Finally, a bit of sanity...

I don't know if anyone else has been following this story, but it had gotten me twisted when I first read it, and I'm glad to see that finally some common sense has prevailed. Even so, it still took far too long...

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/bottom-slapping-case-dismissed/20070820171109990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

So, here's the short version for those who haven't read about this before. There were a couple of teenage boys in Oregon who had engaged in what most of us would consider to be normal teenage boy behavior - butt slapping, teasing girls, and trying to get their sweaty palms on someone's breast.

Now, most of us would agree that this is what boys that age do, and that while it is inappropriate and should be discouraged, it's not a crime - nor should it result in branding these young men for life as sex offenders. Yet that is exactly what almost happened in this case.

A few complaints were made to the school staff, and this is where it got stupid. Not only were the boys disciplined at school and by their parents, but the police were called in. Felony charges were filed, including felony sex abuse. For six months the boys and their parents have had to wonder not only if they would go to jail (yes, jail), but if they would forever be labled as sex offenders - seriously limiting their chances of getting admitted to college, finding a decent job, or even being able to live peacefully in any community.

Luckily, after tons of public pressure, including pleas by the alleged "victims" that they never felt that violated, the judge and prosecutor have shown some common sense and dismissed the charges. From the story, the boys did apologize to the girls they offended, have to pay a small fine to each girl, and will be given some kind of "boundaries" counseling (what is with this new fad of going to rehab for everything from racism to being a sexually curious and somewhat obnoxious teenager?).

But the bigger issue in this is the fact that America can't seem to ever find a happy medium. We don't want our kids to get hooked on drugs, so we turn teenage girls who bring a Midol to school because they have cramps into drug felons. We don't want our kids to get molested, so we accuse anyone who comes near them of being a sexual predator - even if it's as innocent as a teenage boy liking a girl, or a small child giving a hug to a friendly teacher.

Isn't it time we all got a grip on reality and stop making a federal case out of things that shouldn't even be an issue?

Sphere: Related Content