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Fear and suspicion is pervading society
• That must be one of the saddest letters you have ever published – I refer to the father who was ordered away from a playground for fear that he was a paedophile, when all he wanted was to share the joy of watching innocent children at play (Paranoia is labelling every man a pervert, June 1).
The unpleasant taint of suspicion affects us all like a virus in today’s paranoid society, and I have to admit that I never park my car opposite a school any more for just the same reason.
But I have a worse example. Last week I came out of a supermarket in Temple Fortune, and found that a small child had followed me through the automatic doors while his mother was still at the checkout counter.
The toddler passed by me towards the kerb, and was about to step out into the busy traffic when I instinctively took his arm and pulled him back out of harm’s way.
At this point the mother burst through the doors, grabbed her son and hustled him off – giving me a furious glare as if I was some pervert about to kidnap the infant.
I can still see her look. I had acted without thinking. But shamefully I have to say that from now on I may well have second thoughts when seeing a small child in potential danger.
What have we all come to when our natural protective feelings have to be suppressed because of the climate of fear and suspicion pervading our society? Are the days of innocence gone for ever? I fear so.
PHILIP JUDGE
Highgate Village, N6
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