If I am not for the children, then how can I argue I am not for the predators?
By MICHELE BETTI | b&a opinions October 13, 2009
Stand up for child justice
What the Roman Polanski arrest and the Mackenzie Phillips allegations of abuse by her father bring to the forefront is that all children are susceptible to abuse, not just children associated with religious organizations, schools, youth organizations, etc. Child sexual abuse has no specific boundary or description. It can occur regardless of a child’s age, country, wealth or poverty level. It can happen any time any place where children are involved.
Laws that afford a victim the time and opportunity to come forward and expose their predator prevent the next child from becoming a victim of that very same predator.
Shouldn’t the goal for all children be to allow them an opportunity to grow up without the harms inflicted upon them by adult predators? There is nothing more precious than an innocent child, with its whole life ahead of it, to grow up unscathed. Certainly, each one of us cannot argue against such a noble concept. Protecting children from predators and exposing organizations that cover up the abuse is an easy concept to embrace.
How we accomplish this goal is another story entirely.
Laws are making it very difficult, and in many cases impossible for those abused children who have grown into adults to come forward and identify their predators. We can help those who were victimized as children by speaking out against child sexual abuse, by verbalizing a zero tolerance policy against entities that cover up the abuse, and by supporting legislation that allows victims to come forward, tell their story, expose their predators, and protect the children of tomorrow.
Ask yourself, and challenge others to ask themselves this question:
If I am for children, then how can I argue against Child Victims Laws? If I am for children, then how can I support entities that cover up the abuse? If I am for children, then how can I argue against delayed discovery rules or window legislation that allows survivors of sexual abuse to litigate their cases? If I am for children, then how can I argue for imposing a statute of limitation on child sexual abuse when there is none on murder? Isn’t the sexual abuse of an innocent child a murder of that child’s soul?
And finally ask yourself this: If I am not for the children, then how can I argue I am not for the predators?
Copyright 2009, b&f opinions.
Article:
Historical bad day in Illinois For Sexual Abuse Survivor Rites –
Statute law 2003 and Father Roberts vs John Doe, Illinois Supreme Court sides with the clock vs. victim.
