Child Sexual Abuse in America

America... a Safe Place for Children! This needs be the goal of every adult in this country.

Many, many topics are considered worthy of discussion in a country where we have freedom of speech. However, the topic of Child Sexual Abuse is discouraged many times and put on the backburner in society. By no means does that mean that no one is working on this issue; just that as a whole across America, this crime is swept under the rug due to the sensitivity of the topic. No one really wants to believe that children are being molested, raped & exploited every single day across America. And even if they do believe this crime occurs, many feel it is a personal thing that should not be discussed openly. America is known worldwide as a the land of opportunity... the greatest country in the world. I ask you... Is it the greatest country for children being violated by Child Molesters & Pedophiles right here in the United States? We desperately need to uncover this hidden crime & encourage society to no longer sweep this issue under the rug.

Child Sexual Abuse is a very sensitive topic... there's no doubt. Yet, all you need to do is watch TV to see how so many other topics are okay to talk about openly in society. There are the topics forced upon us just by turning on our television sets, such as a pill to enhance a man's private body part, women exposing themselves partially or completely on television all the time, sex on television, etc... This kind of thing is everywhere & accepted for the most part. Yet, when the words Child Sexual Abuse are mentioned, people want to turn off the TV or change the channel because it's such a horrible topic. What is wrong with this picture? And when animal cruelty and/or animal extinction is taken more seriously than the unthinkable acts committed against innocent children, this stops me in my tracks. Let me clarify... I am all for fighting against animal cruelty as well as many other needed & great causes. But when there are stricter laws against animal cruelty and/or those laws work better than the ones in place to protect children, something has gone horribly wrong.

The two most common reactions out of many on the topic of Child Sexual Abuse are "I don't want to talk about it." and "I don't even want to think about it." I ask you to consider this... Children who are robbed of their innocence in this horrific way have no choice but to think about it & in most cases will not tell anyone. These children suffer alone! If we, as adults, cannot stand to talk about or think about what's happening to innocent children all around us, then what are the children supposed to do?

All forms of Child Abuse & Neglect are horrible. Physical Abuse is a very visible form of abuse that seems to be taken much more seriously than Sexual Abuse. In general, we are visual people. In most cases, Sexual Abuse is not seen, but I raise very strongly that it is just as damaging to a child's mind, body & soul. We've got to change this thinking in society. We need to come together to address the issue of Child Sexual Abuse in America and that means talking about it. In this country, when we set our minds to something, things happen. Child Sexual Abuse or rather the prevention of it, needs to become a priority in America. I wish to start hearing Politicians talk about this issue & take it as seriously as they do a child's education. When did a child's education become more important than their safety & wellbeing? Both are very important, but only one of those issues gets addressed regularly. America, we need to make our country "A Safe Place" for children - the greatest country in the world for Children!

There are many ways in which children are sexually violated, to include but not limited to molestation, rape & child pornography. Pedophiles are networking & preying on innocent children through the internet & cell phones. And then there's the Human Trafficking of children for Commercial Sexual Exploitation. This is a growing problem globally, but what most people do not realize is that there is a huge increase of this crime happening domestically, right here in the United States of America.

It is estimated that 95% of children who are sexually abused know their abuser & in many cases, love & trust their abuser. Most Child Sexual Abuse cases are never reported, but for the ones that are, a huge portion of these children are not being protected by the systems in place that are supposed to protect them. When 'the system" works, it works well. But in more cases than not, a breakdown occurs. There are many reasons why this happens, but to summarize, all it takes is one person, group, court, etc... to not care, to not do their job or to have a lack of education on this topic for a breakdown to occur, even if everyone else involved is doing all they can. When this breakdown occurs, children are sometimes placed right back in the hands of their abusers... and in many, many cases, in the homes of their abusers. Far too often, the abusers are protected & the child continues to suffer.

America, what are we doing to these children? Children's lives are at stake here. When they are placed back in the hands & homes of their abusers, the horrific possibilities include, but are not limited to continued abuse, being traumatized repeatedly, being taken from their protective loves ones (also very traumatic) & having to learn to "survive" in a world with their abuser, the violations become the "norm" and brainwashing occurs (Even grown women who are battered can, at times, be controlled by their abusive husbands or boyfriends in many cases. How can we think it is any different for the most innocent of victims... children?) Last, but not least, the child may become protective of their abuser. This helps no one, especially the child.

This has got to stop...all of it...the crime of Child Sexual Abuse (and it is a crime), as well as the failures of the systems in place that are supposed to protect children. What these desired changes require is that we "do something". We must stand up & start SpeakingOut for children...it is imperative for their safety. So I ask you... What Can You Do? I hope you will join me and others across the nation who are working vigorously to fight against Child Sexual Abuse in America. We cannot do this alone...we need your help. Together, we can make a difference. Be sure to visit www.speakingout-csa.com for more information on one of the many great causes out there fighting this fight.

America... A Safe Place for Children!