Letters posted here are associated with the following article:
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I cant believe our world has changed so much. Its sad that this could happen. I'm 22, what will I have to worry about when I have children? Will I even be allow to raise them in my own fashion- in the way I believe is right and good for them,the way I was raised and made me the person I'm proud to be today- or will I be constantly fearing the loss of them because someone doesnt agree with my methods? Why do others have so much control in our personal lives? If this continues, what will be left of our personal lives??
I've believe that this article is bogus. There's just too much we don't know, such as the ages and genders of the other two kids, and another letter writer has already questioned the Dean Tong connection. Anybody ever heard of "Jody Jenkins" before? Can anyone find a "Patricia Oney" working in child protection in Georgia? Did Salon's editors vet this article thoroughly--or at all? What about that "Lolita"-esque ending?
That some parents seem to think that it is 'cute' or 'adorable' to take pictures of their naked children running around? Never mind what the authorities may or may not suspect or accuse you of, it is a question of common decency or lack there of. It's one thing to take pictures of your babies perhaps, but of children at the age of 8 years old? Even at the age of 3 yrs old is pushing the boundaries of common decency. I'm sorry, but I think that is totally unacceptable. Would you take off your child's clothing on purpose to take pictures of them? Of course not!!! So why allow them to skinny dip and then take pictures of them? What is adorable about pictures of naked kids pissing on a camp fire or skinny dipping? If the parents involved didn't think 'Who wants to develop and look at pictures of my 8 year old naked?' then it is their own damn fault what happened to them. Especially since you don't know whose working at the place where your pictures are being developed? I'm soon to be a father myself, and I would never allow my children to run around naked at the age of 8 years old, no matter where they are or who is around, let alone take pictures of it like it was so adorable. There comes a time when children should be taught humility, and decency and at the age of 8 is well beyond that time. I think the parents involved got taught a hard but necessary lesson that regardless of what other people or the authorities deem as right or wrong, use some common sense for Christ sakes!!!
I FEEL SORRY FOR THESE POEPLE, CAUSE SOME PERSONS HAS A LOSER LIFE. THEY SURE BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEY ACTION, AND THE COMPANY SURE PAY ALSO.
This is from the Health Education section of the C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital website.
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NUDITY AND YOUR CHILD
Feelings about nudity vary from family to family. Exposure to nudity with siblings or the parent of the same sex is fine and continues indefinitely (for example, in locker rooms). Nudity with the parent or sibling of the opposite sex probably should be phased out when a child is between ages 4 and 5 for these reasons:
* Your child will soon be entering school and nudity is not accepted at school.
* Most families in our society practice modesty, so a child who is interested in looking at other people's bodies can get into trouble.
* It is more comfortable for children to learn genital anatomy from siblings and friends of the same age than from seeing their parents nude.
If you agree with these reasons, try the following recommendations to begin to teach your child respect for privacy when he or she is 4 to 5 years old:
* Stop showering and bathing with your child (especially if the child is of the opposite sex).
* Close the bathroom door when you use the toilet.
* Close the bedroom door when you get dressed and suggest that your child do the same.
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What do you suppose these experts would have to say, not only about 8-year-old siblings of opposite genders being naked together, but about them (1) being naked with other children (age? girls or boys?) who are not family members, (2) being naked outdoors in a public place, and especially (3) having their pictures taken by their own dad while they are naked and then having a local drugstore--where people might know these kids--develop the film?
I'm the father of two girls, 7 and 8, and would not allow them to be naked in the presence of my best buddy or any other adult male, or in the presence of boys their own age, for that matter, and I sure wouldn’t violate their privacy by photographing them nude at their age or let anyone else do that either.
But I guess some people who enjoy looking at naked kids and photos of naked kids like to hide behind fancy arguments about “freedom. They sure are free with the insults for anybody who doesn’t agree with them. I think some such people are hiding out on this thread, tut-tutting everybody that this is just a little matter of some people being too "uptight" about "nudity."
Well, boundaries are important, and saying so doesn’t make anybody a prude except in the opinion of selfish jerks and perverts who can’t think beyond the end of their own nose--or other body parts.
The bitter irony is that the agencies who are meant to protect vulnerable children were those who caused your children harm, not you. The children were deeply troubled by the investigation, but not by their harmless exploits on a camping trip. Surely there are grounds for compensation when an investigation proves groundless? Even for the investigating case officer to sit down with your children and say something like "we had to make sure that you weren't being hurt, but we now know your mummy and daddy would never hurt you".