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The analogy doesn't refer to what should actually manifest in real life. All the analogy refers to is the idea that, largely speaking, our sexual inclinations are something we are born with. You could extend the analogy to heterosexuals too, or bisexuals, or pansexuals.
I actually think that sexual identity can also be molded by external factors. Either way, I don't believe we have any significantly conscious control over it.
The analogy is only useful in making the point that these desires can be just as innate and/or out of one's control as any other sexuality.
Of course, you're right Keith... Homosexuality is markedly different than pedophilia in that the desire translates to a healthy and consensual relationship, where as pedophilia can and will never do so.
I don't even think it's necessarily wrong to consider pedophilia a mental disorder, since it's not something you can ever healthily incorporate into your life, or anything you can act on without harming another individual. To manifest your pedophilic desires in any manner that involves a living, breathing object of said desires is unequivocally wrong, and should be publicly denounced.
Nonetheless, I think it's important to draw distinctions, and not to criminalize or demonize people for something that they would not necessarily choose for themselves.
That's the other really important difference between pedophilia and other sexualities. People like to go on about "born this way" when it comes to gay people, and that's cool, but honestly, even if being gay was a lifestyle choice - so. fucking. what? There is nothing wrong with being anything other than straight, regardless of how you came to be that way.
That's simply not the case with pedophilia. It's a torturous inclination to possess because no sensible and good person would actually choose it. Perhaps they harbor fantasies of a world where that's not harmful to children, but again, any sane individual would be able to distinguish fact from fancy, and any decent individual would care.
Anyway, what I ultimately agree with is a compassionate understanding of pedophilic desires, and finding a way to collectively understand our discomfort. When you reveal the form of something, only then can you go about processing it in a productive manner, and making decisions that have real, long-term benefit.
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