Touching on a Taboo Subject...

My co-host Mike & I have always promised each other that when it comes to Sorry We're Perfect, we will remain true to who we are. And sometimes that means discussing subjects that aren't quite as lighthearted. We're not afraid to talk about things that can sometimes be uncomfortable. We understand that life is not always fun. We believe that it's our civic duty to reach out to others and to make a difference whenever we can. That's why our next subject covers a topic that is a little more serious & a little harder to talk about... CHILD ABUSE. According to Childhelp.org, the United States has the worst record in the industrialized nation, losing 5 children EVERY SINGLE DAY due to abuse. Just of the cases reported, there are SIX MILLION children affected by child abuse in this country every year. Those are just the reported cases. Whether physical, sexual, or emotional/verbal- child abuse is something that damages children FOR LIFE. I know personally what sort of damage abuse causes to a child. It is not something that happens and then is forgotten as children grow up. When a child is abused, it affects them in some way for the rest of their life. Yes, there are varying degrees of abuse. But no matter what it is, I can guarantee that every child that suffers abuse, suffers as an adult. Abuse is often a taboo subject. People that have been abused don't want to talk about. People that witness abuse don't want to get involved. People that abuse often look and act just like everyone else...to the point where outsiders find it impossible that they are in fact abusers. We all know it occurs, but we've been conditioned to look the other way. We've been conditioned not to notice. It is an ugly subject. Often, children who are abused, whether it's by family, friends, friends of family, or a complete stranger, never see their abuser confronted. They never get closure on their abuse. They don't talk about it and they don't deal with it. Unfortunately, it also never goes away. Like most "bad" things in life, abuse that isn't dealt with will follow a victim forever. As we prepare for our episode on child abuse, we hope that we can provide resources and information that will help people. In order to stop child abuse in this country, we have to be able to talk about it. We can no longer allow this problem to remain a taboo subject. If we face it, if we talk about it and make people aware, we create change. And we save lives. For adults out there who have been abused and have hidden their story, their are resources available to provide support. You no longer have to feel that no one understands, that what happened is shameful to you in anyway, or that you can't talk about it. For more information on support for adult victims of child abuse, visit www.ascasupport.org. And tune in Wed., Sept. 26th as Sorry We're Perfect talks about child abuse.