Truly abominable and detestable

Phillipe & Jorge must say that the recent spate of news stories about the dropping of sodomy charges against Timothy Mullen, the former branch director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Warwick accused of molesting a minor under the age of 14, do not convince us in any way that the recent repeal of the "abominable and detestable" statute was a mistake. The tenor of some of the stories, particularly some of the television reports, and Attorney General Jeff "Pinetop" Pine's statement that "I told you so" amount to nothing.

Nine sodomy counts were dropped in the Mullen case and may, we are told, be dropped in dozens of other cases. This is because of Superior Court Judge Richard Israel's belief that the General Assembly, in repealing the law, intended for all existing sodomy cases to be dropped.

But the fact remains that Mullen still faces three counts of first-degree child molestation. And if the penalties for such crimes are not severe enough, then the General Assembly could easily remedy that. It's as if, when someone is charged with murder, the prosecution should be able to toss in a few B&E or driving-without-a-license charges as well.

Child molestation, sexual assault, rape, and other crimes to which the sodomy statute has been frequently tacked on are serious enough in themselves to warrant harsh criminal penalties. Using an ancient and outmoded sodomy law to pile on the charges "as a tool" (in the words of Pine) opens the door too widely for abusing the rights of consenting adults.

State Representative Edith Ajello, who shepherded the sodomy repeal legislation through the House, was the only person we saw interviewed by the media in this current non-controversy who made any sense at all. She basically made the same point about strengthening the sexual abuse and molestation laws if people felt that the punishment was not strong enough. Let's use a little common sense here.

FBI out of the closet

Holy Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Batman! The FBI has discovered the Internet! And what a discovery it has been. P&J note an AP story detailing how the boys from the Federal Bureau of Investigation have their own Website -- and are actually putting memos about Elvis Presley's 1970 visit to President Slick Dick Nixon on it. Apparently, their aim is to show how they scrutinized the King when he met the president in the Oval Office and got his official drug-enforcement officer badge from the Trickster.

Of course, the infamous photo of the two shaking hands is the most frequently requested from the National Archives. As one young ex-drug addict is quoted as saying in one of the countless Elvis tell-alls that momentarily escapes P&J's mind, "I wish I had half the drugs Elvis had in his body when that [photo] was taken." Doubtless, you now understand its popularity.

But we digress. Although the FBI worm turned shortly after the King's cordial but chemically enhanced visit to the White House, preliminary reports posted on the FBI's Website have an aide advising Clyde Tolson's best friend that Presley was "not the type of individual whom the director would want to meet."

Well, perhaps the underling had not considered the proclivities of the person to whom the memo was addressed when he added, "It is noted at the present time [Elvis] is wearing his hair down to his shoulders and indulges in the wearing of exotic dress."

Knowing J. Edgar as we do, your superior correspondents believe that while he may have been a bit jealous over the Big E's ability to grow out his locks, that "exotic dress" might have had Hoover whinnying and inviting Elvis to an overnight among the Marines at Quantico.

Good idea, poor execution

As we hit deadline, Phillipe and Jorge note the formation of a group known as the Rhode Island Society for Broadcasting In the Public Interest. The group, according to old pal John Martin's TV column in the Urinal, includes its organizer, former RISD and Brown TV and society teacher Bob Sauber, and Casa Diablo faves General Treasurer Nancy Mayer and Common Cause's Phil West.

But while this is indeed a noble venture, P&J are a bit disturbed by Sauber's saying that the type of offensive broadcasting the group will look at includes The Jerry Springer Show and "Imus in the Morning." After all, going after Springer's orchestrated mayhem and mind-numbing stupidity is like shooting fish in a barrel, and will only fatten his bank account.

As for the harmless Imus, Sauber says that the radio talk-show host "laughs at those things that make for a decent civil relationship with children, parents, and friends." Perhaps so, but the jibes are indeed humorous and often deserved, especially in today's offensive and absurd politically correct environment. (Try Howard Stern, Bob -- now that's truly vulgar.)

From P&J's superior vantage point, the Rhode Island Society for Broadcasting In the Public Interest should first come up with a name that provides a handy-dandy acronym, such as RI Devotees of Integrity, Content, Understanding, and Legitimate On-Air Useful and Serious TV (RIDICULOUS-TV). They also might want to avoid the obvious, such as Springer and Stern. (Hey, no Baywatch?)

Why not concentrate on local TV news (sic), which insults the concept that local stations are in any way trying to serve the commonweal? Showing crap footage of a fatal car wreck 500 miles away from Little Rhody while avoiding issues that truly affect its residents does more to deaden young minds to serious thinking than Imus or a faux crossdresser on Springer claiming to have dated the president in high school.

Since it is obvious that former WPRI-TV general manager Bob Finke's infamous view that the local TV audience is "dumb as shit" still prevails in Rhode Island broadcasting circles, yanking up the level of information and coverage provided every night on Channels 6, 10, and 12 would indeed be a public service.

The Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center of Rhode Island

That's the newly fine-tuned name of the Rhode Island Rape Crisis Center, an organization that marked its 25th anniversary on Monday and continues to do important work.

Most recently, the center conducted a survey of 1300 students in grades 6 through 9, similar to the eye-opening poll they did 10 years ago. Although the full results will not be released until late July, executive director Peg Langhammer gave a sneak preview in the BeloJo -- and it is hardly reassuring.

Some progress has been made, but findings that 41 percent of the students polled believe that a "seductively" dressed woman walking alone at night is asking to be raped and that 30 percent feel that a victim of incest older than 12 is partially responsible because he/she is old enough to have prevented it are still devastating.

Then there's the 43 percent who subscribe to the notion that a $50 dinner gives a man the right to kiss a woman without her consent. What if he really drops a bundle on her at the Capital Grill or Al Forno's? That oughta at least get you under her blouse, huh? Gee, wonder where kids get these ideas.

Classic Vo Dilun

A little item found near the end of Tuesday's BeloJo story on the Cardi boys' proposal to give full credit to customers who lost their cash deposits when Harold's Furniture closed its doors and filed for bankruptcy is yet another example of the vagaries of living in Vo Dilun, the state where everybody knows everybody else.

Seems that acting US Attorney Meg Curran has recused herself from a federal review of the case because "when Harold's filed for bankruptcy, she had an order at the store for `a beautiful burgundy leather recliner.' "

The Bible tells me so

Thinking once again about the intense stupidity of Senator Trent Lott and his ilk (you know, the folks who whip out their Bible at the mention of superior behavior), we suggest that those with a little knowledge of the Bible themselves who don't buy into the anti-queer mindset respond to people insisting on a literal interpretation of the Bible thusly: "We believe that Jesus's admonishment to give all one's riches to the poor is much more important than what is said in Leviticus. When you start living by that one, we'll start thinking seriously that you have some religious credibility in terms of your castigation of same-sex love."

Whadaya say, Pat Robertson?

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