It was learned today that Ian Watkins (Lostprophets) pled guilty to sexual offenses, among those, attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13.
Many of us are shocked by the guilty plea and the admission of guilt to such crimes—but more alarmed by his confession to being a “determined and committed pedophile:” The emotion conjured by this phrase ranges from mild shock to a visceral pang of nausea and fury. It means that he felt no remorse, and had no intent of stopping. How does this happen? How does someone become a pedophile? How does a woman allow her children to be used for sexual exploitation and indulge in it as well? How does a woman look at her infant child and cease thinking of it as her child, but as human currency to be traded for sex, drugs, and money? I just can’t imagine that someone wakes up in the morning and says to themselves, “You know what I want to do today? I think I will now sexually abuse children.” There are so many unanswered questions, and none of them can give society the relief from the knowledge that a heinous crime was committed.
Now that he has labeled himself as a pedophile, this crime will follow and haunt him in the form of social stigma until his last breath, beyond the punishment that will be doled out by the courts in December, which it should.
Ian Watkins – a determined and committed pedophile.When I learn of these things, I understand that monsters do exist, and they live among us. For someone to attach so little value to their own children, is deplorable. Abandonment is far more honorable, because at least then a home can be attained, and the child has an opportunity to possibly learn what it is to live, and to love. I could go on and on about my feelings and theories, but that would be ranting, rambling, and conjecture. Instead of going on and on about Ian, his psychiatric status and the two women who facilitated him their children, I’d like to turn the spotlight on the children, which is where the light should be.
From the short time they’ve been on this planet, what they’ve learned and experienced is something that not even nightmares can encompass, and now these children can begin to heal. That is a beautiful thing – a blessing. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and most of us will be sitting around with family and friends, enjoying the warm glow of holiday festivities. Be thankful, not just this season, but every day, that your children are safe under your wing, and raise a prayer to whatever power you believe in that nothing of this nature should ever happen to them, and share some of those thoughts for those who are suffering as these children suffered. If you know of a child that is being abused, I implore you to let someone know.
Childhelp® is a national organization that provides crisis assistance and other counseling and referral services. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with professional crisis counselors who have access to a database of 55,000 emergency, social service, and support resources. All calls are anonymous. Contact them at 1.800.4.A.CHILD (1.800.422.4453).
The views of the editor do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the entire staff of RockRevolt Magazine
~Alice Roques – Managing Editor and Co-Founder of RockRevolt Magazine
