World News: Child sexual abuse can happen to anyone

Thursday, November 18

Alexandra Zarini in Los Angeles, Calif., in August, 2020.

Happy Thursday! Here's what we have:

Today we have a column from Alexandra Zarini of the Gucci family who tells her story of sexual abuse. She talks about the dark side of her family that the upcoming film, "House of Gucci," doesn't discuss. She discusses how today is now the first World Day for Prevention, Healing and Justice to End Sexual Violence Against Children and Adolescents.

Gucci granddaughter: Child sexual abuse can happen to anyone

By Alexandra Zarini

The name Gucci conjures a picture in the mind. Jet-setters, celebrities, artists and models living their best lives. The projection of wealth, status and success. All derived from the perceived life experience of the brand's original creators, the Gucci family.

The movie "House of Gucci" depicts the family as glamorous Italian socialites living fantasy lifestyles beyond the comprehension of most mortals. But it only scratches the surface. There's another dark side to the family the movie doesn't cover. I know, because I'm living it.

I am the granddaughter of Aldo Gucci, the family patriarch portrayed by Al Pacino. For 15 years, my sister and I were sexually abused by our stepfather, Joseph Ruffalo.

Today's Editorial Cartoon

Don Landgren, USA TODAY Network

USA TODAY Network

•	November political cartoon gallery from the USA TODAY Network

Kyle Rittenhouse a hero? No, he was a foolish boy

By David D. Haynes

I've owned guns all my life. I've hunted nearly as long. The 19th-century Colt double-barrel shotgun that belonged to my grandfather (and probably his dad, too) is a treasured family heirloom. When it was time for my son to learn to hunt, we took a hunter safety course together, and I tried to teach him these important lessons just as my father had taught them to me.

I say all this because I cannot understand why anyone would think Kyle Rittenhouse is a hero.

He is no hero. He is a callow boy who didn't understand how to handle a gun — and worse, didn't understand the most important thing about owning a gun for protection: You do everything possible to make sure you never have to use it.

Republican defense of Rep. Paul Gosar in censure vote is sickening

By Laurie Roberts

With one collective wave of the hand, the U.S. House on Wednesday transformed Rep. Paul Gosar into a potted plant.

The Arizona Republican was censured and stripped of his committee assignments, meaning he'll play no meaningful role in, well, anything on Capitol Hill.

He's lucky he wasn't expelled.

But then, that would require his fellow Republicans to acknowledge that there is something seriously wrong with a colleague who would post an anime video of himself killing a congresswoman and threatening the president.

That, apparently, is asking too much of the once-Grand Old Party.

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•	Conservatorships like Britney Spears' full of abuse. Abolish them.

Columns on qualified immunity

Here's a new section we're adding to the newsletter. Currently, we are doing a series examining the issue of qualified immunity. For more on the series read here.

•	Colorado took a revolutionary step to reform policing. Here's how
•	Supreme Court just doubled down on flawed qualified immunity rule
•	I refused to lie under oath for the state of Arizona, and the courts aren't on my side
•	Qualified immunity won't protect college administrators who discriminate against religion