My husband noticed a news story yesterday in which a 16 year old "boy" had been accused of raping an 11 year old "girl". If the ages involved in this tragedy weren't shocking enough, get this....apparently the mother of the "girl" was quoted as saying she did not feel the boy should be charged because...it was consensual sex!! AND "they had done it before". Now this just brings up a whole bag load of issues for me. First of all, it seems to me that it is the PARENTS of these two children who should be charged with something. I mean OBVIOUSLY the "mother" of this poor little girl thinks it is OK for her to be sexually active at 11!! And I am not so sure that she is alone in this truly sickeningly dysfunctional thinking. This type of story, sadly enough, isn't even front page news worthy any more. Young...very young kids having sexual intercourse. Am I the only one who still finds this shocking ? Really? I guess we've completely skipped the days when girls and boys were happy to just play hopscotch or hide-and-go-seek ....or to write little notes simply saying "johnny has a crush on you ... if you like him too...check yes" Does anyone remember those days? If you checked the box for "yes" ,you could bet all of your girlfriends would poke fun...saying" Johnny and Katie...sittin' in a tree K_I_S_S_I_N_G....first comes love.." But nowadays I guess this is all skipped and they just go straight for the "baby- in -the- baby carriage " part!! With their parents knowledge apparently.
I was a senior in high school before I had any heated make out sessions. 19 years old before I gave away the keys to my "vault". And even then I was probably the only one in my group of friends who hadn't already allowed a boy past second base. But come on ....11?
Well,God as my witness, no child of mine will be out doing more than just swappin' spit before the age of 16. And with any luck...even later than that!
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.
COLLOSSIANS 3: 20
I wish I could say I'm shocked. Disgusted, yes, but not shocked. I substitute teach in Jr Hi and HS, and I lead a group of middle school girls Wed. night at church. Most of these girls aren't churched, and their families range from wonderful to parents like the ones in the article. We had to call Social Services once already (we started the program in May). Mom left the girl and her younger brother every evening to go to bars... The girl had been raped at least once in her home by a neighboring teenager, and had no one to tell. She was entering sixth grade.
ReplyDeleteYou really don't want to know the statistics on rape, incest, sexual harassment, etc., for young girls. As for parents, just sit in the principal's office and watch the parents chew out teachers and staff for trying to discipline their "perfect little angel" who wouldn't have punched the librarian in the nose if they hadn't been provoked. The teacher should be fired and they're going to sue the school, on and on. This is sometimes the rule, not the exception. I agree that parents need to be held responsible for some of their kids actions. But more than that, they need to care. Unfortunately, no one has figured out how to make that happen.
Thanks for letting me rant. I find your posts thought provoking and entertaining. Keep up the good work.