While I respect IG's opinion . . .

. . . and his right to dissent (as I have done myself a time or two), I think the primary problem I have with it is the presentation--that smug, barely-concealed contempt for us and our visions of acceptance and a sexually-open culture, which, despite his convincing himself of it, is not an impossibility. There are no impossibilities in cultural terms--things could literally change overnight, or (most likely) take a generation or two, but it WILL change. I have no doubt of that.

Also, I know that, through my own interactions in society, people would LIKE to understand us. When the topic comes up in a very small group, yes, most of them take the "pedophiles are evil" position, but all it takes is one person saying, "Now wait--don't you think there's a difference between . . ." and they will almost always acknowledge that, yes, there is a difference. Most people are open to us, but they're afraid to admit it. But when someone else starts the dialogue in that direction, more are willing to follow.

As for IG's position, if we admit defeat, then we are defeated, period. Whether or not it makes any difference in the long run, a war for a valliant cause is never in vain. I fight this war as a matter of principle; even when doubts begin to seep in, that is the one factor that ties me to this struggle for good. We deserve our humanity, and children deserve a culture without sexual and bodily shame. That will never change, and so our struggle is a noble one, no matter what society believes or does to convince people otherwise. They are in the wrong.