Right now, we're doing nothing. We read the headlines, we know the problem of pederasty is global, horrific, and all too often religiously sanctified, but we never discuss what drives the urge to molest children. The offender is “other,” a monster, and I’m certainly not here to argue with that, but it doesn’t get us any closer to finding a solution. We need one.
I'm sorry about your past abuse. No child should have to be subjected to such treatment from an adult. I suspect a big part of the problem is that as a society, we're so repulsed by pedophilia that even discussing it is a revolting proposition...and so nothing is done to help protect children or to keep offenders from doing their thing.
We're still trapped in the Puritan ethic when it comes to sex. Talking about it is still somehow dirty or nasty, not the sort of thing done in polite company. Because of this, it's difficult to impossible to have a productive, dispassionate conversation about how to prevent abuse. I think Germany's on the right track, but trying to do the same thing here in the US would be virtually impossible. It would be seen an enabling or coddling pedophiles, when in fact it's actually trying to help those so inclined to control their urges so they don't act on them.
At the moment, here in the US we're dealing with an entire women's professional soccer league (the NWSL) embroiled in a sexual harassment and coercion scandal. So far, four teams, including here in Portland, have been impacted by leaders who failed to take accusations of sexual misconduct seriously.
#MeToo was all well and good, but the issues still exist, same as they ever were. 'Cuz when you have a penis, you get to view women's bodies as existing for your edification and sexual pleasure.
Actually, NO, YOU DON'T.
As a Penis-American, I'm sick to death of my compatriots abusing their "privilege."
Stacey, the first time a man was aroused because of me was when I was seven. As my mother dozed poolside, the pedophile "played" with me in the pool until he was completely aroused. He touched me all over, but my mother's presence saved me from anything worse. I had no idea what an erection was, but I knew that he was making me very uncomfortable that day, with his erect dick sticking straight out of his swim trunks.
That's just wrong no matter how we slice it. And yes, that was the first of many sexual abuses men perpetrated on my body. I was raped twice as a young woman as well.
I am so sorry about your past abuse. That is absolutely grotesque, starting at age two. That's the kind of thing that makes me want some time alone with that man, and a very sharp knife. Death by a thousand cuts would be merely taking out the trash, in my opinion.
The German approach seems the most sensible to me, with free therapy available on demand.
Because of what happened with Alan Turing, I have no faith in the justice system of any country's ability to implement non-surgical castration, much less physical castration. Physical castration is more like something the Taliban would do, and frankly, I do not trust any state to administer chemical castration justly. Finally, I do not trust the efficacy of castration: they still have their desires, don't they? as well as their hands.
Improper initiation into sex at a very early age often colors people's sex drive for life. It is a dreadful burden to the victims. I've been married three times, and on the third try, I finally got it right. So the best revenge against the men who harmed me: living a happy life, including a happy sex life.
Love and blessings, and thank you for writing this. I share the ghastly article from The Guardian yesterday, about the French commission studying sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests, which found that there are about 3K victims.
In my opinion---formed in part by my travels in Italy over the course of fifty years--- the Roman Catholic Church has the best pantheon of spirits in their form of Christianity...... and the meanest, nastiest priesthood on the planet. They should all be ashamed of their self-righteousness and cynicism, but no. They are atrocious, and I feel sure Jesus is face-palming over their rapes of children in perpetuity.
Over here in the US, apart from RC priests, the worst offenders in the priesthood seem to be Evangelical youth ministers. Both denominations teach body and sexual shame in great measure.
Agreed. It’s an in intensely uncomfortable subject…and I’m a victim myself. Perhaps I’ll tell my story at some point. Victims shouldn’t have to push the snowball down the hill, but if that’s what it’s going to take….
I'm sorry about your past abuse. No child should have to be subjected to such treatment from an adult. I suspect a big part of the problem is that as a society, we're so repulsed by pedophilia that even discussing it is a revolting proposition...and so nothing is done to help protect children or to keep offenders from doing their thing.
We're still trapped in the Puritan ethic when it comes to sex. Talking about it is still somehow dirty or nasty, not the sort of thing done in polite company. Because of this, it's difficult to impossible to have a productive, dispassionate conversation about how to prevent abuse. I think Germany's on the right track, but trying to do the same thing here in the US would be virtually impossible. It would be seen an enabling or coddling pedophiles, when in fact it's actually trying to help those so inclined to control their urges so they don't act on them.
At the moment, here in the US we're dealing with an entire women's professional soccer league (the NWSL) embroiled in a sexual harassment and coercion scandal. So far, four teams, including here in Portland, have been impacted by leaders who failed to take accusations of sexual misconduct seriously.
#MeToo was all well and good, but the issues still exist, same as they ever were. 'Cuz when you have a penis, you get to view women's bodies as existing for your edification and sexual pleasure.
Actually, NO, YOU DON'T.
As a Penis-American, I'm sick to death of my compatriots abusing their "privilege."
Stacey, the first time a man was aroused because of me was when I was seven. As my mother dozed poolside, the pedophile "played" with me in the pool until he was completely aroused. He touched me all over, but my mother's presence saved me from anything worse. I had no idea what an erection was, but I knew that he was making me very uncomfortable that day, with his erect dick sticking straight out of his swim trunks.
That's just wrong no matter how we slice it. And yes, that was the first of many sexual abuses men perpetrated on my body. I was raped twice as a young woman as well.
I am so sorry about your past abuse. That is absolutely grotesque, starting at age two. That's the kind of thing that makes me want some time alone with that man, and a very sharp knife. Death by a thousand cuts would be merely taking out the trash, in my opinion.
The German approach seems the most sensible to me, with free therapy available on demand.
Because of what happened with Alan Turing, I have no faith in the justice system of any country's ability to implement non-surgical castration, much less physical castration. Physical castration is more like something the Taliban would do, and frankly, I do not trust any state to administer chemical castration justly. Finally, I do not trust the efficacy of castration: they still have their desires, don't they? as well as their hands.
Improper initiation into sex at a very early age often colors people's sex drive for life. It is a dreadful burden to the victims. I've been married three times, and on the third try, I finally got it right. So the best revenge against the men who harmed me: living a happy life, including a happy sex life.
Love and blessings, and thank you for writing this. I share the ghastly article from The Guardian yesterday, about the French commission studying sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests, which found that there are about 3K victims.
In my opinion---formed in part by my travels in Italy over the course of fifty years--- the Roman Catholic Church has the best pantheon of spirits in their form of Christianity...... and the meanest, nastiest priesthood on the planet. They should all be ashamed of their self-righteousness and cynicism, but no. They are atrocious, and I feel sure Jesus is face-palming over their rapes of children in perpetuity.
Over here in the US, apart from RC priests, the worst offenders in the priesthood seem to be Evangelical youth ministers. Both denominations teach body and sexual shame in great measure.
Agreed. It’s an in intensely uncomfortable subject…and I’m a victim myself. Perhaps I’ll tell my story at some point. Victims shouldn’t have to push the snowball down the hill, but if that’s what it’s going to take….