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Thank for taking my call earlier (Jim).  I did want to clarify here what I said about the psychology of the children, because I didn't mean victims rights.  What I meant was, how do we overcome those massive obstacles that prevent kids from bringing the issue to their parents or peers?  The taboo of homosexuality in the Scouts (again, not trying to stir up that debate but it is undoubtedly a factor peer-to-peer) only fuels this fear and makes it even less probable that the victims will come forward.  Toss the confusion of puberty into the mix and you have a recipe for repressed silence.

And yes, I agree completely with Patrick, the molestors do see this as a romantic tender love.  I experienced that firsthand and I can tell you that it was indeed an eerie seduction.  And I strongly believe he expereinced a sense of "lover's betraryl" when he was finally uncovered by one of his victims.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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In the same timeframe as this case, myself and allegedly others were molested by a Scoutmaster that was, due to his service record, virtually above reproach.  The only thing that kept the case under wraps was the fact that he committed suicide the day before the grand jury indictment against him, which even prevented his name from being released into the local media.  There was only a passing mention in the newspaper of a "dismissed case against an alleged child molester," without any Scout mention whatsoever.  I wasn't the one who came forward and in fact lied to the investigators at the time.  I was about to go to college and did not want to relive it all.  I came to regret that selfish act later but took some consolation in the fact that he was dead and could not injure anyone else.  From the bits and pieces I've heard via OPB, the parallels between my case and this one are horrifying and difficult to hear, particularly the sleepovers.  We were all working class kids, many of us with overworked single mothers who were more than happy to have a  highly-decorated, grandfatherly figure watching over their children from time to time.  Surely those molested would say something, right?  The silence was so total that we did not even discuss it between one another, although I do remember catching the occasional odd sexual innuendo that clued you in that something was going on with others.  I don't know, I might call in if I get the nerve.  I already feel my anxiety level going through the roof, though.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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