We have a child molester on the unit. He did three years in prison for
raping his eight-year-old nephew. He was 21 at the time.
He's changing my mind about what ought to be done with pedophiles. He's
brought up the rape twice in group so far, and mostly he complained
about the effect that the crime and sentence have had on _him_: having
to register under Megan's Law, can't find a place to live, is afraid of
being beaten up by the cops, etc. His tone says he thinks he's being
treated unfairly. He's almost whining.
What he hasn't said is one word about the effect on the _victim_.
There's no sign of remorse, no acknowledgment of the suffering the
victim endured or the psychic scarring he will carry for a long time.
It's self-centeredness to the extreme.
I previously thought that if a molester served his sentence, he should
be freed from prison. I didn't agree with the claim that pedophiles
can't be cured. I didn't like the various ways legislatures have cooked
up to keep them behind bars. Now I'm not so sure.
I also don't like the reaction by the therapists. I suppose they should
focus on the patient they have, but I would think that a major part of
recovery is taking responsibility for one's actions. They (and a few of
the patients) are responding to him as if his grievances are legitimate.
My nephew Michael is 11 years old. He's the closest thing I have to a
son, and I love him. If someone were to molest him, I'd kill the
molester, and gladly go to the electric chair.
--
D.F. Manno | dfmanno@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"They bury your dreams and dig up the worthless/Goodnight/God bless/And
kiss goodbye to the earth/The other side of summer"
|
