Politics Stream Commentary Rebuttal Example

The 18 year old age of consent was established after public schools set graduation at about the same age. It's relatively new (less than 100 years old) and is not universal to all countries. In some countries like Japan the age is 16.

My opinion is that there should be a physical and mental test to make sure they are ready for marriage and sex and what comes with it. Some would be ready before 18, others wouldn't be ready until their 30s.

Life expectancy 2000 years ago was around 35 years.. so, comparing todays pedophiles with individuals from ancient history is flawed at best.

Thomas Jefferson had a 14-year-old girlfriend when he was in his 40's.

Brigham Young had polygamist wives as young as 15. I don't believe in the Mormon faith, but he has a university named after him & is mentioned in the state song of Utah.

Elvis Presley started dating Priscilla when she was 14 and he was 24.

Jerry Lee Lewis had a 13-year-old wife.

Fergie dated Justin Timberlake when she was 23 and he was 16.

That's not a mean average, but one skewed by a high infant mortality rate - 30% dying in their first year. Those who survived infancy and especially childhood oft lived far longer (as in senior) years.
Further, given the level (as in lack of) affluence and sufficient/proper nutrition, people tended to be undernourished by today's standards, so young teens didn't look like teens at all. Heck, young teens didn't even look like today's teens till fairly recent decades.

Marriages then, as now, were prey much about economics and social connections. Not mature people looking to breed. Men tended to be older, as they had been more able to accumulate more wealth. Women tended to be girls.

Wait hold up