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Sexual abuse has reached a tipping point

Stop blaming victims while protecting and excusing abusers
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Editor, The Times:

Leeann Tweeden is a perfect example of why women don’t come forward after having been sexually abused!

Pictures of Leeann posing in sexy lady’s wear does not mean she asked for it. She’s a model, for crying out loud. It’s her job!

A sleeping woman, does not mean ‘help yourself.’ This was wrong. I cannot believe I am saying this to so-called adults who should know better.

No means no. A sleeping woman who doesn’t say no is not saying yes either. You have no right to touch her!

Just because you post pictures of her being intimate with someone else does not mean you can grab her. She is not an object. She is a human being with the right to be treated as such.

Roy Moore is really disgusting. Yes, I believe the women. It makes me sick to hear, “Why didn’t they come forward before?” They were kids! He allegedly sexually abused a 14-year-old. He allegedly was banned from a mall for harassing teen workers. He needs to do jail time, yet he’s got women protecting him?

These are just a couple of the many news stories we are hearing about with, I’m guessing, many more to come. The time has arrived to deal with what can no longer be ignored.

This may come as a shock to some of you but this is occurring every day in every country. It happens to and by every race. Every age is a potential victim.

I’m not saying every man is an abuser nor am I saying every woman is abused. I will say, of the women I know or have known in my life, I cannot think of one who hasn’t experienced sexual abuse in their lifetime, some before even hitting puberty.

Girls and boys alike, children suffer sexual abuse. They are told to stay quiet, by their abusers, and those who they ask for protection. It’s an uncomfortable subject, it’s embarrassing, and it’s not easy to talk about. It won’t get fixed until we do.

READ MORE: BC groups to address child sex abuse in sports

I don’t know what has become of our society. Do we not teach our sons manners anymore? Are we not raising them to be gentlemen? Are we teaching them it’s okay to abuse women, and, as long as you keep denying what you’ve done, you will get away with it? You may even get elected!

Are we teaching our daughters they are worthless? Here to be used and abused. Don’t bother sticking up for yourself, nobody will believe you anyway. They will dig into your past and make you look like you deserve it.

This shouldn’t have anything to do with politics; this is about human rights! The right to be respected, treated kindly, and believed.

We have to work together to make this world a better place. Teach our children well. Stop blaming victims while protecting and excusing abusers. Speak out when we see it, instead of sweeping it under the rug.

Both men and women need to take part in this change. This has to stop! This is the tipping point, and it involves all of us. The days of sitting on the fence or looking the other way are over. The time to get involved is here and now! So stand up, and speak out. It is your duty. Let’s end this and make a better safer world for future children and grandchildren.

Brenda Griffiths

Clearwater, B.C.

Editor’s Note: According to Wikipedia, Leann Tweeden is an American radio broadcaster, model and sports commentator. She accused Al Franken, now a U.S. Senator, of inappropriate behaviour toward her when the two were on a USO tour to the Middle East in 2006. This include an unwelcome kiss and posing for a photograph with her while she was asleep on a plane with his hands either over or on her chest. She has since accepted his apologies.

Also according to Wikipedia, Roy Moore is a former Alabama state judge presently running for the U.S. Senate. During the Senate race, claims surfaced that, while in his 30s, Moore had pursued numerous teenage girls and sexually assaulted some of them, with one girl as young as 14. Moore denied the initial allegations of sexual assault, but did not deny approaching or dating teenagers.[citation needed] There was a following allegation of groping a 28-year-old woman in 1991. Independent witnesses confirmed that Moore had a reputation for coming on to teenage girls.