[redwitch]

Sadly, predators are everywhere. Always have been, always will be. One in three women over the age of 60 have been sexually molested. One in five over 60 molested before they were 10 years old. Our world was just as unsafe as this world is -- it just wasn't reported back then. (Don't know the statistics for men but wouldn't be surprised if the numbers were similar for under 10.) If a woman was raped, she was blamed for being out, wearing the wrong clothes, etc. If Uncle John molested a child, the child was usually convinced to not tell their parents and if the parents found out, there was too much shock and shame that it was someone they trusted to be with their child that had harmed their child.

The Villagers is bound to have some predators both of children and adults. It's too large of a community to not have them. Any parent or grandparent who doesn't watch their kids is being negligent at best. At the same time, I wouldn't hesitate to let my grandson play outside with me just watching from the window here. At the squares, I am with him at all times and he is no more than a hand grasp away from me -- even when we're dancing. It would be the same regardless of where I lived.

We need to be diligent in protecting ourselves and our families. This doesn't mean we have to be paranoid and afraid of every shadow. Be aware that bad things happen to good people but don't let that fact rule your life.