Sex Offenders.

The term itself conjures up horrific images of predators, rapists, slaughter. And while this article certainly is not intended to vindicate anyone guilty of those horrific crimes, some clarification as to what the term encompasses seems greatly in order before judgments are cast and recklessly dispersed, as has become the habit of society.

Human rights, after all, does include the rights of criminals. For better or worse.

For the record: It is this editors’ opinion that the worst sexual predators - and let that encompass anyone that rapes and/or with sexual intent kills, maims or brutalizes another - should be given the death penalty, flat out. Or worse, turned over naked to a group of angry women with teeth and blades and let that be the end of that. Justice, tribal style, works well for me.

I don't believe in the Death Penalty, that’s decidedly an issue I am not middle of the road about. For another column, perhaps. But do read the above paragraph again. That’s my bottom line.

Having said; Stating that ‘Sex Offenders’ are the only people that should have absolutely NO rights, as the former editor of this site voiced - apologies, but that is not my opinion, and I'll tell you why:

• Because witchhunts become a prevailing psychological mob mentality that tend towards emotive response as opposed to justice. Anyone remember the McMartin Day care trials of the 80's? Satanic Abuse Rituals and 'recovered memories"? The list is endless and changable when it comes to whatever serves as the locus of our fear, and lets face it – protecting our children has served greatly in the perpetuation of monstrosities committed in the name of justice.

• Because that sort of mindset is the very reason that the world /is/ in the state that it's in. An overweening sense of the 'Us' against 'Them' mentality, with lines deeply sliced to create the chasm which determines exactly which side you are on. The truth is, not a lot separates the boundaries between 'bad' and 'good', which is why laws should be in place for primarily one purpose: To protect us from each other. I know it all helps everyone to sleep better at nights formulating equations that X+Y= E-Vil, but it's not as clear cut as that. Ethics are mutable and subjective.

• Because the term 'sexual predator' can and does encompass 22 year old boys and/or girls sexually experimenting on the internet with 14 year old girls and boys - also sexually experimenting because that's what a healthy adolesence entails. Curiosity is a wonderous experience of life, and sexuality will be a part of that whether anyone likes that or not. Will there be 35 or 40 or 50 year old men and/or women who will and can and do take advantage of that? Absolutely. And that’s why it’s paramount that a parent protect their child from all dangers – not just the obvious ones. It’s not up to myspace or AOL or whichever social networking site-du-jour to filter their database to make you feel more comfortable. In fact, you should feel as discomforted as possible so that you will remain alert. This is how we protect our children, and it has nothing to do with Dateline exposes or farming out the responsibility to corporations to do it for us.

It is more comfortable to blamepoint when tragedies occur, I am aware. Unfortunately it redirects our own guilt in a way that renders us impotent to actually solve the problem. These are not pragmatic ideals to foster in a caring society that seeks only to protect its children,

• Lastly, because in my heart of hearts, I do not believe that Mary Kay LeTourneau was ever a sexual predator. I believe that for reasons unfathomable, she and fell in love in a way that was simply beyond the realms of acceptable social decency. Without making an ethical judgment as regards consensus, she is not in the same category, period. Many others are not as well – and while this in no way is intended to become a justification for those that commit heinous acts, it’s an important distinction to make.

The former editor of this column was a rape survivor. I was a victim of sexual molestation as a child and subsequently raped and abused by a husband in my early twenties. I understand the impetus that is born by powerlessness, but intrinsically believe that there are better ways to heal then kneejerk reactions or claiming the title of ‘victim’. People can and will take power over you. It is not a necessary title of identification to carry for the rest of your life. I am the sum totality of my experience, but in that, no single incident will ever define me.

Should I be angrier? Certainly some will feel that wielding a sword against this injustice is the only appropriate response, and you may be assured that I’ve done some time with that. Within this girl lies the heart of a Valkyrie and as regards any that willfully and through force usurp the rights of others, I am there with a vengeance. But there is also something else equally as radical and, dare I say, even more so in this day and age:

Forgiveness.

For them, for myself. For the parents who might have done better to protect me. For myself. For the husband that I allowed to abuse me. For myself. It’s an endless list and I’d like to tell you it’s an easy job. It’s not. Mostly what I’ll offer is that you can willfully choose the path of victim or victor.

That choice, as with us all, was mine. Was hers. Is yours.

Lastly, there is the question of whether a true sexual predator can be rehabilitated. I’m a person that believes it is theoretically possible. Alcoholics get sober, addicts get clean.. Addiction to anything can be overcome – but most addictions entail only the inherent damage done to yourself. I’m not convinced that the purpose of justice in our society is to put people through endless programs only to have them deemed ‘cured’, to set them free to then rape and harm further.

Frankly, I have always thought that surgical castration was a good solution. If someone can’t honestly control themselves, then is it not our responsibility as a society to control them in order to protect the innocent?

And that is where I stand.