N.D. (neurotic depressive) @ 1:46 AM
3 Comments:
hi ND,
its always nice to bump into another 'scorpio'
as you are interested in 'art', may i invite you over to:
chandrasart.blogspot.com
warm wishes
chandra
NP, I don't know what it is but reading this here on your blog made me so emotional. I guess it's cause someone cared enough to acknowledge and respond. It means a lot to me. Thank you! I hope you're feeling better and I think it's a great idea to take on philosophy. Keep us posted with that.
Aww, hugs, V., I care! I copied-and-pasted because there was no way I could have said it better.
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