a comment on the times

a comment on the times

2 June 2020    
from a life less lonely

leonard johnston 

 

How being in a minority helps me to view other minorities.

 

Given the turmoil here in the US with the death of George Floyd, with all the riots and protests, I cannot imagine staying quiet. And yet, I cannot imagine what I could possibly post that would help. How could anything I say be useful in this national dialogue? Who'd even want to listen to me?

I will just say this. I would prefer not to be a pedophile, but my pedophilia has given me some good things, and one of them is that I view the experiences of minority groups with a more accepting eye. Knowing how society views me makes me think about how society views others. Knowing that society discards my views makes me less likely to discard others'.

If you really listen to the experiences of Black and Latinx people in the US, and if you really look at law enforcement statistics, then I believe you must see a deeply unjust situation. I don't see this as a one-sided issue; I support and depend upon the hard work of police as well, as do we all. However, that does not excuse fundamentally and systemically ignoring injustice, as we are often told to do.

So I ask you, if you've taken anything from this blog, even if you leave still thinking that I and all pedophiles are the lowest scum, consider the perspectives of all, especially those most marginalized. If you truly listen and trust other people, and if you believe in the good intentions of others, then you can start to see the truth they see.

When you truly listen to and trust other people, when you truly believe in the good intentions of others, you learn a great deal.



You can find the original article, along with reader comments (and the opportunity to leave your own) at Leonard's blog.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

your mind changes you

 

a note on the costs of self-hatred

 

three pedophiles in helpless by barbara gowdy

   

jakob

I was a very confused teenager, and I actually went from being straight in my own mind to being gay. And, you know, then being a pedophile...

 

leonard johnston

Empathy is important, especially for those who are most hated - even by me.

 

ethan edwards

This 2007 book is the story of an exceptionally beautiful 9-year-old Rachel who is kidnapped by a pedophile. His fantasy is to keep her safe from the danger that he has imagined she is in. His plan is crazy and he eventually releases her, and the story is about what happens in the mean time. Here ...

 
 
 
your mind changes you
jakob

I was a very confused teenager, and I actually went from being straight in my own mind to being gay. And, you know, then being a pedophile...

 
 
 
a note on the costs of self-hatred
leonard johnston

Empathy is important, especially for those who are most hated - even by me.

 
 
 
three pedophiles in helpless by barbara gowdy
ethan edwards

This 2007 book is the story of an exceptionally beautiful 9-year-old Rachel who is kidnapped by a pedophile. His fantasy is to keep her safe from the danger that he has imagined she is in. His plan is crazy and he eventually releases her, and the story is about what happens in the mean time. Here ...