An assistant professor at Old Dominion University is facing calls for his firing after an interview where he discussed his highly controversial views of pedophilia. Allyn Walker, who teaches sociology and criminal justice at Old Dominion University, believes that it is not immoral for adults to be sexually attracted to children. He insists that “minor-attracted persons” are wrongly stigmatized for “an attraction they didn’t ask for.” As will come to no surprise to readers on this blog, I believe that Walker’s views are protected by free speech as well as academic freedom principles.[Update: Walker is now on leave from the university].
The controversy was triggered after Walker gave a Nov. 8 interview with the Prostasia Foundation, a San Francisco-based child protection organization, on Walker’s book, “A Long Dark Shadow: Minor-Attracted People and Their Pursuit of Dignity.” Walker explained the use of “minor-attracted persons” or MAPs rather than “pedophile:”
“A lot of people when they hear the term ‘pedophile,’ they automatically assume that it means a sex offender, and that isn’t true. And it leads to a lot of misconceptions about attractions towards minors…From my perspective, there is no morality or immorality attached to attraction to anyone because no one can control who they’re attracted to at all…In other words, it’s not who we’re attracted to that’s either OK or not OK. It’s our behaviors in responding to that attraction that are either OK or not OK…We have a tendency to want to categorize people with these attractions as evil or morally corrupt. But when we’re talking about non-offending MAPs, these are people who have an attraction they didn’t ask for. … So, their behaviors are moral. But they’re still being subjected to this same idea that they’re bad people and they’ve often internalized that for themselves.”
The interview caused a firestorm of controversy and Walker issued a statement that “I want to be clear: child sexual abuse is an inexcusable crime. As an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice, the goal of my research is to prevent crime.”
The backlash was so great that ODU officials felt it was necessary to declare that it was not in favor of pedophilia:
“Following recent social media activity and direct outreach to the institution, it is important to share that Old Dominion, as a caring and inclusive community, does not endorse or promote crimes against children or any form of criminal activity.”
I would have preferred a statement simply reaffirming that the school honors academic freedom and free speech. It does not have to agree with the views of faculty members to support the right to express those views. Indeed, as a public university, it is bound by the protections of the First Amendment.
Nevertheless, a Change.org petition signed by more than 1,600 people as of Monday called on ODU to oust Walker over concerns that such teaching “in the sociology and criminal justice department … will effect the next generation in a negative way.”
Walker could successfully challenge any such termination. It is certainly understandable why people are upset about these views. Even the thought of being sexually attracted to children is deeply upsetting for most of us. That view is being heard loudly across the media platforms this week. However, that is the value of free speech. Each of us can use our own free speech rights to confront and to condemn such views. Universities are places for intellectual exploration. We often challenge orthodoxy and each other. Some views may be offensive or obnoxious. However, the diversity of thought is the very essence of our education mission.
Professor Walker has caused a raging debate. Have at it. Denounce him. Better yet, debate him. But do not try to fire him.
He said the attraction is not immoral, acting on it is. Leaving the free speech issue aside for the moment (it’s a no-brainer), what exactly is the matter with that?
that exactly sounds like someone who wants to make sure that criminals are not held responsible for their actions.
Hé said they should be held responsible for their actions. But not for their thoughts. Likewise, if I’m attracted to my neighbour’s wife, my moral responsibility is to not act on those impulses.
His right to free speech does not allow him the right to hold a publically paid job. His view is highly offensive to the majority of citizens; and it is very dangerous to young, impressionable minds. Freedoms have limits and responsibilities.
Allyn Walker has a right to free speech, but he is still a freak. Give such people an inch and they’ll want to take a mile, all while demanding that everyone accept and sanction their beliefs. Lefts/liberals want people to accept their controversial beliefs, but deny the same rights too conservatives to promote alternative viewpoints and ideas.
Does his right to propagate his idea in the educational system override the right of children to be protected from pedophiles?
A family member was a victim and it has taken her 30 years to come to grips with the abuse. In that time she had abusive relationships, left home several times and no one knew if she was dead or alive. Also got into drugs and ended up in rehab.
II see no reason to be concerned about the sensitivities of those that will eventually act on their attraction and destroy children’s lives. Regardless of the fact a high percentage were victims themselves. Normalizing by labels does nothing to reduce the abuse of pedophiles.
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/psychopathology-and-personality-traits-pedophiles
How does this person define morality? Because saying that an impulse that is beyond one’s control is, by definition, moral, is pretty much the antithesis of all Judeo-Christian thought. This is just more gaslighting by the left to normalize the abhorrent moral turpitude of pedophilia. Ironic that this column precedes the column on shame and the lack thereof in politics. If one has the misfortune to wallow in a morass of depravity, one should at the very least keep it to oneself and seek counseling rather than expecting the stamp of approval from what’s left of society.
Morality is not doing anything that harms another. Al least 40% of pedophiles were victims of pedophilia. West has a junk theory that would only create more victims and pedophiles.
As long as it is attraction (bias) and not action (prejudice). He should self-moderate his speech to avoid normalizing a behavior that has no redeeming value, and does, in fact, cause injury to the individual, humanity, and society.
Will actual Americans actually fall for a scheme to normalize pedophilia?
Exactly how much of this “We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America” are actual Americans going to stand for?
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“I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”
– Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
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“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
– Declaration of Independence, 1776
The only thing surprising here is that people are actually outraged. This is the natural progression of the acceptance of the fluidity of gender and of words. Sick.
This is the natural progression of #NoJudgment #NoLabels #PoliticalCongruence (“=”) under the Pro-Choice religion that denies women and men’s dignity and agency, reduces human life to a negotiable asset, and avoids reconciliation of the universal vulnerability of human life at the tail ends of evolution: conception and death.
We saw this kind of thing in Afghanistan.
Those children had no idea of what was going on.
Professor, while you are right when you say, “Better yet, debate him. But do not try to fire him.”
Still gives me the creeps.
And over & over again we find out the Dim/Rino/Islam is just packed to the rafters with GD Commie/Marx’s Child Molesters .
Prince Charles & the Royals… Penn State… Epstein’s buddies the Clintons, etc…..
Broder Patrol/Ice insiders report that the real number of illegal invading the US so far in the last 10 mos is 10 million & another 10 million on their way.
Ever wonder what the Biden/Pelosi/Schumer/McConnell/Kevin McCarthy are doing with all those little kids?
Fm FBI head Ted Gunderson that was on Infowars over a decade ago had Zero Doubt.
Anyway, I haven’t kept up with Craig Sawyer recently, but his charity site is still up & further info.
https://www.vets4childrescue.org/
Jonathan: Jeff Silberman is right. You often come to the defense of marginal characters ( Prof. Walker who thinks MAPs deserve “dignity” and are just as “moral” as the rest of us) while ignoring the real threats all around us–like John Eastman’s attempt to provide legal cover for Trump’s attempt to overturn an election to retain power. Where were you when Eastman joined Trump on Jan. 6 to exhort the crowd to attack the Capitol? As Mr. Silberman points out you are strangely silent when “YOUR network SPREAD Trump’s Big Lie that it [the election] was stolen by massive fraud?” In point of fact Fox continues to peddle the Big Lie about the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 insurrection. Case in point:
Tucker Carlson is out with a “documentary” about Jan. 6. In three episodes of “Patriot Purge” Carlson pushes the lie that Jan. 6 was not an “insurrection” but a noble enterprise by “patriots” who were simply following in the tradition of the Boston Tea Party. Carlson’s series features and was produced by the luminaries of the white nationalist world. Scooter Donny, co-writer of the series, has directed movies for white nationalist groups. Carlson bizarrely claims those who participated in the Jan. insurrection were the real “victims” of a cabal of left-wing agitators (Antifa), the mainstream press and government provocateurs who sought to delegitimize a legitimate attempt to overturn the electoral vote. Carlson completely turns facts on their heads. But that’s not the point of “Patriot Purge”. Carlson and Fox want viewers to come away with the impression that “white Western civilization” is under attack by the Socialist left and the “deep state”–and acts of violence are justified to preserve the white nationalist world. Make no mistake. Carlson and Fox are taking a page from Joseph Goebbels “Big Lie” playbook. If you are really committed to “free speech” you would use that right to criticize Carlson. You won’t and we all know why.
You people cheered the attempt in Pirtland to overthrow the federal judiciary
Dennis says:
“Carlson and Fox are taking a page from Joseph Goebbels “Big Lie” playbook. If you are really committed to “free speech” you would use that right to criticize Carlson. You won’t and we all know why.”
FOX pays Turley to keep his mouth shut not unlike a lawyer who may not disparage his client since it would be a violation of his duty to zealously defend his client. Turley will not criticize Fox’s false narratives or condemn the lies of its hosts because he works with them. He knows that he will be *cancelled* should he dare make one criticism of Fox or its employees. He has sold out his First Amendment principles and self-censors for a huge paycheck.
For shame.
“FOX pays Turley to keep his mouth shut “
Jeff, that is libel. You need to brush your teeth and put on your straitjacket.
Here’s a MAP…
https://www.foxnews.com/us/former-california-teacher-arrested-for-past-sexual-abuse-of-a-child-police
Here’s another MAP…
https://www.foxnews.com/us/retired-michigan-professor-sex-charges
Here is one who shuffled off his mortal coil.
http://people.com/crime/girl-in-the-bunker-kidnapper-rapist-who-held-girl-underground-for-10-days-dead/
Maybe he should have done better sucking off the Aryan Brotherhood…
OT: Listen to this video where Biden made a bit more sense while providing an opinion that proves more correct than the one rendered later. There is something wrong with the left that is able to change their minds based on political convenience. Svelaz is trying to show why 10 year olds are fair game to those that wish to have their way with them (assuming I can trust his accuracy of history). He provides history that in the 1880’s ,10 year olds were fair game. Svelaz sounds like an 1880 fan.
https://leakreality.com/video/27026/this-didn-t-age-well-for-joe-biden
Anonymous,
“ Svelaz is trying to show why 10 year olds are fair game to those that wish to have their way with them (assuming I can trust his accuracy of history). He provides history that in the 1880’s ,10 year olds were fair game. Svelaz sounds like an 1880 fan.”
I never said 10 year olds were “fair game”. Making libelous statements is a sure fire way to get in trouble. FYI.
You provided a history lesson that was out of context for the world we live in. It sounds like you yearn for the 1880’s and those 10 year olds. Do you prefer the games you play to be unfair games?
OT: Now people can see why everyone has to be deposed by a neutral experienced prosecutor that has the law behind him and can put people in jail for lying.
—–
‘Pentagon didn’t delay sending Guardsmen to Capitol on Jan 6, report conflicts with Pelosi narrative
The report debunks the narrative that the Pentagon failed to act on the day of the breach
The Pentagon responded appropriately and in a timely fashion to urgent requests for National Guard assistance on the day of the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, according to a Defense Department inspector general report released Wednesday.
“We also determined that DoD officials did not delay or obstruct the DoD’s response,” reads the report. “
Many have said that America has fallen much like the Roman Empire fell. When Pederasty becomes acceptable in America, as the Left articulate, then the fall will be complete.
e.g. Roman Emperor Trajan
https://www.greek-love.com/antiquity/the-roman-emperor-trajan-greek-love-pederasty
Good grief. “[] will effect the next generation []” AFFECT. The correct word is AFFECT. One wonders if Kayla Foster (the petition’s author) is a graduate or alumnus of Old Dominion??
Even worse, the OD statement about administrative leave uses “their” rather than **his** in the very first sentence. At this rate, NOT having a college degree will be an employment requirement before too much longer.
What few understand is that history is full of examples of people who were attracted to those who today would be considered minors, and it’s used for political purposes as Democrats did to defeat Judge Roy Moore, who dated older teenagers when he was in his thirties (and married a much younger woman,) Few Americans, if any, don’t have an ancestor who wasn’t very young when married. There is a huge difference between sexual attraction and sexual abuse, as the professor pointed out.
Cannibal shall be renamed human-flesh-attracted-person.
Rapist shall be called non-consent-sexuality.
Kidnapper is a non documented custody.
Lying is truth fluidity.