More survivors of abuse speak out

What is it about this Penn State sex abuse case that has touched a nerve with so many survivors? It's not the first such case ever to be reported. It's not the largest? Whatever it is, we are telling our stories. This case has opened a door to allow some kind of relief to be expressed, the tears to flow, and the truth to be revealed. These stories continue to show the world that childhood abuse is far more rampant and far more hidden than anyone wants to believe.

Here are more survivor stories. If you would, please pass them on:

_Goldie Taylor, an Atlanta-based writer, finds the courage to tell her story for CNN.

_In his own memoir, Transparent, Don Lemon, a weekend CNN anchor, tells of his own childhood rape, and for CNN, questions why the young boy in the Penn State locker room wasn't saved at that very moment the witness saw the rape occur. Would the witness have saved the child if he had been a girl? Lemon reminds us that gender doesn't matter. Rape is rape, and we need to open our eyes.

_Robin Quivers from "The Howard Stern Show" tells of her abuse story. The victimizer was her father. Not atypical, in case you were wondering...

_A champion gymnast, Jennifer Sey, retells the story about how her coach got away with sexual abuse (not aimed at her) and why winning trumps everything else when it comes to sports.

_QuinnCreative responds to my Ms. Magazine story with a story of her own. Hers was one of the first stories I read after mine was posted that reminded me words have a healing power we won't even know about until they are read or heard. Let the healing begin!

_Kelly Salasin, who found her way to my story also, was inspired to share something that happened to her one summer--after reading the next story linked below. What do you think, moms? Share this one with your high school daughters?

_Eve Ensler spews her anger over the mere idea of rape. She says she over it. But can we be? Really? Read her essay to see what she really means.

A curated list of Penn State essays, Part 2

The updates to this story just won't quit. And now it's been reported that one of the latest allegations of abuse by Jerry Sandusky may have come from a relative, a child. I'm not sure how State College, Penn., is ever going to get past the trauma they have only begun to suffer.

I'm posting new articles because I want you to know just how serious a challenge creating awareness is going to be. I feel like we have to create awareness in order to get a dialogue going that leads to policy change everywhere--and that doesn't mean it has to be legal enactments but policy change in your own household, on the job, around family. We need to observe more closely what's going on around us. To pay attention is to be part of the solution. Here are the latest reports that might be of interest (no longer just essays here, folks):

_This article, Sandusky's Legacy: Adults With Permanent Mental Health Disorders, describes the lasting effects of childhood abuse. If you read my essay, you can see the legacy article covers the highlights. But it doesn't delve into the nuts and bolts. Still, you get a sense of how deeply a person's soul is affected.

_Two lawyers on Huffington Post try to argue that Jerry Sandusky may be a victim as well. I'm not buying it. But I think it's worth the read so you can make your own mind up.

_Is there more of an uproar over the Penn State story than there was over the Catholic priest sexual abuse cases? A CBS Sports article says this seems to be the case. Interesting comparison. 

_On Philly.com, Richard J Gelles, a dean at the University of Pennsylvania opines whether there is necessity for more laws to combat child abuse. He doesn't think so. In the end, he asks if no new laws or policy changes, what should we do? I sent him a copy of my Ms. Magazine essay.

A curated list of Penn State essays

After yesterday's post, I decided to compile a list of other essays and commentaries that have been written about the Penn State story. They are eye-opening and may help you to understand more fully the full effects of childhood abuse and why it can happen. The essays are listed in no particular order, but if any of them stir up any emotion or ideas of your own to write about, please pass on the links. It's time to say no to "Jerry":

_A young man and former Penn State graduate shares his thoughts about his loss of faith in the community where he grew up. Find out why he considers himself lucky.

_Charles P. Pierce writes about what really matters from this story, not that Penn State could lose football, God forbid, but that children were raped. It's the brutal truth.

_A commentary in which Mark Madden questions who knew what and when. Haven't we all? 

_David Brooks explains what research says about why we may not intervene when we see a crime, such as sexual abuse, occur, or why we look the other way.

_A trauma therapist speaks out on what you can do to help.

JUST ADDED
_A male sex abuse victim speaks out, telling us the abusers are not monsters. Calling them that, let's the rest of us off the hook. We're looking for monsters when abusers can be your family member or friend.

Is it "brave" to speak out?

People are telling me that it was brave of me to write the essay that appeared last night on Ms. Magazine's blog. I don't know if that's true. My intent was emotional release--and to save myself. In the process, though, maybe the words will save someone else. Ultimately, that's what a powerful story can do.

What do you think?

Spiritual thought for the day

Remember the fruits of the Spirit:

LOVE
JOY
PEACE
PATIENCE
KINDNESS
GOODNESS
FAITHFULNESS
GENTLENESS
SELF-CONTROL

If we live in the Spirit, may we keep in step with the Spirit. (from the Holy Bible, Galatians 5:22)