I like words. Long words. Complex words. Words that carry subtle undertones. Let’s face it, I’m a pedant. But I also learned — after many years of public speaking and writing — that simple words can often be more powerful and send a stronger message.
Case in point: “pedophile.” It comes from the Greek (paidos, meaning “child,” and philia, “friendly love”) and it is a psychological term — and it sounds like one. It is too long, too scientific-sounding, too “intellectual” to carry a gut punch.
“Sex abuser” is stronger, but not strong enough. “Child molester” is strong, and “child rapist” is stronger still. You don’t need a college education or even a high school diploma to understand words like these. They bypass the higher brain functions and hit you in the gut.
Hardened murderers serving life without parole want nothing to do with this class of people: Life Behind Bars: What Happens to Child Predators in Prison?
Inmates convicted of child sex crimes are at the bottom of the prison hierarchy, universally despised by other incarcerated individuals, including those who have committed violent crimes such as murder. The stigma surrounding these offenses leads to severe ostracization. Prison culture places significant emphasis on a criminal code that, ironically, does not tolerate crimes against children.
We do not tolerate crimes against children. The words we use for such crimes need to make that point, to hammer that point, to hound these criminals with that point. “Pedophile” is too weak, too pedantic, for the job.
Trump is alleged to be a child molester. Trump allegedly raped little girls. Trump was part of the Epstein Class which, according to a number of claims, allegedly bonded over child rape and who are said to have passed around children to be raped.
Does that hit you in the gut?
