Tremendous speech; and is it not frightening that so many appear absolutely unable to accept the middle ground? There are ALWAYS shades of grey. I loathe those who insist on saying "everyone is innocent" - which, despite comments to the contrary, we never do here - as much as those who say "everyone is guilty".

All she is rightly and correctly saying is that there are many different elements for many different individuals. Putting everything in black and white is not only wrong but dangerous and unfair (and, I think, should almost be made criminal).

It was so predictable that she would be attacked by the usual suspects

sensible discussion is impossible when sexual assault is concerned.

I've just tried to have one with generally sane and intelligent people who were fuming as the American Psychiatric Association now says they regard pedophilia is an 'orientation' and no longer a mental illness.

My opponents were hot under the collar as they had read a right wing anti-Obama / Obamacare website that claimed the APA were 'pressured' by pro- pedophile groups.

'Who were these "pro-pedophile" groups' I asked.."name them". People believe any hogwash that fits their prejudices.

They also decided that "orientation would be manipulated in court cases"...I said utter bullshit..orientation has never been used in any court case in any country and is no excuse under law...however now the APA had removed pedophilia as a 'mental illness"..they do not support mental illness in US court cases and insanity is a real defense in the USA..so basically they didn't a fucking clue what they were talking about.

Of course like all these people, they fell back on the odious "children's/victims's lives are destroyed"...how dare these morons tell future victims that their lives are destroyed if they are attacked !

morons, morons..everywhere I see morons.

It is indeed frightening for the very few who care in our species; quite simply, the majority are now so simplified by instant gratification that they cannot be bothered to think in anything other than extreme slogans.

Babs is sorting a full transcript of the speech as we speak - so we'll see it all and not just bits cherry-picked by hacks