What is with all these child molesters? College football and basketball coaches. A guy who kidnapped and molested an 8-year-old (when he was 20) made his way into a position of power over children, Hollywood casting director Jason James Murphy. He cast such movies as SUPER 8 (remember, all-child cast basically), the new THREE STOOGES movie, and a few other things for JJ Abrams' company Bad Robot. As a Catholic, it’s a relief that these are no longer happening only in the church, sure, but in the end it’s all very disturbing. Child molesters are the most hideous monsters in our modern society, men (though there are a very few women) who abuse their powers over smaller, weaker, and younger for pleasure, never thinking about the long-term ramifications of destroying these boys' innocence in a most foul way.
In L.A. over 1000 kids were placed into foster addresses with registered sex offenders because nobody thought to cross-check. It seems like molestation is everywhere these days, something that never existed before. But what compels men in positions of power to molest little children – and even more, is this such a new concept?
It may be disturbing to realize that men in power have been having sex with young kids since the beginning of time. Even as recent as the 17 and 1800’s it wasn’t uncommon for sea captains to have sex with the cabin boys on Naval ships, buggery being especially common in the British Navy of those times. The difference is, nobody thought about nor did they seek out this fact. It was just accepted that poor boys would be molested by wealthy or powerful men.
A disturbing part of man’s ambition is this belief that rules and laws can be broken when you attain that power and social standing. This is what makes men think they can molest little boys. This is what makes a beloved coach abuse his privilege and influence. This is the problem with hubris, the problem with men feeling like they are above the law. Many powerful men take pride in their ability to do whatever they want - that is, they act as if they are limited only by their own will; laws, rules, regulations don't apply. They don't look at the consequences to others around them, all they worry about is their own pleasure and achievement.
So now I send out a three-part call to action:
1. Embrace morality. A man isn't judged by what he can do and get; instead he should judged by the depth of his character and, even more, how he treats those around him and how he contributes to society. And just because you can do something doesn't mean it's okay; we must embrace finite morals which dictate how we live our lives. At the core of this is the simple edict embraced by most religions, belief systems, and mottoes - that a man does not infringe on the rights and happiness of his fellow humans.
2. Seek out these deviants and air them. If you think you know a man who is abusing his power over women, over his clients and his colleagues, and especially in the sickening ways we've been seeing recently, over young children, it is your responsibility to bring that man to justice.
3. Better screen against it. This is no joke. When I work MTV events with kids in attendance they perform a background check. And this is for every PA, certainly hundreds of freelance employees. If they can do this, so should any and every other organization in which their men come in contact with children, especially in the case of foster placements and casting calls.
Sorry for the heaviness of this post but, seriously, there is nothing more ofensive, sickening, and disgusting than Uncle Chester the child molester.
- Ryan
