Want to know what is really, really unsexy? Incest. Yep, I think even among those of us who have different sexual needs and desires and who like to mix it up, we can universally agree that brothers and sisters and fathers and daughters and mothers and sons is all kind of yucky, gross, and icky. But the laws that make it illegal are there for a reason. Clearly someone thought it wasn't very gross at all.
In Germany, a brother and sister who have four children together were just informed by a European court that their union is considered incest and that the conviction the brother faces for it still stands.
It's like the real life Flowers in the Attic, but gross as it is, I also see their point.
Unlike most brothers and sisters, Patrick Stuebing and Susan Karolewski had never even met until they were in their 20s. He had been placed in foster care as a child, so he only met his sister late in life. When they met, sparks flew.
OK, gross. I know. But, in this case, while I am not justifying it, I also think throwing him in jail (which is what happened) is a little abnormally harsh. This isn't the only time this has happened, either.
In 2011, a father and daughter who were reunited did the same thing. While yes, it's sick and kind of makes me want to throw my breakfast up, the fact is, these are consenting adults.
The reason incest is illegal is usually for the children, and in this case, their decision to have children did result in disabilities. So while their relationship itself isn't wrong, their decision to have children is.
The government really can't step in and regulate a couple of consenting adults. Sure, we would love to think that all people will make good decisions and not have children if they shouldn't, but it isn't up to the government to decide who can and can't love each other.
The fact is 99.9999999 percent of us are utterly repulsed by the idea of incest and those who aren't are not criminals. They are likely just lonely and in need of love and who knows what else. We should pity them and sympathize, not throw them in jail.
Do you think this couple deserved jail?
Image via Ken_Mayer/Flickr
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Comments 111
regardless if they did not "know" they were brother and sister because they didn't grow up with each other; THE FACT IS THEY ARE BROTHER AND SISTER!! Just because they did not grow up with each other does not make them any less of siblings than if they had. They share the same blood line, and they share the same parents; it's not natural. It's plain disgusting! I understand that they did not know right away that they were siblings; so you can't fault them there; but then to stay together and engage in sex after you find out is just nasty! Me personally; and yes everyone is entitled to their own opinions in this matter; so remember that before you start bad mouthing me for my opinion too; if this was me in the situation; the second I found out the person I was married to was my sibling I would be out of that relationship so fast because it would be my BROTHER!! Anyway you look at it; they are still blood relatives. Be it parents, siblings,half siblings, first cousins, second cousins it's not natural; there would not be laws against it if it was natural. and yes if it is a law where they live that you can't have sex or have children w a relative otherwise you go to jail, then they should go to jail simply because they are breaking the law where they live.
There are so many issues that could arise from immediate family having children. Deformities, blindness, mental challenges, and death. Laws are there for a reason.
I have to say that I agreed with the4mutts until the last comment about continually having disabled children. If a couple knows they have a great chance of disabilities after a couple kids, then keep having more, I'm sorry but come on. Not everyone will get a great composer out of the deal. Its just plain irresponsible. In most cases the state and tax payers end up footing the bill, just like the 3 kids in the story.
Also, what is really the rest of the story? Why is the man in jail? There has to be more than just marring his unknown sis and having kids. Something doesn't add up here.
Tammyc1106, I don't understand how you can say that you would walk away from you're husband / the father of you're children, if you found out that the two of you were siblings. The bond is already formed. Leaving would be a lot easier said than done. If you could walk away so easily, what would you tell you're kids? That people will look at us funny? You would have to be a very selfish person to just walk away. I'm not trying to bad mouth you for your opinion, because I have one, too, but maybe you could stop and put yourself in other people shoes before you express yours next time. Just say..
jeannie39 you are just plain right nasty if you would stay in a relationship after finding out that your husband was your sibling! I would walk away too! THEY ARE RELATED REAGARDLESS IF THEY GREW UP TOGETHER THEY SHARE THE SAME BLOOD LINE!! She is not selfish for wanting to walk away if she was in that position. You would be selfish for staying. You are then teaching your children it is ok to fall in love and have sex and procreate with your sibling if you stay . She has her opinion and belief as so do you and you are BAD MOUTHING her for having her own opinion on the matter. You say you are not bad mouthing her for her own opinion; well clearly you are and my opinion is; you should get your head examined if you would continue to sleep with your spouse and have children with them and stay after you found out they were your brother. You can express your opinion and you tell her to put herself in other peoples shoes before she expresses her opinion. I'm sorry Jeannie39 you are a little hypocritical don't you think; and that's why it's called an opinion. . before you sit there and tell someone they are entitled to their opinion maybe you should stop and think before you comment and say their opinion is wrong and yours is right; that's why its called and OPINION you idiot. I hate people like you; who think that God forbid someone doesn't share the same view as you; they must be wrong and mean evil people.