So far,
"terrorism" has been narrowly defined, due in no small part to what
the nation defines are its "interests" (e.g., air travel and imperialist
tendencies), and is also shaped by how "terrorist" is defined, namely,
as 'male, age 18 to 35, of middle eastern/Saudi-Arabian descent or residency
(aka non-American), and more likely than not, Muslim.' Whether or not terrorism
is explicitly defined this way I cannot say for certain, but it can certainly
be inferred from the nation's policy on terrorism.
Somehow, parents and others need to exert our authority to define terrorism
in OUR terms. MASPAL could play an instrumental role in expanding terrorism's
definition to that of "a threat to the world's (not just the nation's)
most important interest--children," and whose terrorists hide behind
the favored status and privilege of being American, white, middle-class or
well-to-do, and, more likely than not, Christian.
The possible outcomes might be that the U.S. would have to rethink its knee-jerk
response to annihilate their targets who are merely "suspected"
of terrorism, and to allocate the war on terrorism's billion-dollar-a-day
budget more productively! Moreover, states and federal laws governing pedophiles
would need to be reexamined for the "wisdom" of releasing them into
the public, particularly since "sexual offender registration," like
restraining orders against violent offenders, proves to be an impotent safeguard,
evidenced by the report in the story I forwarded that several ring-members
were registered!
While this makes perfect sense to me, and though I envision positive effects,
there exists formidable opposition with huge resources. The ACLU, for instance,
whose protection of free speech principles negate efforts to ban child pornography
outright. The fact that child pornographers who photograph or film adults
who look like children is another hindrance. I would caution, therefore, against
any hasty resolution of the aforementioned sort, as the consequences and implications
should be carefully considered, and an action and contingency plan fully developed.
Nonetheless, the need for such a resolution is urgent.
Stepping off my soap-box now...
--lwb
(Missoula MT.)
becker_lyrae@yahoo.com
