In my dealings with Asian cultures, I have identified a curious difference in responding to misfortune. A Japanese man confounded by adversity will begin by asking himself what he might have done wrong. A Chinese man in the same predicament will direct his energies towards finding the enemies whom he believes to have wronged him.

Your affectation of equanimity goes a long way towards disguising the self-loathing concentrated in imputing innocence to a serial sexual terrorist. Do you imagine that threatening your child with death in order to have your way with her is an innocent expression of misfortune? What about trying to repeat the same stunt with a grown man? Is withdrawing into therapeutic navel-gazing preferable to standing up to menace and prevailing against it? Which of these responses is more likely to leave its maker a better man, and his world a better place?