According to Childhelp.org, more than five children die each day due to child
abuse and 80% of these children are under the age of four.[1] The site
states that, “Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and
cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.” It is obvious that many do not
see children as our sole hope for the future. It is also obvious that the
sickness of pedophiles, physical and verbal abusers, and parents who simply
neglect these little ones have no fear of mortal or moral danger.
My favorite philosopher, theologian, teacher, mentor (Jesus the Christ) said,
“It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you
were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to
stumble” (Luke 17:2). In modern words, Jesus is saying that you would be
better off drowning yourself in the ocean than causing harm to a child.
Those who harm children are the worst among humanity. They possess
a twisted debased nature. These culprits are more detestable than serial
killers. They are murderers of souls. They kill the innocent internally
and force them to grow up filled with dark and painful thoughts that cause them
a lifetime of turmoil and trepidation. Abusers overpower the powerless
and defile the pure. Yet our laws let these monsters who: rape children,
murder babies, curse infants, starve toddlers, pimp pre-teens, and watch and do
nothing off easy.
Laws do not
enforce long jail sentences or implement the death penalty (this is the most
fitting punishment in my opinion). Social services seem to take away the
wrong children and ignore the ones who really need help. It is time to
take the law into our own hands and fight for our children. It is our
duty to protect the little ones and to prevent them from stumbling. It is
our duty to make sure that every child is fed, treated well, educated, and
protected from hurt, harm and danger. We can do this by monitoring who
are around our children; teaching our children the difference between proper
and improper body contact; teaching our children to tell if ANYONE is hurting
them in ANY WAY. Silence is deadly.
We have to be
real parents, real neighbors, real family, real guardians, real friends, and
real members of the community. We have to be the advocates and activists for
our children.
According to Dream Catchers for Abused Children:
Abuse and Neglect
of American Children Has Increased 134% Since 1980
Physical Abuse Has Increased 84% Since 1980
Sexual Abuse Has Increased 350% Since 1980
Emotional Abuse Has Increased 333% Since 1980
Child Neglect Abuse Has Increased 320% Since 1980[2]
Physical Abuse Has Increased 84% Since 1980
Sexual Abuse Has Increased 350% Since 1980
Emotional Abuse Has Increased 333% Since 1980
Child Neglect Abuse Has Increased 320% Since 1980[2]
These numbers are
staggering. We have to do something to stop these crimes from
continuing. We have to hold ourselves responsible, our neighbors
responsible, our legislators responsible for the irreversible damage being done
to our children. We all have the power to report abuse when we see it. We
have the power to walk away before we hit too hard or say something damaging.
We also have the power to give up children for adoption if we are not mentally
fit to care for them. Abusers also have the power to turn themselves in and
separate themselves from their victims. Let us work together to stop
child abuse in all its forms. Our girls and boys deserve to have a happy
childhood. Change starts with us and we have the power to initiate change
NOW!
[1] = United States
Government Accountability Office, 2011. Child maltreatment: strengthening
national data on child fatalities could aid in prevention (GAO-11-599).
Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11599.pdf
[2] http://dreamcatchersforabusedchildren.com/TM/dream1.html?type&
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