Lives are Lost Too Soon
“Somethings are worth fighting for, Somethings cannot be ignored. Always the right thing to do, Is to take a stand, For the, Black & Blue.” Debra Halloway
During one year in the US, over three million innocent children are reported as being abused. Even horrendous more child abuse incidents are not reported. That number will continue to escalate if it doesn’t stop now. More than 5 kids die in the US every day because of child abuse. Who is responding to their screams for help? Will you be the one to save a child’s life? Or will you sit there and see a kid die from abuse, not from old age or a sickness, but someone hurting them? The three types of child abuse are physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. 10.8% of the three million are physical abuse, 7.6% are emotional abuse, and again 7.6% are subject to sexual abuse. All members of the community need to report it. If you abuse a child or choose not to report it you could suffer a jail sentence. Many kids young or old are left at home alone, and when they hear the footsteps of a drunk or non-drunk abuser they usually become frightened and try to hide. They fear the hand, foot, or whatever it is the tormentor’s use to beat the child. Often the abuser beats the child to death. Some kids would rather be left home alone than spend time with a mean cruel adult. Some parents murder or abuse their children for thoughtless reasons. For example, they don’t want to have their children go through a divorce. Those victim’s parents rationalize that they would be better off dead than dealing with the trauma of a divorce. When really that’s not true. Children of course would rather live than be murdered. Why should someone else make these choices for them? Overdrinking is often a factor in abuse. Alcoholics can drink too much and become unaware of their actions. Or guilt takes over and they take it out on their kids. The story of Briana Lopez was appalling. Her mother, father, and uncle dreadfully abused her while being drunk and mad. They pinched her, bit her and other things that I am not going to mention. On her last day before she went up to heaven, she was thrown up into the air, hit the ceiling, and was not caught. That was a story that I am sure will be remembered by many people. It was a Brianna Lopez, victim of tragedy. child abuse.
Emotional abuse usually remains in the heart of the child and is continued on to the next generation. Therapy is really helpful for the child or parent to calm their emotions and stop them from abusing children. The effect that abuse has on children depends on many things. When children are young they are more fragile and abuse can more likely lead to death. Is the abuser close? The closer the abuser is to the child the more complicated the situation becomes. It depends on the level of trust the child gives to the abuser. Many children all over the world are being burned, put in boiling water, punched, dropped off of bridges, bitten, squeezed to death, frozen, locked in closets for hours, and put in a running washing machine. “It’s horrible that the parents take their anger on their innocent children they scar the children for life making them feel unsafe and insecure. If your can’t properly take care of your child you should ask for help, not kill, abuse, or rape your child,” Maya Russell, a grade 5 student, states. “I believe The Lord made all people the same from the start. But once a child is abused it changes them forever, if it doesn't kill them. To me, abusing a child is the worst thing you can do, and it makes me sad to know it happens all the time,” Brooke Solheim, a parent, declares. This is inappropriate behavior for grown adults. It really doesn’t even make sense to abuse a sweet kind child that you were once before. Maya also agrees and believes, “Child abuse is a terrible thing, it scares them for life physically and emotionally it could make them afraid of many adults. It could limit them in life and not able to live life the fullest.” Many lives are taken too soon, but some are saved, their minds are full of bad things that can’t be taken out of their heart. The young ones which lives were taken too soon will be remembered for their strength that kept them with us for a short period on time. If you know someone who is abusing a child try helping them out my being their friend because they may just be lonely, use you words and talk them through their troubles, or offer to baby-sit and give them a break from their kids. I am Brighton Solheim a 5th grade student of ASIJ and I speak for those children who are in need. I speak for those who are hidden from the world and can never see the light of day and probably won’t ever unless you help me shout out to the world and make this pain stop.