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| Last updated at 8:32 AM on 04/11/09 |
Judging language 
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The Telegram
Regarding the article in The Weekend paper concerning the sentencing of a man from the Northeast Avalon ("Man who abused daughters gets eight year jail term," Oct. 31).
It is disturbing to read that he sexually abused and assaulted his own daughters for years, starting with molestation at the age of nine and progressing to intercourse at the age of 12.
Judge's comments disturbing
But it is also disturbing to read a comment by the presiding judge over the case, as quoted in The Telegram, in which the judge says, "given (the girls') ages it seems to me that this is bordering on pedophilia."
"Seems" like pedophilia? "Bordering" on pedophilia?
Is the man in question not a pedophile simply because it was his own children he sexually assaulted?
I am shocked and furious at the apparent ignorance of this judge.
By the book
Here are two Cambridge dictionary definitions for Judge Greg Brown to consult next time he is commenting on someone who sexually assaults their daughters.
Why he should be so careful in his discussion of a rapist and pedophile is completely beyond me.
Pedophile: "a person, especially a man, who is sexually interested in children."
Child (plural children): "a boy or girl from the time of birth until he or she is an adult, or a son or daughter of any age."
I am quite sure that I am not alone in my outrage.
Annemarie Christie
St. John's
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04/11/09
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Concerned Parent from NL writes: For anyone to perform such sick and disgusting acts against minors, let alone their own children, infuriates me. Then to have our justice system hand out such sentences makes me lose faith not only in the system itself, but in mankind as a whole. I hope he rots in hell!! You can blame it on mental illness, social problems, whatever you like, it really does not matter. In my mind, to ruin somebodies life, to treat them worst than you would the dirt under your feet, there is no rehab program in the world that will fix this person. Lock them away from the world where they can't do any more harm, or make away with them.
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| Posted 04/11/2009 at 9:02 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Donald from NL writes: Really, Concerned Parent; there is no rehab programme that will work? As a mental health counsellor I have to wonder which academic journals or experts have you been consulting to come to this conclusiion? (Dr. Phil doesn't count) A *little* knowldege is a dangerous thing.
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| Posted 04/11/2009 at 9:58 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Concerned Parent from NL writes: Try: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm if you want.
Quotes like: Sex offenders were less likely than non-sex offenders to be rearrested for any offense –– 43 percent of sex offenders versus 68 percent of non-sex offenders are probably the type of feel-good rehab numbers that you refer to. I apologize for my opinion, god forbid I should have one!! However, in my book, and this is my opinion, exposing children to a 43 percent recidivism rate is not good enough. Almost half of sex offenders, according to this study (it is a US study, so maybe Canadian sex monsters fare better), and it is only one study, will go on to destroy more lives. And information like, Sex offenders were about four times more likely than non-sex offenders to be arrested for another sex crime after their discharge from prison , probably sounds ok to you in your profession. Maybe for you, that's ok, given that a little more than half of these scumbags that have already ruined peoples lives (as they have already been convicted of doing so) get to re-establish themselves in society and lead their lives while their victims still suffer??? Sometimes a lot of knowledge, as you pertain in your case, can be just as dangerous.....in my opinion.
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| Posted 04/11/2009 at 12:09 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Eli from CBS, NL writes: Not the first time it occurred to me some of our judges are on another planet. Greg Brown is for sure.
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| Posted 04/11/2009 at 1:49 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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doesn't matter from St. John's, NL writes: Maybe the judge is like this scumbag//////////// Retire/resign while you can, or get another job judge brown.
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| Posted 04/11/2009 at 2:14 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Donald from NL writes: But you said that there 'is no rehab programme in the world that would fix this person.' You have just disproved your prior statement. Aren't you glad that my response motivated you to research? Now, perhaps you might want to address these anger issues that you seem to be experiencing.
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| Posted 04/11/2009 at 2:19 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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DeeBee from NF writes: Donald, I am not a doctor or mental health professional, as you claim to be. And while I have done some psychology courses at MUN 20-odd years ago, I never earned a degree in it, nor did I make psychology my profession; however, I think my life experience would qualify me to state pretty categorically: 'You cannot change what (or who) someone finds sexually arousing.' If you could, I wonder how many gay and lesbian people would opt for such behaviour modification to avoid potential discrimination for their entire lives? You may teach pedophiles to control their behaviour, but, like a drug addict, the craving will never go away and the chance that they will reoffend is pretty strong. Even if it's burned into their brains that what they're doing is wrong. Most child molesters already know that their behaviour is socially unacceptable, but it doesn't prevent them from trying to get away with it. I wonder if this judge would be as detached if it was the children of a friend or relative of his who had been abused...? Monsters exist in our society. You have only to read the article above to see that's true. The only options available, in my opinion, are to destroy them or lock them away from the general population forever. Or else, hire liberal bleeding hearts to stand next to pedophiles 24/7, looking over their shoulders to see what they're doing. You leave 'em alone, they'll be looking for kids.
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| Posted 04/11/2009 at 3:27 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Marsha from Glovertown, NL writes: Donald, I think he might also have something of a superiority complex here. Then again, a mob mentality is nothing new here. I can just see this bunch with pitchforks and torches descending on the courthouse.
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| Posted 04/11/2009 at 3:27 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Taxpayer ll from NL writes: Hey Marsha, I wouldn't be carrying a pitchfork, but a meat cleaver (to chop off his you know whats) if one of these sub humans ever touched one of my kids.
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| Posted 04/11/2009 at 4:13 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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