We only know the half of it so far. But what we’ve learned is enough to make any thinking, caring person feel angry to the point of illness.
To deal with these emotions I filled my journal this morning with thoughts and questions, which I’d like to share with you, briefly, in order to solicit your thoughts and reactions.
The Men in Epstein’s Pedophile Ring:
What makes men like that do what they did?
Was their sense of privilege so great and their sense of morality so small they were blind to the possible consequences of their actions?
Was it just an exciting game to them — like cat and mouse — those children merely tiny mice?
(Stock photo)
Was their undersized manhood so dwarfed by their oversized egos they’d lost their minds?
Was their deep-seated fear of grown women so powerful they could only embrace docile little girls?
Had they come to understand at last that their vast wealth and power was still insufficient to fill their hollow hearts?
Were their souls so dark they felt compelled to crush young innocence with their own two hands?
Or was this for them just a very private boys’ club, and dallying with these children simply their entertainment?
Will we ever know?
Will they ever pay for their sins?
I’m filled with questions. Please reread this list and share your own thoughts.
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I share the same haunting questions, Bonnie…and the disgust! We will never know, but can only hope their actions get punished, that they are stripped of their power!
Yes, Sher. Thank you for this. We can only hope…
Not much to say, dear Bonnie. Son unos cabrones.
Si, Te, es la verdad. — xx
An excellent set of questions and ones which unfortunately, neither they nor their supporters will ever ask themselves.
Ah, Barbara, I’m so afraid you’re right… đ
Thoughtful questions. Thanks for sharing
the insights on disgusting behaviors indeed.
Thanks, Marie. I’m beginning to think my questions are unanswerable, at least by us women. đ
Sadly, it’s most likely all of the above. We’ll never know and never comprehend.
Ah, yes, Joanne, it’s so sad. đ
It is shocking over and over again as more information comes to light and yet to accept not being shocked is to accept that this kind of corruption and depravity is common.
Oh, yes, Jane. I so agree. To accept it is to normalize it. We must find a way to fight it, to dig it out, roots and all, like a cancer. Somehow…
Hi Bonnie – Great perspectives and questions. I doubt that we will ever know why these men did this. And very few, including Trump, will ever pay for their sins. The powerful protect each other and deny blame.
I’m afraid you’re probably right, Mikel. Alas.
Bonnie, Interesting question. I have many questions of my own, but will mention only a few.
These crimes have been known for at least 25 years. Given the ineffectiveness of the current government and the cover-up to protect the felon at the White House, what is happening should not be surprising. But what about the DOJs under the two Bushes, Obama, and Biden? Why did no one take action to stop the serious crimes being committed? They all protected the s.o.b. but none of the victims.
How could an individual go from middle-income to multimillionaire in 25 years by running a bordello and trafficking people? Anybody checking?
How much can a bordello for rich people generate?
Which agencies and officials arranged the documents to âimportâ the sex workers or the abducted ones brought from Eastern Europe?
Anyone checking the s.o.b.âs trafficking of state secrets, his dealings with the intel of foreign countries? HmmâŚ
Carolina
Yes, Carolina, there are so many questions — and too few answers. But I think we should not stop asking our questions and seeking answers. I tend to believe the answers (or the fixes) are buried deep; we must keep digging for them.
Hi Bonnie, Thanks for your questions that help to process the horror. I’d say, All of the Above, except for that last one, Will they ever Pay? We don’t know, … It is hard to get one’s mind around how horrific they are, but perhaps it’s best not to try too hard and focus on our own dignity and futre as women, for us and our young ones.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, dear Rae. The more I think about this (and I’m like a dog who’s after a buried hambone — digging, digging), the more I believe that things will never change as long as rich white men (white supremacists) who think they have impunity are in power and sexism, racism, and ageism are accepted as “normal.” When the hierarchical structure is abolished — and all children (including and especially boys) are taught that all people have equal value and deserve respect — perhaps then we’ll see change. But this won’t happen without work on women’s part, in my view.
Excellent analysis. You should be on Substack! Your columns are wiser than most of whatâs onâŚ.
Thanks so much, dear Pat. What a pal you are! Hope all is well with you.
Brilliant, Bonnie. You have kind of nailed here. It is impossible to imagine how these monsters could do what they did. It seems like it was a status symbol to be a member of this horrific club.
Thank you, Susan! Yes, I’ve been thinking of that too — how a big part of the appeal must have been for them a sense of “belonging” to this exclusive “club”– gathering on that island, away from prying eyes (although they were unaware of the hidden cameras everywhere), being free to break the rules like naughty little boys… Such small, pathetic, soulless men, who nevertheless held (hold!) positions of power. Tragic.
How many times growing up did you hear, âBoys Will Be Boysâ? or the single boy among sisters called, âspecialâ. A mexican friend here once told me the boys are âneverâ wrong, they get away with whatever they want to do. How about, âSending a girl to college is a waste of money. They are just going to get married, have children, and scrub floors!â Or, no need to clean the kitchen, that is your sisterâs job! Until mothers and fathers stop raising boys to think they are superior to girls and allow them to treat their sisters and any female as inferior or prey, there will be men who think females are born to be used, to amuse them, and thrown aside when used up.
Oh, my, Betty — I couldn’t agree more. This attitude of male superiority is inculcated early and becomes indelible, it appears. But what will it take for ALL human beings to be treated equally, with the respect and dignity they deserve? This is something I believe we older women can and should unite to fight for. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
All I can say is most men in power believe they are justified in doing anything they want. I canât tell you how many times in my career the men around me lied openly even when they knew that part of their audience knew they were lying. I was invited many times to join the club of liars and declined. For that, I was ânot a team player.â
OMG, YES, Kim! That label — “not a team player” — was slapped on me, too! I didn’t want to play on their team, at any price. Seems to me now, this situation will only change when the entire game is changed, when the hierarchical patriarchy is torn down and the field is leveled. (Fat chance, huh?)
Having just finished reading Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s “Nobody’s Girl” my head too has been full of questions. Naturally I am angry and discussed to learn of what she and the others went through and my heart went out to their suffering . But one detail in the book had an interesting impact on me. She relates in her book that Epstein said he needed three organisms a day! And that led me to think that he must have been psychologically addicted to sex. And perhaps all of these other powerful perverts are also addicted to sex.(still!) Not that that excuses them from their sick deeds. But committing them all to jail terms with mandatory serious sex therapy, along with severe fines that would have a profound impact on their net worth. The fines to be used to fund a Foundation helping the lives of all sex traffic victims,(not just Epstein’s victims) would perhaps ease some of the anger we are all feeling. Will it ever happen? Not likely
Well, that’s certainly something to consider, dear Ruth! I’m all for the jail terms and stiff fines. “Will it ever happen” is the question. I hope we see it happening in our lifetimes.
Dear Bon,
I have not responded to this because it is such a terrible thing and disheartening to think about. Any abuse is reprehensible, but to abuse a child is to destroy that child’s ability to lead a fulfilling, happy life and very probably leads to the early death of that child.
Seeing how the richest, most powerful men in the world commit these heinous, despicable crimes and view it as entertainment they are entitled to shatters my faith in humanity. Realizing that most of these men will be protected by their own echelons of power renders faith impossible.
I am also disturbed by how some groups use the word “pedophile” to attack and denounce those they disagree with. They slander with ease those who have differing ideas of gender and identity. Yet these same groups are strangely silent regarding pedophilia among people they profess to admire. This lack of response only reveals what the loud and often-voiced beliefs of these groups truly are: empty, hateful, and self-serving.
Thank you for keeping this issue alive.
Love,
Paul
Dearest Paul — I so appreciate your deeply felt thoughts. Yes, confronting this horrific news head-on does cause a person to lose faith in humanity — at least in the part of humanity that considers itself the “ruling class.” Sickening. Nick Kristoff has an enlightening Opinion in today’s NYTimes about how widespread (beyond Epstein) this issue is. đ