Josh Duggar, star of the TLC hit series "19 Kids and Counting," was recently accused of molesting several young girls, possibly including some of his younger sisters, when he was a young teenager. The reaction by the media has been mixed, but one thing is clear to me: Josh Duggar is a sexual predator and needs to face consequences for his actions.
In an article by conservative opinion news source, The Blaze, apparently all of the uproar about this scandal is because Josh Duggar is a member of one of the most prominent Christian families in the United States. According to The Blaze, "progressive trolls" have been waiting for a scandal like this to trash the Duggar family and "dance on their ashes." Liberals and progressive thinkers are apparently using this horrible scandal as a chance to exclaim that "Christianity is false! Jesus is a lie!"
Wait, what?
I'm definitely not claiming that an entire religion is false based off of one man's sins, but I also hope that people see the irony behind this scandal.
Josh possibly took his sisters' innocence. He took advantage of several young girls and faced almost no consequences. I also don't think that this can be classified as a "teenage mistake." A teenage mistake is staying out past curfew because you lost track of time. A teenage mistake is accidentally streaming a long video and using up all of your family's monthly data. A teenage mistake is not studying for a history test or forgetting to do an assignment for your science class.
A teenage mistake is not walking into your younger sisters' bedroom and fondling their private areas. A teenage mistake is not abusing their trust and molesting them. This was a choice, and it was a choice that was reportedly made by Josh Duggar at least five separate times.
The Duggar family's reaction was selfish. They gave Josh a "stern talking to" and sent him across the country to live with a family friend. They very well may have protected their son instead of protecting several of their daughters.
Josh Duggar has apologized since the accusations were made, saying that he knew his actions would "ruin his life." He didn't care about hurting girls then, and he obviously still doesn't.
Unfortunately, there is a statute of limitations on child molestation, which is another article for another day. Josh can no longer be tried for the crimes he committed. TLC has pulled the show from its schedules, and the Duggars may no longer be the TV sensation that they are today. But the girls Josh abused will have to live with the memory for the rest of their life.
The irony surrounding this scandal is all too real. The same mouths that are protesting gay marriage are forgiving this man of his sins. The same mouths claiming that transgender men and women are a threat to families are okay with someone who abused kids to be the father of four.
What Josh Duggar did is disgusting and I believe that he needs to face true consequences for his actions. I support TLC pulling the show from his schedule, and I urge people defending the family to think about the pain that the victims have gone through.
