Misdirected Hatred

Much has been written recently about homosexuals preying upon young boys. I would like to clarify something important: Men who attack, seduce, rape or molest young boys are not homosexuals, they are pedophiles.

Pedophiles are dangerous criminals. Fear and loathing of them is entirely appropriate and justified. They should not be Scout leaders, teachers, clergy, baby sitters or anything else that gives them contact with children or youth.

More serious penalties should be applied to their crimes, and we should be screaming, calling talk shows and writing letters to the editor about them.

To our peril, all of the hatred that we should be venting at pedophiles has been totally misdirected toward homosexuals. Men who love other men and women who love other women are not the predators our children need to be protected from. Most homosexuals are just as sickened by pedophiles as heterosexuals are.

Discriminating against homosexuals by keeping them out of the Boy Scouts and preventing them from marrying does not do anything to protect our children. Furthermore, while our attention is focused on the wrong issue we are not protecting children from the danger of pedophiles.

JANET ROWE

Camarillo