
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 8, 1993                   TAG: 9305100275
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CAN'T JUSTIFY ATTACKS BY ATTIRE

IN REGARD to the alleged molestation of a young woman following a Guns N' Roses concert:

I attended the concert and saw lots of people dressed differently, but I saw no one with a sign saying, "Please molest me."

What is the meaning of "She dressed that way, she got what she deserved" - the apparent reaction of a few people? Does that mean when a woman shows any part of her body that she deserves to be held and stripped? If that is so, women could not wear dresses that reveal their legs, or even wear shorts and swimsuits.

Everyone has a definition of what is risque, and what is acceptable to one is not to another. We cannot justify attacks by what a person wears.

Maybe one day we will live in a society where people are not judged by their attire, but where leather, black lace, flannel and jeans will mingle with silk, cashmere, linen and wool. And there won't be any pointing of fingers. SABRINA ALDERMAN RADFORD

by CNB