I have spoken to many people who have similar views to Hewson - not the lowering of the age of consent, but that it's not too bad to grab someones arse and that young girls can be temptresses etc. So all she is doing really is echoing that opinion and in a democracy representing what a LOT of people think. (not me btw)
I wont get worked up about the lowering of the consent age as it's never going to happen.
I also think some people who had their opinions formed in the 60/70/80's have a very different interpretation of appropriate behaviour. And i do think touching someones bum in the 70's would never have been considered as bad as it is today, so to then go back and project todays cultural standards is wrong. However, i don't think it is acceptable in any way. I think we need to say the dark days of those opinions are gone, re-educate people (like my mum, who thinks you owe a man sex if you go out with him) and say whatever you did before was what you considered acceptable (not talking about rape or anything serious) at the time. It is not now.
A bit like the drinking and driving campaign, or voting for New Labour, it worked because accepting that people used to do it/vote tory but that it was now considered wrong. It's sad, but if we want to change opinions you aren't if people cannot say 'i used to think that was okay, and now i don't' otherwise that type of people dig their heels in and refuse to be budged or go underground. I'm not apologising for it, but merely trying to think of the most effective solution, rather than getting very frothed up (which the left wing often do to its detriment) and alienating people on the fence, or ignorant of the facts. We need to think of the long game here.
I like Spiked, as it does give a voice to opinions, often ones i disagree with, but i think having a platform is important as we need to get all these opinions out in the open and then collectively decide whether we agree as a society or not.
not sure if that makes sense, i'm a bit tired!