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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (71288)	8/1/2003 8:41:14 PM
From: The Philosopher	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

Can't we just accept as a given that child abuse is an ABSOLUTE no-no and quit throwing it into every discussion? You said child abuse, but I was speaking of adult-child sex, which is not necessarily abusive. In fact, the child can desire and enjoy it immensely. But we still forbit it because we think we know better than the child does what the child should do or enjoy or what the child is entitled to choose to do or enjoy. Rephrasing your question as "can't we just accept that adult-child consesual relations are an ABSOLUTE no-no and quit throwing it into every discussion?", the answer is no. For two reasons. One, as I pointed out, is that it is useful to keep reminding ourselves that society DOES assume the right to control certain aspects of sexual conduct. Some people here seem to overlook that. Second, we need to understand WHY you and others think that adult-child sonsensual sexual relations are an absolute no-no. Because to the extent applicable, it is fair to apply the principles used to justify that position to other relationships, including homosexual ones.

To: Lane3 who wrote (71288)	8/1/2003 8:44:41 PM
From: The Philosopher	Respond to of 82486

Why do you think that child abuse (when I was actually referring to consesual adult-child sexual relations) is an absolute no-no? Earlier, you put out four principles on which people might believe that homosexual marriage is wrong. Can you list the principles are you relying on to say that adult-child consensual sexual relations are an absolute no-no?

To: Lane3 who wrote (71288)	8/1/2003 8:52:27 PM
From: epicure	Respond to of 82486

It's not that it is an absolute no no- because if we look at other cultures (India and Africa where child brides are permitted, for example, we can see it is not absolute) but in this country we recognize that a child cannot consent. Since marriage is a contractual union, it is imperative that the persons entering into it have capacity to enter into a contract and understand what they are entering into. That is why most states have a minimum age AND a capacity to consent. Other countries do not have this. Could we at some time have child brides in this country? Well, we've had them before, we could probably have them again- but they are not an issue when talking about adults who DO meet the minimum age standards and have the capacity to contract.