Strong emotion needs careful direction

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 7, 14 July 1987, Page 12

Strong emotion needs careful direction

Child molestation resulting in death, draws out strong emotions among New Zealanders. Emotions such as horror, anger and fear. Convicted child molesters have a difficult time in prisons. Most of us feel very protective towards all our young and innocent. Recently some of us have taken to the streets to express our concern. On television we have witnessed the vehemence of some people's emotions. There is talk of re-introducing capital punishment. It would be a pity if all that energy were directed solely against child molesters. The other day I walked into a room where a group of teenagers were watching a "soft porn" video depicting a gang rape scene.

There was little interest in conversation. When I mentioned the incident to the adults, there was a surge of concern against the depicted abuse of people for entertainment. The emotion of the moment was translated into a resolve to do something about the videos. We cannot isolate the cause of child molestation to individual molesters. They have grown up and live in a mental and moral environment that we sanction by our silence. We are surrounded by dehumanising practices. Before we direct our energy into reinstating the death penalty, it would be more productive to direct against dehumanising practices as we meet them. Neal Wilson