One of the wonderful things about cyber-space is the opportunity to exchange views with others about a myriad of topics. Recently, while reading Bog's blog and the comments to that particular posting, I chose to visit Absolute Zero. It is an important blog with an important mission. It is all about dealing with the illness of pedophilia. By using the term illness, I in no way intend to minimize the effects of such an illness.
I was particularly interested in the quote from a pedophile who says he has not acted on his fantasies and is remorseful about them. It sounds just similar to a comment from Lestat at Absolute Zero's Introduction posting.
It did cause me to give more thought to the problem so I sought information about it at webmd.com. Searching for pedophilia I came up with an article entitled What is pedophilia? There are three pages to it and I recommend reading all three.
There is no excuse, reason nor explanation that will ever convince me that there is anything remotely justifiable about pedophilia. Period, point, end of sentence, no negotiations. Children deserve the right to be protected from that type of manipulation. For anyone to say that others should understand their sexual proclivities toward children are only partly right. We need to understand that it is an illness, but, more importantly, they must come to the same conclusion. Then they must take the next step and get treatment. Pedophiles must be kept away from children.
The What is pedophilia article has some important directions for protecting children and I commend it to you all. They also make an important distinction between pedophiles and homosexuals. There is a very big difference. And only one of them is an illness-pedophilia.
Compassion is important. However, protection of children is more important.
3 comments:
gads. depressing stuff fer sure. what is scary is how many instances go unreported, buried, hidden in shame or worse, lost in the painful recesses of boys and girls' minds...
argh!
thanks Jack, for helping to direct and educate as you often do.
;)
jack,
i've been disturbed actually by the absolute zero site. its inception seemed more about revenge for vile comments to daydreamer than about productive action to prevent pedohilia or protect children.
and i worry about the approach. i distrust the judgement of some on that site. i worry that they will "out" someone who is not truly a pedophile- because they are quick to anger and slow to think carefully. (oh yes, if any visit here, i'm in hot water and can only imagine the horrid things that will be said.)
the site to me seems more like vigilantism (sp) than true productive action that will make a difference.
i will be fried for these comments no doubt - not by you, but by others.
i think pedophlia is indeed a disease, and those with the illness need our compassionate help. to eradicate pedophilia it seems we need to protect children while at the same time providing services and programs that will hel pedophiles - or at least - that will allow us to study pedophiles (we need info).
i've also understood that pedophilies are often victims themselves in their youth - so in a sense, the disease is contagious - or learned. and so i think, rather than alienating, isolating, berating these people, it behooves us to understand them, study them, and figure out how to help them. because they were the abused once. and their victims will grow up to be abusers.
at the same time, and i must clarify this - they must, indeed, be kept from children and if they transgress, they must be incarcerated.
bird, thanks again for bringing compassion and clearer thinking to the discussion. I am working on another posting similar to the follow-up on MoveOn.org.
You make a wonderful conscience. The nudge you give is gentle enough not to leave a bruise, but strong enough to urge to action.
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