[alyasa]

But a child is innocent. The dictionary definition of the word refers to a state free of guilt, lacking in intent, or unknowledgable of evil; or the attendant, myriad points involved in evil. Children, for lack of a better term, know no better. I believe in my hearts of hearts, that we suffer the children, for the sins of our fathers. But it is my belief, and that, most likely, counts for very little. But a child's innocence cannot be denied, even as insufferable twats, children can still find wonder and joy in the simplest things. Those "twisted and warped and MEAN and evil and cruel" children you mentioned are sad and in need of more love, more so than well-adjusted, happy children. It is just that they are more often overlooked than other children, or if they are noticed, receive punishment more than praise, so it becomes a vicious never-ending cycle of pain and guilt. It gets so, that some children never receive praise at all. Of course, these are just my thoughts, the true intent and meaning behind the picture perhaps can best be explained by someone more familiar with the artist and the art. It could just be a statement on the twisted, warped cultural zeitgeist of today that has produced people who reward children for sexual favours. All the more reason that we see the innocence in the picture and not the warped.