I just read an Associated Press article in the News & Record (June 9) that began, "A man who had an affair with an 11-year-old..." and I am outraged by the author's choice of words. How on earth can the rape of a child be classified as an affair?
There was an article in the June 5 edition of Parade magazine that addressed the fact that we should watch our language when describing crimes against children, and this is a perfect example. Journalists, especially, should remember that an adult having sex with an 11-year-old is always rape, no matter what the circumstances, and should refer to it as such.
Carolyn Schmid
Jamestown
Comments (12)
Amen, sister!
Posted by truth | June 13, 2005 9:36 AM
Amen, again.
What makes men do things like that, and then the world tries to be all politically corrrect and stuff about reporting it.
Not all men would rape an 11 year old child. However it is my opinion that if given the opportunity, felt they would not get caught, could intimidate their victim enough, they would most definately TRY.
Affair, *rolls my eyes*.
Posted by Lilly | June 13, 2005 4:02 PM
Lilly, your comments are the most sexist and offensive I have read in a very long time. So, in your mind most men would rape a child if they thought they would not get caught? That makes me sick. You make me sick.
Posted by Jay | June 13, 2005 7:22 PM
Carloyn, I agree with you 100%. Thanks for writing your letter.
Posted by Jay | June 13, 2005 7:24 PM
Lilly, young lady. I am going to have to take exception to your post. I am extremely disappointed that you would even consider making such a statement. Only a very few men would even consider such a travesty and they are not men but animals and deserve to be treated as such. I will have to agree with Jay on this one that your remarks are totally sexist and totally out of line. I feel an apology is in order.
Posted by mrproduce | June 13, 2005 8:47 PM
Its just my opinion and I expressed it. Read into it whatever you like.
When I intend on offending I believe I am very clear when I do. This time was not one of those times, so to all you men out there who took offense, sorry.
Mr p you know I'm just here to stir up stuff, make people laugh and express myself. :)
Posted by Lilly | June 13, 2005 9:23 PM
Lilly dear friend, It may be fun to stir up things but this is one subject that should be totally off limits to joking around about. It is such a serious situation in many parts of the world, SE Asia in particular. I know that there are problems here in this country also so it does not lend it's self to joking.
It is bad enough that we have NAMBULA working overtime in this country with young boys and unfortunately being supported by so called respectable organizations.
Peace and understanding.
Posted by mrproduce | June 13, 2005 10:16 PM
Carolyn, First off, I agree with you completely. I, however, would like to add a comment to you. I hope you are outraged enough to track down the person who used the most inappropriate term and let them know it is unacceptable. I doubt they read the "letters" section of the N&R. So the only way they will know is for people to tell them.
Posted by Yvonne | June 14, 2005 12:43 PM
Yvonne,
That's a great idea. Any suggestions as to how I go about that when the byline is "Associated Press"? Certainly you don't think I'm sophomoric enough to presume the author of the article would read my little old letter to the N&R. The purpose of my letter was to call this problem to the attention of the N&R, who printed the article, as well as to the average person who may have read the article and not been phazed by it, having become "desensitized" to this sort of crime because of the language being used to describe it on a daily basis.
Posted by Carolyn | June 14, 2005 9:06 PM
Oops...I meant "fazed" but I'm sure that all of you, in your infinite wisdom, knew that.
Posted by Carolyn | June 14, 2005 9:11 PM
Carolyn, I did not mean to imply you were "sophomoric" or any other negative adjective. I only meant to encourage you to let the author of the article know how you feel. I apologize if you were offended by my post.
Several years ago I was PO'ed about some serious inaccuracies in an article about Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. There was no credit for the article by the printing newspaper, The HP Enterprise. It took several hours on the phone to track down the author but I finally did. I started with The Enterprise.
Today it should be less difficult since the entrance of internet. PC's were not commonplace back then. If you decide to pursue it, I wish you luck.
Posted by Yvonne | June 14, 2005 10:20 PM
Carolyn,
I must apologize to you for getting wound up in correction of a situation which I felt inappropriate.
I must say that I totally agree with you on this matter. It is a subject that is so often overlooked or taken lightly since there is usually little press on these matters. Most cases are heard in Juvenile courts which are in cases such as this usually closed to the public. Only very few make it to criminal court which is a shame within itself but then there are some valid reasons for this also.
At least that has been my experience.
The person who wrote this article should be taken to the woodshed and then taken to meet some of those who have experience this type of travesty. It is not something that goes away as the child grows older even with very good professional help. It will again manifest itself in later years in some of the most tragic ways.
Thanks again for being bold enough to speak up on this subject and again accept my apology for not giving you immediate support.
Posted by mrproduce | June 14, 2005 11:01 PM