I don't normally climb atop a soapbox, however this is one that needs to be climbed up on.
A dear friend of mine told me about this story sickened and disgusted by the ruling, I'm flabbergasted as to how and why it would be that a judge would assume that a 10 year old CHILD would even understand the concept of consent, when for some 30 year old ADULTS struggle still with the idea.
I'm a firm believer in that "it takes a village" to raise children and with the world becoming increasingly smaller all the time, I can't help but think of my Moira or my Sammy (both 10 and under) having to deal with this and not having the support of her community.
I'm wondering, what could or should be done with regard to this situation? Is there anything we, as a global community, can do?
Tell me what ideas you may have.
It's things like this that I have a tendency to take personally. It's how I am, I can't help it.
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This story leaves me pondering a few things: for starters, exactly what is the reasoning the Aussie gov't has for thinking that restricting the availability of alochol and porn is the answer? Are we talking child porn or pornography in general?
Secondly, as the mother of one of the children mentioned in your comment, I agree that a 10- year old does not have the capacity to consent; but @ what age does one and does that differ for boys and girls? The Aboriginal activist says that there is "Nothing cultural that would allow this decision to be made," while gang rape is another issue, there are certain Aboriginal tribes that still adovcate marriage among teenage girls. As laughable as that may seem to us, for some of these girls and their families, it is a matter of survival. So, is it as this story claims, "rampant sexual abuse in the outback" or is this in some cases a cultural issue? As much as it may sicken us, before we go lynching every tribal male having sex with a minor, one has to ask themselves what the surrounding circumstances are: is it cultural or is it criminal? It may take a village to raise a child, but what if one's village has standards of practice and beliefs that do not fit the cultural norm? Our own village built a "melting pot" out of a group of people that didn't want to be here in the first place and certainly didn't come here willingly; anyone watched "Roots" lately? We tried, successfully I might add, to inter the Japanese during WWII strictly out of fear. I'm not sure if we ever realize that certain other cultures think that we are the ones who should face the firing squad...
As a global community what we should do, is stop being so global. I am not saying to stop being aware, some people even feel it makes them more intelligent if they can discuss issues that are happening all over the world, but start caring about the people in your own corner of society. It is tragic what goes on all over the globe, but find your one issue about which you are passionate and do what you can to fix it in your own community. Because, I guarantee you, in the time it took me to type this response, some 10-year old child was raped in your neighborhood, no matter where you live.
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