I am old now, numerous children and grandchildren. Lately I”ve noticed no child will meet your eye. Their fear is palpable. Our schools are turning out automatons.
Interaction between adults and children is essential to a child”s social skills. And to us soon-to-be-gone folks they remind us of the joy of childhood.
Teaching kids to fear us adults is something we will and are paying for. Let”s instead teach them observation, esp. Homeland security is using the technique.
You can”t learn people from three or four hours spent at the solitary computer. It”s a make believe world, easy to hide in, not much more.
I defy the schools to borrow convict perverts (it can be worked out with corrections). Let”s have a mixture of course, straight men mixed with temporary paroled men onstage. Let”s teach to feel dangerous people. Let”s teach them about excessive perspiration, nervous eyes, etc. The signs are there. Perhaps then, men can wave to the kids at the bus stop with a smile. Get a wave or two in response.
Incidentally, this makes us more aware of other children and more protective than before. Listen guys, they are branding us. Good divorce material, too. Just invoke “Her dad touches her too much,” etc.
I seriously doubt pedophilia has increased statistically. Ninty-seven percent originates in the home with relatives. Most men I know would lay down their lives for any child. Now I find myself hanging my head down, too, when I pass the kids. I feel terrible, and shame.
Why in the hell should I feel ashamed? Society! Look ahead 50 years. We can presently encourage homosexuality in schools, but not God? Seems to me that the school”s visual aides, programming of acceptance of homosexuality at a young age is doing nothing more than subtly identifying and targeting susceptible youth. Do you think pedophiliacs are only old men? These young vultures are scouring the Internet for prospects. Will they let you see the danger signs? Not on the computer; you can hide too easily there. All this to say, please stop making our children afraid of us; teach them the danger signs and practice understanding body language. We will all profit.
Michael Moore is a resident of Clearlake.
The Observer*American welcomes correspondence about our coverage and about topics of local interest. Viewpoints in this section are the opinion of the author and their appearance should not be construed as a newspaper endorsement. We prefer that letters be typed into the body of an e-mail message (no attachments, please). However, we will also accept neatly printed or typewritten material. Please include your name, address and phone number to help us verify your submission. Address correspondence to:
Letters to the Editor
Clear Lake Observer American
PO Box 6200
Clearlake, CA 95422