Forget Godzilla 2014, This is what Scares Me

Project Spade 2013

Today's Law Enforcement roundup of people caught sharing child pornography online turned up persons who've earned some trusting titles as adults.  Its as if what we thought we knew about child porn has been completely turned upon its head.  

The Jerry Sandusky story was shocking, but it netted just one monster.  Today's bust of 71 potential monsters caught in the net is numbing in its revelation.  Not only are many of the 71 monsters educated, but they're professionals who've earned the trust and respect of colleagues in their fields as well as the respect of their communities.  They're people who prior to this bust, we'd of thought of as good guys and gals.

"Many of the defendants are in fact educated and successful in their professional and private lives," Hayes told reporters. "We can no longer assume that the only people who would stoop to prey on children are unemployed drifters."


What do a policeman, boy scout leader and rabbi have in common?  Trust me when I say the punchline ain't pretty.  Is the internet awakening a monster living in the depths of normal human consciousness or has the monster always been awake and active, only to add the internet as a new tool in its child predatory practices?  It really is a horrific and scary monster to look at, but we must look it straight in the face and learn everything we can about it in order to stop it's terror.  Little lives are at stake. How many can only be estimated in the billions since the internet reaches every civilized community on earth.

Today's bust reminds us of that all valuable lesson of not judging a book by its cover.  There are good books with raggedy covers and bad books with pristine covers.  Until the cover is lifted and you get a glimpse of what's inside, you can't begin to know all the book is about.  It's about time we began uncovering and disarming the monsters.  

There's plenty of work to be done.  It includes reevaluating our own perceptions of sexuality and what we accept to be marketed to us as acceptable stimulation.  When it comes to our children, we adults are who they look to for protection and guidance. If we are doing or allowing things to occur that threaten that protection, how must the children feel about their so-called guides and protectors?