Comments for It's My Blog And I'll Say What I Want To

Comment on Moral Dilemma Friday: Would You Help Him? by Kerry Allen

Kerry Allen — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:13:31 +0000

Pedophilia isn’t a matter of inappropriate sexual attraction. It’s about intimately violating someone who can’t stop you. Pedophiles who have been chemically castrated to remove their sex drive will continue to sexually assault their victims using items other than their penises because that is simply what pedophiles do. A couple years in prison does not render a pedophile harmless, nor does it clear the slate of the lifelong damage to the previous victims.

I’d leave him to die, and I wouldn’t lose a second of sleep over it.

Comment on Moral Dilemma Friday: Would You Help Him? by Paul Bens

Paul Bens — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:38:20 +0000

As a victim of a pedophile priest decades ago, I don’t know how’d I’d react. I’d like to think I’d be the better man and help him out, but I don’t know that I would.

Some 20 years after the fact when my perp was sent to jail I cheered. When he died in prison I cheered and then I cried. It was very, very mixed feelings.

I merely hope I’m never put in the position described in this scenario, because I think it would test my humanity and my view of myself almost too much.

Comment on Moral Dilemma Friday: Would You Help Him? by Jill Sorenson

Jill Sorenson — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:05:13 +0000

Help him? I’d be tempted to finish him off.

(What a thing to say near Christmas! I’m going to hell for sure.)

Comment on Moral Dilemma Friday: Would You Help Him? by Randi

Randi — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:30:09 +0000

Oh wow, this is a doozy. Well, first of all, I’m with Karen in that I think pedophiles and seriel killers have given up their societal rights. I also think both are incapable of “rehabilitation”. And while I understand that many pedophiles are made, not born (vs. sociopaths, whom I believe are born, not made), they are not animals, and thus, have the ability to CONTROL themselves, though many refuse to do so. With that said, I would call the police, and stick around to make sure they arrive, but I don’t see myself helping.

Comment on So What Will You Be Doing For Christmas This Year? by West

West — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:25:42 +0000

Well, since I’ll be surrounded by my family… I’ll be drinking. What? It’s a valid coping mechanism.

Oh yeah, and I’ll also be doing all the cooking. Ham, turkey, dressing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, potato casserole, rolls, pumpkin pie… yeah, and a whole lotta rum.

Comment on So What Will You Be Doing For Christmas This Year? by Sandra Schwab

Sandra Schwab — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:09:04 +0000

Karen, your menu sounds absolutely delicious! If I bring some homemade ice-cream, can I come, too?

We’ll have the family affair on Christmas Eve (which is the day Christmas is celebrated here in Germany) and will have potato salad and sausage. Two years ago, my Dad cooked a somewhat more elaborate menu, my great-aunt complained about how long the whole meal took, and from then on, the evening was sort of ruined. Hence, potato salad and sausage.

Oh yes, and I’ll provide the homemade icecream (Christmas chocolate, maple walnut, and red berries) for dessert.

On Christmas Day, my Dad will cook his traditional Christmas dinner, consisting of oven-baked goose, mashed chestnuts (yum!), potato dumplings, and red cabbage.

When we’re not eating, I’ll have to work on an article I had to hand in weeks ago … *blush* Not to speak of the dratted dissertation and the pile of corrections that still await me (and they’re going to be horrible: it appears that quite a large number of my students – all of them students of British Literature!!! – don’t even know what the capital of Scotland is. Or who might be the patron saint of Ireland. Oh yes, and some of them seem to think that cotton grows on woolly baa-sheep. *head desk*).

~*~

Merry Christmas and a very happy new year to you!

Comment on Moral Dilemma Friday: Would You Help Him? by Anne Douglas

Anne Douglas — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:34:27 +0000

Call for help, then walk away.

In other words, the least amount I can possibly do to not reduce myself to the level of ‘killer by association’.

Comment on So What Will You Be Doing For Christmas This Year? by Ember

Ember — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:26:13 +0000

We’ll eat for 4 days straight.
~ Christmas Eve at my MIL’s for Oyster Stew and Crab cakes (I’m bringing Artichoke dip and fruit triffle).
~ Christmas morning brunch at my house – sausage / bacon / ham, cheese quiche, various sweetbreads, bagels and lox, coffee bar and mimosa’s.
~ Christmas dinner back at my MIL’s. Ham dinner, with a Lasagna backup. (I’m bringing cookies, pies, and booze)
~ Day after party at my sisters. I’ll be on the road most of the day, so I’ll just be bringing cookies.
~Day after day after party at my sisters, with all the siblings, spouses, grandparents, and kids. Ham and turkey for 30, more sides than there is counter space, and so many desserts we’ll have to keep them in the cars until we clean the kitchen.

Every year we seem to agree we cook too much. Then the next year, we try to outdo the year before.

Merry Christmas and / or Happy Holidays to you, and all your loved ones. I hope 2009 is a year of blessings for you all.

Comment on Moral Dilemma Friday: Would You Help Him? by Ciar Cullen

Ciar Cullen — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:01:18 +0000

I actually faced a weird thing in real life: a very young man, a very good friend (however you define that), with whom I did martial arts for years, was found to be a pedophile, and convicted. I know he was abused by his father (sexually, beaten, emotionally, etc.). This is a kid who would help old ladies across the street, do volunteer work, etc. I don’t offer his abuse at the hand of his father as an excuse, trust me. I offer it as a relevant fact, one that psychiatrists would back up.

I also knew the victims (none raped, but damaged psychologically, surely).

I visited him in prison. I did. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. Part of me felt like I was betraying the victims. Part of me simply felt a strong urge to visit my old friend, even though in my mind he was no longer a friend. As it turned out, he had already been attacked in prison (I’m sure I can hear you all saying “good”), he had basically given up on life, and we ended up praying together. I don’t think it did any harm or any good. I don’t know. But yes, I would help that dying man. Anything else would be vigil ante justice, and I don’t think this country is built on that. We need to change the courts. Until then, we don’t get to punish beyond a criminal sentence, or we’d all be fucked.

Comment on So What Will You Be Doing For Christmas This Year? by Jaci Burton

Jaci Burton — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:55:42 +0000

I’m buried in deadline hell this year, and hosting Christmas for my family, just like I did at Thanksgiving.

So I’m making lasagna, salad and rolls because it’s easy. We did the whole turkey and fixings extravaganza at Thanksgiving but I’m out of time and energy to do it again for Christmas.

Can I have dinner at your house? Yours sounds so good. *grin*

Hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!