I was dismayed to read Alicia Anstead’s article titled “Dreams of Desire” in the Feb. 14 edition of the Bangor Daily News’ Creating section. Anstead writes, “What’s your fetish? Feet? Cars, gloves, handbags? Your girlfriend, boyfriend, child? Go ahead. Admit it. You have a secret fetish. What’s mine? Please! Fetishes can be very private.”

Anstead goes on to refer to the strange sexual musings of Salvatore Dali, which she associates with fetishes. It is unfortunate that she chooses to share her interest in fetishes in public. I take great offense, as a father of two young girls, that Anstead choose to include children in her list of fetishes.

As a society, do we not sexualize children enough? Do we not expose children to the sexualization of shopping with all the sensual and “sexual” images of women which children are forced to view at the mall and in print and other media? Do we not read daily of the adults who focus on children as sexual objects or “fetishes.” Please!

Anstead should not contribute to the focus on children as sex or “fetish” objects. There are, as you know, many adults who commit crimes against children in order to fulfill their criminal “fetishes.” Adults who have “child fetishes” are extremely destructive and violent and they traumatize children for life and often take the child’s life in the process of torturing them.

Most Mainers would welcome an article from Anstead on how to protect our children and how to prevent adults from harming our children. We will look forward to Anstead refraining from including children in her future musings and informing parents how we can protect of children and prevent child exploitation.

Peter Alexander

Hampden