Will the loony left rape your daughters?

[DodgyAgent]

I'm a bit concerned about the accusations. A group lobbying for lowering the age of consent is basically spreading an opinion, and surely they should be free to do that, regardless of how objectionable we might find that opinion. In the current climate, where paedophilia seems to be regarded as one of the worst crimes anyone can commit, I think it's quite scary that people can be accused of being or supporting paedophiles on the basis of expressing an opinion. This is starting to look like a witch hunt.

You are of course perfectly right. We have all done things in the past that we would not do today. Society evolves and so do we.
However you are missing the point which is the hypocrisy of the likes of Harriet Harman:

Harriet Harman may be reluctant to speak out now, but when the Jimmy Savile scandal exploded in 2012, she loudly demanded a judge-led inquiry.
She toured television and radio stations proclaiming ‘we need to get to the truth’ for the sake of child abuse victims.
She flatly rejected any notion that attitudes had changed or that it was a ‘different world’ years ago, insisting even in ‘historic’ cases, there were lessons to be learnt.
Harriet Harman is reluctant to speak out now
In October 2012, Jimmy Savile was revealed to have abused children at schools, hospitals and the BBC
Silence: Miss Harman has said only that the Mail's story is 'untrue and ridiculous' but has refused to answer any questions, as have her husband, Jack Dromey, and their Labour colleague Patricia Hewitt
Miss Harman even lectured Parliament that, whatever injustices had occurred in the past, they should be dealt with now to protect others in the future.
Her battle cries of 2012 contrast sharply with her silence in the past week in the face of questions about her role in the paedophile-supporting National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL).


We can all play devils advocate so I would like to add that Jimmy Saviles exploitation of children was a natural consequence of the attitudes promoted by the NCCL which makes her complicit in the attitudes of that generation.

[Mich the Tester]

the hypocrisy of the likes of Harriet Harman:
[I]

I am not denying the hypocrisy of Harperson, far from it; I'm concerned that people are being judged today on the standards of the past and people are being portrayed as supporters of paedophiles simply because at some time in the past they debated the issue and expressed opinions that are today considered abhorrent. Any other reason to have a go at Harriet Harperson and I'd usually join in; I can't stand the woman, but I think all this is way out of order.

[MicrosoftBob]

Lol her new monicker is appropriate 'Harriet Harmboy'

[DodgyAgent]

I am not denying the hypocrisy of Harperson, far from it; I'm concerned that people are being judged today on the standards of the past and people are being portrayed as supporters of paedophiles simply because at some time in the past they debated the issue and expressed opinions that are today considered abhorrent. Any other reason to have a go at Harriet Harperson and I'd usually join in; I can't stand the woman, but I think all this is way out of order.

Does that principle apply also to Jimmy Savile?

[expat]

I am not denying the hypocrisy of Harperson, far from it; I'm concerned that people are being judged today on the standards of the past and people are being portrayed as supporters of paedophiles simply because at some time in the past they debated the issue and expressed opinions that are today considered abhorrent. Any other reason to have a go at Harriet Harperson and I'd usually join in; I can't stand the woman, but I think all this is way out of order.

If I'm not mistaken, Harman is not accused even of having "some time in the past [...] debated the issue and expressed opinions that are today considered abhorrent": she was employed by the NCCL, which had itself allowed PIE to affiliate some time before she joined it. It's a typical Mail smear campaign, i.e. slimy and dishonest. Some people here ought to be above the Mail's level (and some clearly aren't).

[Mich the Tester]

Does that principle apply also to Jimmy Savile?

Harperson was a member of an organisation that spread certain opinions that both you and I find objectionable, or included an organisation that spread those opinions.

Savile is alleged (a shame he can't be tried now) to have abused his position to have sex with people he knew were underage, including physically and/or mentally sick children in hospitals.

I don't think you can really compare the two.

[Mich the Tester]

If I'm not mistaken, Harman is not accused even of having "some time in the past [...] debated the issue and expressed opinions that are today considered abhorrent": she was employed by the NCCL, which had itself allowed PIE to affiliate some time before she joined it. It's a typical Mail smear campaign, i.e. slimy and dishonest. Some people here ought to be above the Mail's level (and some clearly aren't).

I stand corrected and that makes the claims against her even more spurious.

[MicrosoftBob]

Harperson was a member of an organisation that spread certain opinions that both you and I find objectionable.

Savile is alleged (a shame he can't be tried now) to have abused his position to have sex with people he knew were underage, including physically and/or mentally sick children in hospitals.

I don't think you can really compare the two.

One facilited the other though, just like a concentration camp guard didn't directly kill anyone

[expat]

Harperson was a member of an organisation that spread certain opinions that both you and I find objectionable.

Mich, I know you might think it irrelevant, but do you really think this "Harperson" jibe is worth your breath? It's a bit 1970s laddish, not really funny.

[Mich the Tester]

One facilited the other though, just like a concentration camp guard didn't directly kill anyone

Oh come on, we're going from the facts, which expat correctly described, of a woman who ran an organisation that included another organisation campaigning to lower the age of consent, to comparisons with concentration camp guards. OK, it's CUK, but this is completely irrational. I don't like Harriet Harman or the Labour party, I don't agree with lowering the age of consent or 'supporting paedophiles', but comparing Harriet Harman to a concentration camp guard is really getting silly and actually pretty sick.