Fear of Pedophiles is Irrational
Consensual Touching of Children Should Be Legalized
By T. E. Hutchinson, 5/11/2006, The Hawaii Reporter
An irrational fear of pedophiles leads to murder and lesser outrages. It's not the feelings that are wrong, what one does with them can be.
There are men who really abuse kids, real kidnapping, real rape, real harm. That is wrong and illegal.
Also illegal are some actions that do no harm, expressions of love and caring that are wanted and reciprocated. The sensible boylover takes the
law, irrational as it is, into account both for himself and the youth he
cares about.
Pedophilia-phobia, an irrational fear of pedophiles, is sweeping the nation. It is based primarily on the false notion that anyone with an
attraction to minors cannot control themselves. The existence of draconian laws plays into this falsehood because only those who are
accused of committing crimes come to the attention of the public, or for
that matter, nearly anyone's attention.
It is characterized by stereotyping (assuming that an individual has traits and behaviors generally associated, rightly or wrongly, with a
group) and demonizing.
The Almighty gave children sexual bodies. A child has a God given right to express that sexuality, by self stimulation or with a consenting
partner of his or her choice. Parents have a right, and a responsibility, to advise their children on the wise use of their sexual
feelings, but not the right to prevent expression of them. And certainly
the government has no such right.
Interference is a crime against nature.
Was He Ever a Victim?
Vili Fualaau, now age 22, married Mary Letourneau (43). She served seven
and a half years of imprisonment because she was convicted of raping him
when he was 12. This calls into question whether Vili was rightly viewed
as a victim and whether Mary should have been jailed. And if he is not a
victim in this case, that calls into question whether consensual sexual activity with someone over the age of puberty should ever be considered
rape without regard for the circumstances.
< http://www.ipce.info/ipceweb/Library/overview_women.htm
>
and scroll to the "L".
Lower the Age of Consent
First of all, it would take thousands of juveniles out of the criminal
justice system. It is absurd to make lifetime sex offenders out of kids.
That alone is sufficient reason to do it. But doctors say that adolescents can consent.
Decriminalize Consensual Touching
When a child is under a certain age, which varies by state and nation,
some consensual touching is legal and some is not. Applicable laws are
usually, and perhaps unconstitutionally, vague about what acts are illegal. These laws have a chilling effect on the rights of adults and
children to form loving relationships. Loving relationships between adults and children are not illegal. Molestation laws ought to be
revised so that consensual touching is not criminalized.
T. E. Hutchinson can be reached via email at mailto:bagoas@capecod.net
