Incest: A Touchy Subject
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
March 21, 2009 2:12pm CST
With all of the publicity generated by the recent case of incest by a father who kept his daughter prisoner for 24 years and fathered seven children by her, I suppose you'd have to be living under a rock not to have heard a bout it. That is why a Yahoo News article caught my attention today about this very touchy subject. I'm sure that for most of us the very idea of incest is morally reprehensible, but I was shocked to learn that incest is not considered a criminal offense in a number of European countries. This begs the question: Are those countries more forward-thinking and less judgmental than most of the world? The article also pointed out that while some people believe that incest should not be a criminal offense if it is practiced between consenting adults, it is still morally wrong.I woul;d like to know where some of you stand on this issue. I have always viewed incest as criminal because it signifies that a stronger person is preying upon someone who is weaker. I must say, though, that in recent years my eyes have been opened to the fact that in some cases it seems to be consensual. There are those who believe that what goes on in their bedrooms is nobody's business, but that is not a valid argument to me.
7 people like this
11 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
22 Mar 09
Sadly enough there are certain states in the USA that allow first cousins to marry. I was shocked to read this news. It is not like we are living in times when there weren't enough available singles around that we only had our cousins to choose from.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Mar 09
It's all due to our permissive society, Elusive. You can bet that there is someone with a hidden agenda behind any such legislation.
2 people like this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
22 Mar 09
As a senior who has been on the internet for many years, let me say that my eyes have been opened. Incest is very common in society today. There are lots of people who are born from incestuous relationships. Farmers use inbreeding to strengthen positive qualities in the offspring of Cattle, Horses Sheep, and other Farm animals. A prize bull will often be bred to his daughter to enhance his strong points in his offspring. In-breeding is not dangerous to the offspring in the first few crosses. If this in-breeding is carried on for generations (like in Royal families in Europe) there will be definite problems.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Mar 09
Allowing that everything you say is true, barehugs, does acceptance in some circles of society then make incest right?
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
22 Mar 09
There are a Great many things in this life that are neither Right nor Wrong, and many who are willing to rush in with their opinion. Who am I to Judge right or wrong? From where I sit, this would not be my choice, but if I were seated somewhere else, Who can say without being Judgmental?
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
22 Mar 09
I don't know any country in Europe where Incest is legal or not taken as a crime.
In the case presented, daughter was kept against her will, it is slavery...and not only incest....
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
23 Mar 09
This is something new to me....if the article was correct....I have to check it out...
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Mar 09
The article I cited, pola, names France and Spain as two of the European countries where incest is not a crime.
@Galena (9110)
•
22 Mar 09
I find it rather wrong, and quite an uncomfortable thought.
however there have been cases where, for example, they weren't raised together and met as adults, where I just think, well, not my idea of appealing, but you can't help who you fall in love with.
providing there is no predation, then I think it being illegal is a bit too far.
after all, very very few people would ACTUALLY have a relationship with a relative in that way, and the very few that would face enough of a stigma and strain on their life without it actually being illegal too.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Mar 09
It is very unfortunate when two people enter into a relationship not knowing they are related, Galena, but I believe we do have a choice as to who we fall in love with. If we see that we are heading toward a disaster, do we not have enough self-control to change course and go in an entirely different direction? Even in a society that has become as permissive as ours most people are appalled at the idea of incest.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Mar 09
You are right, mimico! We, being the higher animals, are supposed to be intelligent enough to logically conclude what is right and wrong.
@clorissa123 (4926)
• United States
22 Mar 09
That is definitely a criminal case as far as I concern. Like what you said above, the father kept her prison for 24 years, without giving her freedom. She is his daughter for God's sake, what kind of animal would do such thing like that. He should be condemn for worst punishment.
Some European countries might view it differently, due to different cultural views. We don't have much say on that. But it is morally wrong.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
23 Mar 09
There was a case here in Australia broadcast on TV last year:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23494958-5001028,00.html
Like most Australians I was appalled and shocked. But to be honest, I can see society having to accept and tolerate this the same way we have to accept and tolerate homosexuality...wasn't it too illegal once upon a time?...I'm not sure about this. I wonder where it will end. I've heard it argued in the case of homosexuality that a person can't help whom they fall in love with...can't the same thing be said in regard to consenting adults who are close relatives?
I have to wonder where this sort of thing will end.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
21 Mar 09
Today we have to agree to disagree, world. As I think about the issue, it falls in that big box of "I wouldn't do it, but I can't tell another person not to"; somewhere between the "abortion" issue and "gay people". The very thought of putting myself in those shoes has the hair on my arms and neck cringing, and I'm fighting the urge to holler "EWWW!!!" But the bedroom is not a place to set rules if it isn't your own; at least that's how I feel about it.
And the way some of my cousins look?!? *Insert sick smiley* lol
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Mar 09
I think it's a question, drknlvly, of man's law versus God's law: Mankind has continually tried to find a way around God's laws in order to justify what they wish to do while knowing that it is wrong.
@david2005 (798)
• Canada
21 Sep 09
If both parties consent to it and they are both of legal age then it is between them and not anyone else but if it is against one of the persons will then that is a whole another issue!
@dodo19 (47317)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
21 Mar 09
Personally, like rape, I think that incest is wrong. I really do not think that it is right. Maybe it's just the culture I grew up in, or the fact that I'm a criminology student, or something, but it's my opinion. I just think that it's wrong.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Mar 09
Maybe you feel that way, dodo, simply because the prospect of incest is a very unnatural act to most people.
@davidbenjamin (147)
• Canada
22 Mar 09
i don't think it is really a matter of two consenting adults. Because if those two consenting adults decide to have a child that poor child will be at risk for many developmental disabilities that are caused when two closely related people with almost identical genes procreate. ick
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Mar 09
There you have it, davidbenjamin, as even our genetics are against it.
