Mixing Messages in the Tyson Case

Re Robin Abcarian’s column “Mike Tyson’s Fans Just Don’t Get the Message” (April 3): After reading this, I continue to feel women are being sent an incomplete and wrong message.

Tyson has used force most of his life to get where and what he wants. Those around him have reinforced this behavior. He is in jail now and can’t figure out who and when the rules were changed.

Desiree Washington isn’t a stupid woman. From the image that has been set forth of her, she has been reared with good judgment, but she showed none of it the night she was raped.

People who don’t want to communicate the message “I want to be a victim” don’t walk down dark alleys or go to a stranger’s hotel room at 2 a.m. whether or not the stranger’s last name is Kennedy or Tyson.

So now she received the same wrong message that Tyson did years ago: Neither were told they would be held responsible for their actions. Television and the press are also sending the message that some people are not liable for teasing fate. Why not?

MICHELE M. YEPIZ

Lemon Grove