tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406735243358830427.post5837348160640210695..comments2012-08-27T07:30:47.517-07:00Comments on Rabbits and Hawks: My Censorship Story (or, what I did with my summer vacation)Melanie Blowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08962006092584531830noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406735243358830427.post-20486437157148972682012-08-27T06:11:41.942-07:002012-08-27T06:11:41.942-07:00Hi Fiona. It's funny, I had a friend try to co...Hi Fiona. It's funny, I had a friend try to comment here, and the said he couldn't, but he showed me the comments through another way, and they were very similar to yours. The funny thing is that I don't think you can make non-abused kids afraid of sexual abuse. I used to work at a regular-old day camp with regular-old kids, and when I was trying to explain why things like hitch-hiking was bad, and I'd start to lay out the concept of sex abuse, I'd just get blank stares. Kids are protected from fear of this by their own innocence. Then as they get older and sexual activity becomes part of their universe (even if they, themselves, aren't sexually active they have peers and siblings who are) they can't wrap their mind around the possibility that they can be victimized. I think that when adults talk about protecting kids from undue fear, they're expressing their own. Adults are responsible for keeping kids safe. There are no two ways around that. One facet of this is to make sure they have knowledge of the dangers in this world, and that knowledge is appropriate and correct. And one of the best ways to educate people and bring about effective change in this culture is thorugh entertainment. <br /><br />As for the library thing... I didn't know whether to laugh or cry as I read that. Libraries are supposed to have things like the complete works of Shakespear, classics of the western cannon... things that aren't in high demand but are unspeakably useful for people trying to truely understand this culture and nation of ours. <br /><br />Thanks for reading!Melanie Blowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962006092584531830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406735243358830427.post-72927187082997445912012-08-26T13:29:43.264-07:002012-08-26T13:29:43.264-07:00By the way, the comment by a librarian that the pu...By the way, the comment by a librarian that the purpose of the library is to provide the community with books they want to read. I am sure my librarian mother would beg to differ! Libraries are there to provide more than what we already know, for goodness' sake. Shame on that Lancaster PA library!<br />Fiona DudleyFiona Dudleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12372150118745115390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406735243358830427.post-91531108474131200802012-08-26T13:26:35.261-07:002012-08-26T13:26:35.261-07:00Hi Melanie,
You make some really good points here....Hi Melanie,<br />You make some really good points here. What most sticks in my mind is the point that victims become defined by their "victimness".<br />I also agree with you that the only way to fight something we all must surely agree is evil, is to expose it to the light of day. Censoring or glossing over the truth doesn't accomplish that. In fact, I suspect that keeping something in the shadows can actually be more scary - especially for kids. I've never had kids (unless you count all my furry ones) so I don't know. But I think if I did have kids, I'd try to find a way to keep them safe by keeping them honestly informed. Sure, there are different levels of information for different ages but I'm sure it can be done.<br />Parents, teachers, family and friends can't recognize problems or even be tipped off to look a little closer if they are not educated on such an important issue as child abuse either.<br />I admire you for your direct engagement. Be assured you are making a difference.<br />Fiona DudleyFiona Dudleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12372150118745115390noreply@blogger.com