David Caswell has written:
>
> Mitch Wagner wrote:
>
> > There's a difference between homosexuality and pedophilia, though.
> > There's nothing wrong with homosexuality.
>
> Of course, in logic, such a gratuitous assertion can be equally
> gratuitously denied.

Very well, let's subject Mitch's connotative pithiness to
verbose denotation.

In the U.S. today, homosexuality is a minority way of
life. It does not necessarily involve criminal acts, and
homosexuals may often declare themselves without incurring
loss of status or freedom.

The practice of pedophilia today is necessarily criminal.
Even if not practicing, known pedophiliacs suffer exclusion
and other retribution by society.

Ironically, it was much the reverse in Twain's day.
Homosexual acts were often criminal. Known homosexuals
suffered such loss of income and status that it often led to
an early, painful death.

However, pedophiliacs who chose their objects carefully and
inflicted no apparent injury were tolerated in Twain's time
with benign amusement. The only observed taboo incest was
mother-son. Other incestuous unions were common and not
aggressively disguised. Intrafamilial copulation was
considered far preferable to patronizing prostitutes.

Regards,
Vicki
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Vicki Richman              [log in to unmask]           National Writers Union
Morningside Heights, NY        PGP 2.6               UAW Local 1981, AFL/CIO
"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy.
No man does. That's his."                                       -Oscar Wilde
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