No, Still Means No

The title of this article says it all, "No Still Means No." After all the publicity and writing which has already been done on the subject of Sexual Assault. This simple statement should be very much implanted in the minds of everyone. Well, if this was the case, then there would be no cases of Sexual Assault happening. Because women, children, teens, and many others still suffer the pain of this terrible violation to the most personal part of themselves, we still must continue to drive the point home. We must continue to speak out for those whose lives are forever changed because of this terrible crime.

I am not going to bore my readers with stats and figures. I will only provide the following link for you to gain the information and see just how far we have come in fighting this problem. (Visit RAINN/Statistics these statistics come from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, leadership and other information about key people in this network is provided by visiting the Leadership and Governance page of the site. By visiting the site you can get the current stats and other information you need concerning the problem of Sexual Assault.) Although great strides have been made, we have a long way to go if we are to stop this problem. I doubt we will ever see a complete end to this problem and crime.

As of April 2011, there are still far too many people who must deal with the scars created when someone violates and abuses them sexually. The scars remain long after the criminal has been dealt with and will last their whole lives. Oh, they will get counseling and learn to deal with what has happened to them. Many will go on to lead fairly normal lives and continue to thrive, but at any given moment a trigger could ignite a fury of dreams and fears. Something will cause them to flash back to the day when their lives changed forever.

I know this because it has happened many times to me over the years long after I was raped in August of 1979. Shortly, after my 18^th birthday, I was raped by my boyfriend at the time. This was before much was known or accepted about date rape. Although, it happened a long time ago, there are still times when a dream or flash back stops me in my tracks. I have learned how to over come each one by realizing what and who I am now. However, at the moment when it is reoccurring in my mind, it is like I am reliving the ordeal all over again.

I will say that these moments have become further and further apart. Also, I bounce back much quicker now. I have become much stronger since the attack. When I am dealing with the flashback or dream, the pain of the attack is very real.

Bouncing back from an attack involving Sexual Assault is not easy. My experience is shared by many people who have been violated by someone who were vicious and wanted control of the most personal aspect of the victim abused. As a survivor of this brutality, life is about staying on top of your emotions, watching closely not to become a victim again, and changing how one see's themselves and others.

Of all the things I have suffered over my life-time, this remains the hardest of them all to overcome. Sexual Assault takes you to a level that no other crime can take you. It reaches to the very most personal part of you.

Maybe some readers will say this is nothing, but repeating what has already been printed. Well, that may be so. If it is still happening in record numbers, then we apparently haven't reached everyone we need too. There are still people out there who have not gotten the message which states, "No Means No." So, I will join with many others, and will speak for the victims who are unable to speak for themselves and support all the efforts to fight against those who commit these brutal crimes. Those people, who care about those who suffer a life time of turmoil as a result of being violated in this brutal manner, will join us.

During this month of April, 2011, take a moment to learn more about this problem and find out what you can do to help victims and support all the survivors who have banned together to fight against this problem and crime called, "Sexual Assault. Visit the links in the resource section of this article

If you are a victim who is currently being abused in any way sexually or when you have been attacked you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). It is confidential and totally secure. Someone will be able to help you. You can visit the websites whose links are provided in the resource part of this article, as well.

Just remember one thing as you finish reading this article. "No, Still Means No," and this fact has not changed any since the first time it was stated in campaigns to stop Sexual Assault. No one has the right to force you to do anything you don't want to do; and children can't give consent to something they don't even understand and are not old enough to comprehend the consequences. There is nothing worse you can do to someone then to take away their privacy is such a brutal manner.

Everyone has the right to say no to sexual advances and their wishes should be honored not violated.

Special Note: I would like to thank all those people who are working with the National Sexual Assault Awareness Month; and those who are working with victims of Sexual Assault and advocating for on their behalf. Here in my home state of Ohio, these campaigns are thriving and people are taking up the banners to support awareness. If you have done nothing in support of this important cause, please start now. We can never stop until there is no more victims of Sexual Assault.