Rhonnie's Blog

There  is  never  a  lack of subject matter to write about when it comes to Child Molestation.  However, the Press does not always protray Child Molestation in the proper light.  The Press did get it right as demonstrated by the horrors of the children murdered at the hands of Sex Offenders in the State of Florida.

The people of Florida became OUTRAGED, and that OUTRAGE brought about necessary changes.  New laws were put on the fast track and have passed as a direct result of the people of Florida taking a hard stand and demanding Justice!                                  

Why does it take OUTRAGE?  Simply stated, sympathy isn't enough, empathy passes quickly...but OUTRAGE provokes action. It is the one feeling we all possess that stirs and churns our souls.  People must become OUTRAGED in order to bring about these types of changes.  Florida is a perfect example of Community OUTRAGE!                                                    


HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW:

Almost 10% of all Child Protective Service reports are substantiated, while  nearly 90% remain unsubstantiated.  Do you really believe there are that many reports that are unsubstantiated?  I don't!        

At 10 years old and the size and weight of a 5 year old, a battered, bruised, beaten  and  cut  Mary Ellen Wilson made her  court  debut which forever changed history and led to the founding of The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in 1874.                                                                    


Due to a series of unfortunate circumstances in Mary Ellen's childhood, she was placed in the  care  of  the Department of Charities   who then   illegally   placed   her in  a  home  where  she  would  endure numerous years  of  abuse  and  torture  at the hands  of her adult caregivers!                                              


Etta Wheeler, a compassionate woman stumbled upon  Mary Ellen's situation and  began the lengthy battle to try and save her from  her circumstances.   Because there  were  few  laws  in  place to protect children and the ones which were on the books  were vague and left to much to interpretation, the courts refused to get involved.                            

Etta's   relentless   efforts   took   her  to  Mr. Berg, from  t he SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to assist her  in the rescue  of  this  child.   Mr. Berg  did  agree  to   assist  and  together they   brought   Mary  Ellen's  case  to  court.   Mr.  Berg  understood the power  of the Press and made sure they were informed about this case  and  they  did  witness  the  first  Child  Abuse  case  which was brought to court through the SPCA.            

Because   the   Press   did   write   (and  got  it right)   about Mary Ellen's horrific  condition  and  the   lack of  laws  Protecting Children,  there was  an  OUTRAGE  that  spanned  across  our Country  and  abroad.  Human   compassion was  ignited!  150   Cities implemented  Child Protection laws  that  same  year ! 

 We all need to ask ourselves:

• Do you believe that Child Abuse is a Crime?
  
• Do you believe our Child Protection laws have kept up with the fast changing times  this last 131 years?
  
• Do  you  think that the ASPCA (American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) would ever return a badly abused animal to the home it was abused in  and/or   Do  you think that our Child Protective System would ever return a badly abused child to the home he/she was abused in?
  
• Do  our  laws  protecting  animals  evenly  parallel our laws protecting our children?
  
  
• If Child Abuse is a Crime, then why is it that a Crime so heinous is handed off to a State Agency who in most cases are not qualified as Criminal Investigators.
  
• Does   it  seem  the  laws  in  place  today  offer  more  protection  to  the perpetrator rather than the victim.