Letourneau is a predator and don't forget it -- by Susan Payntor

[HuckleB]

Letourneau is a predator and don't forget it

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/paynter/185205_paynter09.html

She can call it anything she wants to now. The love of a lifetime. Star-crossed destiny. Even its hard real name -- the grooming and sexual predation of a student entrusted to a schoolteacher's care that turned into two children, plus a juicy book-in-the-making with movie options.

Convicted child rapist Mary K. Letourneau is out of prison, having done her time and registered as a sex offender. She is back in the spotlight she loves, where she's free to spew and spin whatever romantic rearview of history she likes. It's what the rest of us call it now -- especially those of us in the media -- that worries the counselors and victim advocates at the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center.

...

What it was at the time was a crime. What it is now is up to Letourneau and her victim, Vili Fualaau, who successfully petitioned the court to vacate the no-contact order keeping her at bay. Maybe, as he said, he wants contact in order to collaborate on raising their daughters, now nearly 6 and 7. Maybe there are other reasons. Like the loneliness of someone who has basically been lost since Mary claimed him. Or even the prospect of a more marketable package if they are again together.

But for some who have endured sexual manipulation by an older, trusted adult, the romance novel take on abuse is upsetting, to say the least.

[bemildred]

1. So I guess this writer is not having any of that

"She's paid her debt to society" shit. Or what is she on
about anyway? I don't expect Mary K. is going to get anymore
teaching jobs. Why do we need this reminder? Has Mary K.
threatened to start a Ladies version of NAMBLA?

[HuckleB]

2. Did you read the piece?

[bemildred]

3. Yes. All of it. nt

[HuckleB]

14. Hmm. Then I don't understand your response to it.

[bemildred]

20. Everyone has their limits, I suppose. nt

[HuckleB]

21. Huh?

[bemildred]

23. Exactly. nt

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

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[bemildred]

25. That's what I thought too. nt

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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[bemildred]

36. A compulsion, I would think, the overwhelming need for control.

The need to stave off that feeling of depression and defeat.
But not very interesting.

[HuckleB]

37. Well, good luck with that.

I hope you find something more interesting to do with your time.

[DemBones DemBones]

4. If the author is worried about sexual predators,

she should be looking at NAMBLA members and other serial sexual predators, who harm many people. Letourneau was sexually involved with only one minor. That was wrong, of course, and she just spent seven and a half years in prison as punishment. Now that the boy is an adult and she's out of prison, they will do whatever they decide to do and I hope not to hear any further updates on them. In short, I don't look on it as a love story or as the worst child exploitation of the twentieth century.

[HuckleB]

13. One isn't enough?

Nevermind that most predators get away with most of their crimes. We don't know that she's not a serial offender.

[thebigidea]

5. I'd prefer to forget it along with all the other Petersony tabloid shit

[HuckleB]

15. Unfortunately, the realities of sexual abuse aren't "tabloid shit."

[thebigidea]

30. tell that to Rita Cosby & Company

[HuckleB]

31. So, we should ignore the millions of sex abuse victims?

Because some people sensationalize things and offer skewed versions of reality?

I doubt that this is what you're saying, but I'm not sure what you're saying, so...

[thebigidea]

32. Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Of course.

Being annoyed at tabloid overexposure of this case, Peterson, Hacking, etc. translates into me not caring about millions of sex abuse victims and/or murdered pregnant woman.

In addition, I hate puppies, Spring, and the smell of flowers.

[HuckleB]

33. OK. But this isn't a tabloid piece.

This piece addresses the tabloidization and misinformation being spread by the media in this case. Yet, you responded as if it were just some meaningless headline grabber. Why is that?

[thebigidea]

34. Because I'm actually Kobe Bryant

Sorry, I'm not interested in being used to show how much more compassionate and concerned you are for the plight of the abused. I have to go listen to my Mark Geragos books on tape!

Best of luck with the thread.

[HuckleB]

35. In other words, you had nothing to say but you chose to say nothing anyway

Bizarre.

:eyes:

[JSJ]

6. latourneau is guilty only of self-indulgence, liberties w/ a minor n/t

[HuckleB]

16. In other words, she's guilty of sexual abuse and rape. She's a predator.

Thanks for clarifying that.

[palomaki]

7. Not The profile

Letourneau hardly fits the profile of a sexual predator. People should just leave them alone, since none of us knows them personally. They're both adults now. Let them be.

[HuckleB]

12. And what's the "profile"?

[dumpster_baby]

8. yeah yeah yeah, and slavery is freedom, too

more manipulative crap from the media

[HuckleB]

17. What's your actual issue(s) with the piece?

[Mizmoon]

9. I guess I'm in the minority

but as the parent of a tennage boy, I think this woman IS a child molester. Yeah, she paid her debt and she does get a second chance, but she won't be babysitting for my family anytime soon.

[HuckleB]

11. Well, anyone who actually works with sexual predators...

knows better than to buy the media-fed responses offered by the other posters on this thread. You are right on the money.

This woman was caught once. That doesn't mean she didn't have other victims. And isn't one victim enough?

You are right on the money.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[shrike]

18. They'll have their own reality TV show soon

I'm kidding. (I think)

I've always wondered why, if they are star-crossed lovers experiencing the love of a lifetime, why he and his mom sued the school district for not protecting him.

[HuckleB]

19. Exactly.

[HuckleB]

27. A Brief Synopsis of Child Sexual Abuse from Onset to Adult Life

http://www.childadvocacy.com/articles/archives/001216.php

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

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[HuckleB]

29. Get over it?

Yeah, it ok to allow misconceptions about sexual abuse to pervade the media and popular culture without saying anything. Who cares if people don't understand about how sexual predators work and that MKL acted in every way like the very worst sexual predator of children around. We don't need to promote public health by getting out the information that needs to be out there, if we're ever going to protect our kids from sexual abuse. No. We don't need to do that at all.

:eyes: