Evan,

I always love reading your posts on Israel and the Middle East. Very informative and a fresh perspective from all the speculation we who don't live there often engage in. Thanks!

I get your point. But, I'm not sure if it was the same guy. I think it was the Israeli Minister of National Defense (or the equivalent) who pointed out these body scanners don't work. One could easily sneak in enough explosives to destroy a 747 in a body cavity, for instance. Also, I've already read reports of men who have undergone such rigorous groin area searches that they have vomited from the testicular pain.

I agree security is an issue. I also support the Patriot Act. But we're reality based, not theory based. Calling something added security doesn't make it effective.

Disgusting. But that's what I've come to expect from far Left feminazis. Only they could turn some positive publicity for a worthwhile charity into a sex fetish scandal.

Thank you for the clarification. It's much appreciated. I guess we got sidetracked on one particular facet of the post.

I haven't read all of "lostpainting's" comments, nor do I want to. But I'll take your word for the mindset that went into them.

Because laws have nothing whatsoever to do with how society standardizes mores, now does it?

What age limit would you suggest? 14? 12? 9? 5? Fetal?

I guarantee, no matter where you draw the line, there will be someone crying "freedom" and demanding the age limit be lowered because of innocents' rights being violated. Or should be base age of consent laws on personal maturity? Give everyone who has had sex a test to see if they were ready for it or not?

You mentioned WA in your little list of laws. As I'm sure you are aware, the age of consent in WA is 16 IF their partner is less than 5 years their senior. Without reservation, it is 18. So, under WA laws, this hypothetical 17 year old having sex with 20 year old Knepper would be perfectly legal.

In other words, many states have a built in gray area to protect people hovering around the age of consent and legal adulthood to protect them from prosecution when they are close to the same age level.

But continue to play the forest for the trees game you're playing. I'll continue to assume your associations are exactly what I assumed they are.

Yes, because in quoting the article, I was locking myself into a specific number, rather than making a point that laws need to define borders, not shades of gray to be interpreted by horny net geeks more interested in getting off than respecting social customs, laws and the necessity of both.

Oh, wait! No. I think I was talking about the necessity of laws to define limits, after all.

But, in judging how the comments for this post have been marked down, I can only assume Knepper's little friends have driven by to voice their impotent outrage, and that you are likely one of them.

Wow. What a powerful post! Thanks for pointing out what many of us are feeling about "lostpainting" and his Internet interactions. I can understand the attraction between a 20 yo and a 17 yo. After all, it's only 3 years. But I don't like the moral relativism of the "17 isn't a child, it's an adult" argument. We have to draw the line somewhere. In my completely unprofessional opinion, a failure to understand the need for strict mores against the exploitation of children points to more deeply seated problems.

I have to admit, I've never even heard of this movie before this very minute. Possibly, because I loathe Val Kilmer, and mind blocks anything he does (well, except for "Top Secret," because I'm 12) from long term memory. But if it's that good, I'll have to watch. As g10greg56 indicates, you can stream it on Netflix. It's now next in my queue.

Congratulations to Dana! And we'll miss you, Mr. Walsh. Thanks to all involved for making this one of the most important sites on the Internet.

Not being a vet, I don't think I have the right to contact them with a complaint. But I do have the right to the knowledge you're imparting...and to fully support Allen West as not only an American war hero, but someone who supports the same Constitutional values for which he so bravely fought.