Hey, gang. I'm a teacher, and some of the kids I interact with daily are in the 12-15 range. Let's talk about that. /1
I'm also the father of a 6-year-old and a 7-month-old, so the thought that I might have to deal with this sometime in the future is exciting. /2
Anyway, have you had many dealings with kids in this early teens range? They are exposed to a highly sexualized culture daily, and yet many of them are completely timid when the "sex" stuff comes up. /3
They don't have the maturity to handle or process this type of contact or relationship. Many try to act older than they are, but truthfully, it's just not a great time. /4
We're also talking about those wonderful, awkward teenage years when they are really coming into themselves. /5
What Moore did/is accused of doing is not okay. It will never be okay. To act like it is okay is to be perfectly fine with screwing up their perception of themselves, society, and authority. /6
You are aligning yourselves with a belief that children who are already all over the map, emotionally speaking, are perfectly capable of psychologically processing a man more than twice their age groping them. /7
That is, in professional terms, incredibly messed up. You're making a mistake by indulging in the "different time/culture" defense, because allowing excuses just paves the way for more excuses. /8
So, no, there is no scenario, there is no upbringing, there is no time when this is okay. Sorry, y'all. A 30-something man hitting on and full on groping a 14-year-old is not okay, and it never will be. /9
And, you know what? A 30-something man going after a 16- or 17-year-old is just as predatory, too. /10
What's more, there is very, very rarely a time when this behavior just turns off. It may become more difficult for a predator to pull it off, but there are going to be more accusations. /11
If there aren't, that means there is a legal issue somewhere in the past that forced it to stop "or else." /12
I said it yesterday: I made a mistake being "fine" with Moore's candidacy. I am not fine with him and he should step out of public eye for good. /13
The moral man would recognize this and work to repair himself and his family in this time. Whether he is guilty or not, he should recognize what this will do to his family. /14
If you don't recognize the importance of what you're doing to your family in a time like this, then you aren't fit to hold an office as a Republican, which is supposed to be a pro-family party. /15
But, going back to the original topic here, these kids - 14, 16, 17, whatever - are not capable of handling what a 30-something would put them through, emotionally, psychologically, physically, etc. /16
Nor are they capable of handling the public scrutiny after making these allegations, which is why it would take so long for them to come out. /17
But, many of Moore's supporters don't seem to care. The ones that blasted Hillary Clinton (however rightfully) for defending a predator and attacking a young girl on a witness stand are now defending Moore. /18
This isn't conservatism. This isn't the politics I write about and for. This is something darker, more primal, and more appalling as the days go by. No thank you. /end
