The Union Leader often annoys me, occasionally entertains me, but sometimes, infuriates me. Monday's top-of-the Front Page photo, depicting a young man with his mom looking up, so proudly and adoringly at him made me want to scream, yak, then pray. Another 50 cents wasted on something that can't even be left on the table when kids are around, unless fully read and sanitized. Another good reason to only grab it occasionally off the stand rather than be exposed daily. I will continue to pray for the victims of this crime.
To claim they didn't know that; 15-year-olds were minors, and that he wasn't, flies in the face of even the most liberal of doubts. Statutory rape laws are older than me. It is unreasonable to believe that he didn't know he was committing a crime, unless all the sex-ed in the public schools now completely ignores common sense; abstinence, common law; rape, and common knowledge; beware of dad, because it's focused on more important lessons like safe sodomy and such.
Didn't his mom teach him that "ignorance is not an excuse"? Obviously not, because she claimed it too. His actions also appear to be defended by her and even humorously referred to as "memorable". I guess I am getting old, thinking teen sex is wrong, especially when they can just get a chemical abortion from any pharmacist now, or a surgical one, without anyone knowing, at any age, in this wonderful state. You don't even have to be a resident of our "Mecca for minor abortion". Maybe we should abolish all the laws restricting minors from everything else.
When creepy people discard all pride and morality to gain some TV or print fame, it is almost as disgusting. I won't even glance at that lie detector show, unnamed on purpose, because of the expected displays of human depravity; guaranteed to appear. The sponsors of such filth are no better than the creeps they showcase. It is as if the world is now a tabloid-covered soap opera where victims fade, and evil leads.
For the Union Leader to publish that photo was an added assault on that child and her family. Emotionally, it was an assault on me. I perceived it as an attempt to make some new news, regardless of the potential victims. Pardon my paranoia and pessimism, but these days it couldn't stay out of my thoughts; perhaps, was it intended to anger the poor father beyond reason? Knowing the case, how could they not consider the potential for the additional aggravation of a wounded soul? I consider it to be an example of reckless journalism, at best.
Were that father to snap, or be caused enough grief to break probation because of that picture, I would try to be on the courthouse steps; calling for Joe McQuaid's head. At the least, I'll blast about it. I pray the dad doesn't give in to the devil's wiles again. We should all pray for the victims of this deplorable crime, and of the original assault.