Drury:

As for poor Polly Klaas: her own father was one of the strongest voices AGAINST the 3 strikes initiative. He had more reason than either of us to be angry at child molesters but was wise enough to see that this initiative is not the answer.

The hard truth is that there just aren't any quick fixes to this problem. The problem of evil is as old as mankind. I do see the beginnings of a solution, however, in the ideas you expressed in your earlier card, the one entitled "Rehabilitation." Fear and anger and suspicion only breed more child molesters and rapists. Compassion is a far more effective weapon in the long run.

No, I do not see much hope that most child molesters can ever be cured. I agree that our first obligation is to our children and that the miserable wretches who molest them must be kept safely locked away or neutralized by whatever means necessary. But we shouldn't smash our legal system to do it. Nor should we ever forget that many innocent people have been accused of murder and molestation - we have an obligation to them as well.

My "solution"? More schools, less prisons, more books, less guns. As a healer I would think you would agree that the best way to treat a disease is to study it, understand it, and treat it, even if this means opening ugly wounds. We cannot always save today's patient, but sometimes we can halt the spread of an infection, or learn enough to save some future child.