Open Letter to America
June 2009
Our children are the future leaders of tomorrow and it imperative that we make them our priority today. According to National Child Abuse Statistics, Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. While three million reports of child abuse are made every year in the U.S., experts estimate that the actual number of incidents of abuse and neglect is three times greater than reported. My personal mission is to bring awareness to child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is largely unreported and one of the most heinous crimes perpetrated on innocent victims that can’t fight back. You may be thinking, why have I contacted you? It all starts with one person fighting for our kids. This is not just a personal crusade but this issue should be deemed a community concern. Most people steer clear of the topic because we are either in denial, fearful of our family’s reactions and desensitized by endless negative media coverage of other events in the world. In addition other societal woes are glamorized far greater by the press than needed compared to child sexual abuse. Meanwhile 500,000 kids per year continue to be sexually abused; this occurs every day in the bayous, boroughs, urban streets and suburban cul-de-sacs all over America. Let’s not make this issue into a dark dead end road without justice for the wounded youngsters.
Child sexual abuse and assaults are gruesome acts not exclusively known to happen in the Catholic Church. Based on reported cases, statistics reveal that one in every six boys and one in every four girls will be sexually abused before the age of eighteen. Millions of children and adults suffer secretly, never reporting the crime to the proper authorities due to fear, shame and/or unfounded guilt. The silence of religious leaders, as well as the innocent victims, encourages offenders to become habitual pedophiles rather than inmates of correctional facilitates. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which is free to the public, there are 673,989 registered sex offenders living in the United States. The United States of America is plagued with individuals who have been convicted of sexual abuse or assault. We have more than fifteen times more sex offenders than we have paved miles of interstate in America. To put it in context, for every mile marker on our America’s highways seven sex offenders could stand at each marker.
The Karama Sadaka Foundation’s “Tell Somebody, Anybody” Campaign speaks out for child victims, who’s voices are stifled by their tormentor. Adults that experience this form of child abuse should not be punished by the government for sharing stories years later by the statute of limitations. The vicious nature of crime, the mental state of victims should also determine the outcome of the cases. America should set the standard for the rest of the world; but by placing a statute of limitations on sexual abuse we tell offenders that it ok. Serial child rapists should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, it should be a federal crime and in some cases capital punishment should apply. Let’s petition congress, the Supreme Court and President Obama to change these laws. Our infrastructure of communication ceases to exist when educating our children about the dangers of family members and individuals that lurk in houses and our neighbors to prey on the innocent. As parents, teachers, therapists and religious leaders we have a moral obligation to have an open door policy in place for our kids. Always, believe your child over a loved one or a neighbor.
As you can see this topic is near and dear to my heart because I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, which was rendered by three generations of family members (my uncle, my uncle’s son and my uncle’s grandson). I point out the three generations but over the course of my childhood, I was victimized by at least a dozen males. Seven of these alleged homo sapiens were blood relatives, and the others were neighbors, and boyfriends. Today is a very emotional moment because I feel like I am finally confronting these child predators. As defined by the Wings Foundation, I was a casualty of sexual abuse which included indecent exposure, sexual innuendos, lewd comments, fondling, and incest on several different occasions.
Now the healing process can began and I am hoping other adults and children will come forward with their stories that might inspire this veil of secrecy to be lifted by our society. I write this letter as a public outcry but I know I will be persecuted, interrogated, and disowned by relatives. I embrace my new family where I first spoke publicly about my experience in an online group called Matters of the Heart with other adult survivors. I am hoping someone acknowledges this silent epidemic not just in our neighbors and small towns but by Federal government officials , Corporate America and the religious communities. Let’s forge an alliance in our community to help the kids that are muted by their oppressors.
If you are asking how can I help prevent children from being harmed in my community? I have provided two simple but yet effective options below, if you are up for a challenge then have your friends and family help support your efforts as well.
OPTIONS TO FIGHTCHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY
1. You can volunteer or donate time to the Karama Sadaka Foundation, an organization committed to fighting child sexual abuse. No child or adult will be denied services regardless of their race, creed, or color. www.nubianations.org
2. Go to synagogues, temples, mosque, or churches and ask the leaders to speak out against child sexual abuse.
Thank you for your time and cooperation in advance.
Sincerely,
Monica “Ywndricka” Young
Grassroots Activist
Co-Founder of The Karama Sadaka Foundation
Founder of Nubianations
720-244-0018
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