This should be a no-brainer. One of those things you don't ever think about. An automatic response. Engraved in your soul for all time. As natural as breathing.
When you learn of or witness sexual assault (aka rape), especially against a child, call the police.
Period. Conversation over.
The excuse of "I told my boss" is not good enough. Nor is the excuse, "it's not my job."
It sure as hell is your job. In fact, it's everyone job to protect children.
Do you hear me Mike McQueary and ESPN?
Earlier this week a number of my friends posted a story from The Onion about a group of 10-year-old boys holding a press conference begging the world to call the cops if anyone sees them being raped. Is it funny? Well, I guess so, but more than that, I think it's horribly sad. As I said when my friend Ellen posted the video, "It saddens me that The Onion has to write this story because so many people seem to be unclear on the concept. What makes me sadder is that in all the media coverage of the Penn State (and now allegedly Syracuse) child rape scandal, I have yet to see anyone simply look into the camera and say 'The bottom line is this: When you see a child being sexually abused, do whatever it takes to remove the child from the situation and call the f*#)^%@ police. To do anything else makes you as bad as the rapist.'"
So with that, I bring you this video of ESPN explaining why they held onto a tape recording of a conversation between Syracuse University's former coach Bernie Fine's wife, Laurie Fine, and Bobby Davis, one of his alleged victims, for eight years. Yes, you read that right. They had the audio tape for eight years and did nothing.
To say that ESPN's actions disgust me is a gross understatement. They clearly put their business needs ahead of protecting children and that is vile. I just hope that Bernie Fine didn't abuse any other children during those 8 years while ESPN sat on its collective hands.
Protecting those who sexually assault anyone, especially children, makes you as bad as the rapists, in my opinion.
I hope this is the final time I have to say this: If you learn of or witness sexual assault, especially against children, CALL THE COPS.
If we all did that one thing, children would be protected, victims could begin to heal, pedophiles would be in prison, and the world would be better.
Amen!
ReplyDeleteI can not fathom how anyone could allow this to happen without doing everything in his power to stop it. Just call the police, it's not that heroic.