HEADLINE

Pedophile Suspect Caught in New Jersey, by DAVID PORTER, AP. Posted: 2008-05-08 15:47:48 Filed Under: Crime News, World News (on AOL). NEWARK, N.J. (May 8) - "Wayne Nelson Corliss, 58, was arrested Thursday morning in his Union City apartment. He is suspected of sexually abusing at least three boys from Southeast Asia thought to have been 6 to 10 years old, according to the international police agency."



Few issues rile my senses as much as child abuse. Millions of faceless, nameless victims suffer child abuse every day in the USA. Many more millions suffer atrocities throughout the world. These defenseless children need more adults to stand up, become their voices, their advocates, their protectors.

Child abuse has, unfortunately, been inflicted for centuries. Although we've made some progress, no community or country has managed to stop abuse.

Recently, Interpol has appealed to the public in order to catch their most wanted criminals. Mr. Wayne Nelson Corliss, 58, of Union, New Jersey, was Interpol's most recent appeal. He is accused of sexually abusing young boys, ages 6 to 10 years, in Southeast Asia. This particular area of the world, as many other overseas countries, has a high percentage of very young girls and boys being abused by adults who should protect them. Television undercover specials have shown roomfuls of these children, as middle-aged men come to look over the "goods," haggle about prices, and eventually, have their way with the child (or children). Their pimps (their abusers) loudly proclaim which 5-year olds know how to perform oral sex, and which have yet to have intercourse. The children speak openly about what they can do--what they know of sex! No little girl or boy should ever see adult genitalia for the purpose of adult gratification. Sadly, these children see far too much for their young eyes.

The children--from some of the poorest countries and neighborhoods--know very little of a "normal childhood." Whether their parents permitted them to enter the sex industry, or pimps procured orphan children, none of the minors have access to any adult courageous enough to stand strongly between the child and the forthcoming abuse.

If the Court finds Mr. Corliss guilty of the charges raised against him, I believe the punishment should be strong--and swift. Unfortunately, often the Courts only punish with very short minimum sentences.

It's time for the World to revise sentencing of child abusers. Sexual abuse of minors demands life sentences, especially when victims are pre-teen, and mandatory restitution to the abuser's victims. Every cent a convicted abuser earns should go to the children they hurt. Victims certainly receive life sentences of many "abuse issues" that plague them throughout their lives. Powerless, helplessness, shame, poor self-image and body image, and the perception of a lack of future are only some of the problems child abuse victims suffer through adulthood.

The past has shown that "counseling" and "aversion therapy" fails to rehabiliate sexual abusers. Studies support that little helps change pedophiles' thinking and behaviors.

Neighbors and friends of Mr. Wayne Nelson Corliss expressed disbelief that this supposed kind and witty man could ever do such evil and vile acts against children. Unfortunately, kindness and personality have little to do with identifying who will or will not abuse minors. Children become victimized partly because the abuser's outward demeanor seems "so nice." Pedophiles would be easier to spot if they acted like people expect abusers to be: someone vile and evil. Society must recognize, finally, that even "the nicest," "most giving," and "very sensitive" adults (both men and women) can (and do) hurt our children.

When society finally wakes up, realizes the harm abusers do, and become ready to enact stricter punishments, maybe then parents can rest easier, knowing that any convicted abusers will stay in jail until they die. And, possibly, abusers will take notice that acts against children will cost the abusers their own lives if they choose to victimize a minor.

Congratulations Interpol. And, thank you to the thousands of citizens who called and E-mailed their tips in this case.


Judith