Actually it's not a bad deal nor is it that extraordinary.

When the news first came out, I found too many young people at our church too quick to excuse Brown. I had them (the youth) read the police report and see the pictures. Text of report here (http://www.mwza.com/chris-brown-police-report-rihanna-police-report/). I had the adults read the report as well and we had a discussion about domestic violence.

The picture and the report made it clear thee was no excuse.

Dear Ms. Clark-Flores,

Whatever transpired between Rihanna and Chris Brown, does anyone ever deserve to be beaten, and so brutally? People are emotional and emotions can get out of control, and that's why we have laws against physical violence. I'm disgusted that Chris Brown has gotten off with a plea deal and I'm disgusted with your fanning-the-flames, rubbernecking curiosity. Usually I like Broadsheet--but not this time.

He's a woman beater. There are no excuses. He's (hopefully) finished.

This story will be relegated to the tabloids. Anyone else will have to use their imaginations.

If anything the prosecutors were working extra hard on him.

For a first-time offender with a clean criminal record, where the victim is not the complainant and is not cooperating, it is not terribly unusual for charges to be dropped altogether. They got a felony conviction, five years probation, and a stay-away order. That is quite an accomplishment. If they took it to a jury trial, it would not only be putting the victim through that ordeal against her wishes, but it would be seriously risking an acquittal, which would let him off scot-free.

Hi MKennedy,

Good point about Brown's sentence, etc. I'm still disgusted, though by Broadsheet's TMZ-style reporting on the incident. E.g. why is a single domestic abuse charge--involving celebrities or not-- important to this column except to generate traffic to the site? In other words it's just cheap self-promotion. Had they commented on how it's generated some discussion amongst young people, or some aspect of the law or something along lines not solely concerned with the ugly gossip side of the crime, it might be newsworthy. Anyway, in the future, I hope for better.

You wrote: "........ the hunger to know comes from a need to make sense of it, and a disbelief that the charming young prince of R&B could do such a thing without being provoked."

Who cares if he was provoked? There is no provocation that excuses this type of behavior.

'Cuz we weren't there to witness it first-hand, see? So we, like the charming media reporters, need to refer to it as an alleged plea deal. You know, for the alleged assault, which apparently left the alleged black and blue and purple swelling covering the victim's, er, the alleged victim's face and throat.

God, I hate the way the media covers this subject.

fuck it all. the world is being run by man hating feminists.

this woman attacked the driver of a fast moving vehicle. make HER pay, dammit...

No it wouldn't

What did Rihanna do, hit him in the fists with her face?

You really need to buy a clue.

I, for one, find it comforting that Bullshit 2 -- The Regurgitation knows more about the situation via internet rumors than the actual police, attorneys, physicians, and judge involved in the actual case.

It is a source of comfort in a disquieting world.

I like using salonista words like that. I think it is fairly accepted that Rihanna started and even provoked the attack. It's kind of hard to get from.... a former lover texted Chris Brown, to.... he proceeded to beat the crap out of his girlfriend, without Rihanna engaging in some poor behavior. What I hoped would come out of this is that Rihanna would admit she lost her temper and started striking the defendant. This, of course, in no way excuses what he did, but it would allow us all to agree that women should NEVER strike a man.

Of course that was all before I read all the feminist hypocrites saying it was OK for a women to strike a man first because..... hey men don't get hurt by that.

Sure. Whatever you say.

Neither of them will be able to escape it until they give us the literal blow-by-blow that we feel so entitled to, and chances are we will get it, because their careers just might depend on it.

Tracy, who is this we you keep referring to? And how did you become their spokesperson?

that even if a woman starts a fight, if the man does anything but run away from the situation, he will be arrested and she will be let go.

so basically, sociey thinks women are like children, irresponsible and out of control. And I cannot say I disagree to any measurable extent.

I take women to be a JOKE until this changes, because if a woman defrauds a man, I do not see justice coming to the man's defense.

fuck it all. I give up. use women is all one is left to do... I understand NOW

equsality when it benefits women, inequality when it hurts men.

I understand soeicty is so twisted it cannot conceive that men might be equal to women.

shows you what sort of imbeciles run society, and how much women despise us men that they allow this travesty to continue.

USE WOMEN is all that remains, that is my heartfelt PROTEST.

Brightstar you're a jackass - Rihanna hit Chris Brown so hard that there were no bruises or evidence whatsoever and so he rationally and justifiably retaliated by pummelling her face black and blue? Is there anything that happens to a woman anywhere by a man that you think is justified and coming to her? Have you seen the Neda video - shouldn't have gotten too uppity right?

You're a joke on this site and I find it really funny that you don't even realize it...