Pedophile Nation

American Spectator ^ | 10/18/2006 | Ben Stein

[bennyjakobowski]

Obviously, it's not easy to have a lot of sympathy for Mark Foley. He did some extremely questionable things, and he's being heartily punished for it, with more to come, most likely.

[Warren_Piece]

Interesting theory. I still believe it has more to do with hormones in food, or chemicals, or some other such physical condition that is unique to today.

BTW, early pubescence is an EXTREMELY important issue to me. I have a soon-to-be 9 year old daughter. We've had to make her wear undershirts lately because "developments" are happening. Also, the last week, she's gone into fits of uncontrollable weeping - VERY unlike her normal self.

I was ready to face these things at 12-13. But NOT QUITE 9????

[Tokra]

The fact was that slaves were not deemed to be people at all, they were property just like livestock.

Just like how Islam looks at women to this day. It boggles the mind as to why young left-wing American college women are so infatuated with Islam.

[stacytec]

"100 years ago Americans routinely married in their mid teens."

I understand what you are saying, that teenagers in my great grandfathers days were expected to be "matured" at an early age. But I believe this discussion is about the marketing of sexuality to kids. Its true that many of us mature sexually in our early teens, but having the capacity to reproduce ( and the enjoyment derived from all related activities) carries responsibility that marketing firms don't covey.

That said, I don't blame anyone in marketing or the fashion industry. Their job isn't raising children, they sell products. Parents raise children. It is a parent's responsibility to help teens understand repercussions of their actions. If a parent allows a 15 yerar old girl to leave the house in a miniskirt and a halter top, the parent is acting irresponsible. It isn't the fashion designers fault that mom caved in to daughter.

[Malacoda]

I personally enjoy seeing little girl beauty competitions not to the state of tempting arousal, they can be glamourous, adorable, cute, & beautiful, what part of that is dis tasteful, Actress`s Fashion Models, ShowGirls, Dancers, Ice Capades, Circus, all have a wonderful place in the scheme of things.

Children are not supposed to be "glamorous."
There's nothing even remotely appropriate about tarting a littl girl up and pimping her to the public for prizes, money or vicarious living (for the moms).

[wagglebee]

After forty-some years of the feminazis, most college women seem to be either sluts or lesbians and I think they have zero self-worth. Maybe on some subconscious level they would prefer just to be treated as chattel property.

[steve-b]

But he has raised an interesting issue long overdue for national discussion.

Oh, puh-leeze. Leftie tripe* notwithstanding, he has raised no issue except how severely his individual actions should be punished.

*Sociologist: An expert who can find explanations for crime in everyone and everything other than the people who commit it.

It's long past time something was done to discuss whether this is where we want to go as a nation and a people.

Yes, yes, you are Collectivus of Borg. Unfortunately for you, my power of rational thought renders me immune to assimilation.

[Warren_Piece]

?????

I don't think anybody's discussing any LAWS here. Can we not discuss ways to influence the cultural direction of our country? Or do we ALL have to be libertarian non-conformists?

[trisham]

It's long past time something was done to discuss whether this is where we want to go as a nation and a people.

*************

Stein is right. Thanks for the ping.

[Paloma_55]

"who knows what hormones/neural pathways of the brain are triggered by those images."

---

I am not a doctor or physiologist...just an engineer...but I understand that there are such things as "neural pathways" and these pathways get ruts in them when used often.

I know people who have mental problems and often it appears that they are cycling their brains through a single pathway continuously, getting "into a rut" so to speak. For example, a friend of my wife that is dealing with depression and often suicidal. She has burned a path so hard into her brain thinking about suicide that like water, her brain just naturally flows to the point of least resistance..suicidal thoughts.

Now, imagine you are a kid being exposed to violent or sexual imagery on a daily basis. Your mind is going to wear a rut into the pathways that deal with such material and then even when you are not watching TV, it will naturally flow to those pathways and want to cycle through them.

I dunno...not a doctor.

I have seen a lot of young boys lately who are having an odd problem in school. My grandson is the latest. When asked a question, regardless of what it is, whether he is looking at you, or concentrating on something else, he says "What?"

I think that his mind is getting used to having information flow by it without him latching onto it. When he sees something go by that is directed to him, he doesn't register until it has passed by and so he is forced to recall it rather than hear it, and the "What?" is to confirm his recollection.

I found this happening a LOT, so I made up a game with him.

I would say "Do you want a million dollars?...and pick up your socks". He would hear the first part, latch on to it, and actually hear the 2nd part without a "What?" and respond to the request/instruction.

Of course, then I would have to point out that he was not getting the million dollars..but it was an interesting observation that he would automatically miss the first part of anything I told him.

[Mrs. Don-o]

When Ben Stein says "Pedophile Nation," he's not using the word "nation" to mean all the people of the USA. These days you see terms like "Queer Nation," "NASCAR Nation," etc. (Google "Internet Nation" and you'll see what I mean.)

I think this recent mutation of the word "nation" to mean "community" or "subculture" is unfortunate, but that's how Stein's using it.

[bennyjakobowski]

Do you read what you type?

[sauropod]

As it stands, the culture is selling an entire nation on pedophilia and sexualizing children at an explosively early age. It's long past time something was done to discuss whether this is where we want to go as a nation and a people.

Truer words were never spoken. Great opinion piece!

[little jeremiah]

Also, teenage marriage was - MARRIAGE! Often the young man was a few years older than the bride. Often (usually!) such marriages were lifelong.

People get married now often in their late 20s. It is not easy to remain chaste throughout the teens and twenties. Early marriage, understanding the importance of lifelong commitment, is not a bad thing.

[Nathan Zachary]

You can't be with them all hours of the day, especially during school hours. They pick up most of their information there. (unless you home school).
When they get to be teens or pre teens, you no longer have much control over their wardrobe, they will change at school behind your back, at a friends. Kids are sneaky. You will be surprised at what they admit they did behind your back
after they grow up.
Peer pressure is a powerful force.

[Nathan Zachary]

Yes, Burka will become the fashion after Islam is firmly entrenched in American society. Take a drive around dearborn. You see lots of them.

[Farmer Dean]

Millstone.Ocean.Need I say more?

[B-Chan]

Pukeatronic. Those little-girl beauty pageants are just gross. I advise you to talk to a professional about your tastes.

[Nathan Zachary]

"I'm experiencing a bit of incredulity over this statement."

Me too. Must be some new age revisionist history.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Mark Foley was only doing what homosexuals do, soliciting sex.

Why would anyone have a problem with what he did if they support his right to do it based on his civil rights?

Isn't this discrimination based on sexual preference?

For the record, I think homosexuals should get back in the closet and out of the schools.

[Nathan Zachary]

Sometimes those things happen early. In fact there was a documentry on the topic not to long ago, suggesting girls are 'coming of age' at younger ages these days.
The suggestion was that it is because our dietary habits have changed, the types of foods we eat are triggering earlier development.