Now that ain't right!

I think it's about time to mention a rather delicate subject again.

I remember back in the 1970's when a Toronto shoe shine boy named Emanuel Jacques was raped and killed by a group of 4 pedophiles. What made the crime all the more horrendous was a report about a pedophiles magazine that actively promoted homosexual relations between men and young boys.

Get this, the title of the offending article was; "Men loving boys loving men," and the response of the gay community in Toronto was "Well, what's the matter with that!" (As if pretending it was within societal norms gave it a veneer of respectability.)

The latest shemozzle, (is that a word?) and the reason I went on this rant today is a report out of Montreal that got me up to high "doe" again! (As in doe, re, me!)

Montreal police are investigating a website that recommends pedophiles attend the city's popular children's summer festival to watch little girls.

The website bills itself as a place to "celebrate the splendor of watching little girls," said a spokesman!

The site gives the festival a five-heart rating, describing it as an event where "there are always plenty of little girls."

"Be sure to watch carefully," the site reads, warning that the festival is "mainly for family, so a single GL [girl lover] on his own might be slightly suspicious."

The listing also provides a link to the City of Montreal's website, which promotes the festival.

Officials with the city said they contacted police as soon as they found out about the link.

Police investigators said they'd already been tipped off about the site and wanted to reassure parents that the festival will be safe.

"I understand parents who could be stressed with that, but on the other hand, I'm telling you, there's nothing to be stressed about," said Montreal police spokesman Ian Lafrenière. "We'll be present. The organization is aware of that and we'll do everything possible to find out what was the intention of those people."

The site says it was influenced by Jack McClellan, a self-identified U.S. pedophile who is notorious for creating websites about "little girl watching." It also lists family-oriented events in California.

These kinds of websites are all too common, said Earla-Kim McCall, an RCMP officer in charge of the National Child Exploitation Co-ordination Centre in Ottawa.

"People interested in these websites are people sexually interested in children," she told CBC.ca. "Prior to the Internet, anyone who had an inclination to be sexually attracted to a child was very isolated and alone, and perhaps would not act on those urges.

"The Internet has allowed them the opportunity to validate their feelings, connect with other like-minded individuals, learn grooming techniques and gain the confidence perhaps to act out. That is what makes it so frightening for parents."

The site explicitly states it does not encourage direct contact with children, but that doesn't mean the web page is legal, McCall said.

"The [Canadian] Criminal Code indicates that if you have any written material that advocates sexual activity, then it's criminal," she said. "Where that line is drawn depends entirely upon the information we come across and whether or not it would support a prosecution."

The site is linked to a web page based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which makes policing it here difficult, McCall added.

But there are ways for authorities to block some sites, as has been done by the Canadian Coalition Against Internet Child Exploitation, a group of Internet service providers (ISP) and police forces.

Your "hang'em high" scribe;
Allan W Janssen