Last week, the college sports world and the country were rocked the sexual abuse allegations at Penn State University. I won’t get into the nitty gritty details of this story as, I’m sure, many of you have heard the more than disturbing charges being brought against the former assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky.

If these allegations and everything set forth in the 23 page grand jury indictment are true, Penn State allowed a pedophile to roam free for years.

Well this time, I’m not going to bury my face in the sand and just be happy this didn’t happen to my child. Every child, regardless of gender, race, nationality or religion deserves to be protected against any kind of abuse be it emotional, physical, physiological or sexual.

That’s why today, I’m going to donate $.50 for every comment on today’s post to RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network). 

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org, and publicizes the hotlines’ free, confidential services; educates the public about sexual violence; and leads national efforts to prevent sexual violence, improve services to victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.

The abuse of children is a world-wide epidemic and the vast majority of victims remain silent, suffering in silence. No,  as one individual, I don’t believe I can stop this, but I want to try to do something no matter  how small.

 

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By Miscellaneous83 Comments on RAINN: Comment for a cause

83 Replies to “RAINN: Comment for a cause”

  3. I get so angry when I hear about children being hurt in any way. How can someone look into the sweet eyes of a child and than doing something so hurtful to them. It just makes me so sad.

  6. Children are the most precious gift we have and it breaks my heart when I hear about them being abused and exploited. Thank you for taking a stand.

  7. At first, I wasn’t thinking about the children involved, but if the allegations are true, it’s pretty horrific and my heart goes out to those kids and their families. Why is it that the students at Penn State are more concerned about their precious coaches then they are about the kids? Thanks for your support of this cause.

  10. Beverley, you are a gem, a total gem!
    What a wonderful idea you’ve come up with.
    It’s a terrible thing that’s happening and has been happening.
    Can’t people see these are all innocent children??!?!
    Penn State should be ashamed of themselves.

  12. I have found myself burying my head in the sand with regard to this story. The details are horrendous and sometimes it’s just too much to bear to hear more information. But you are right, we have to do something. Thank you!

  13. It’s incomprehensible that football was more important than children at this particular university.

  14. “Every child, regardless of gender, race, nationality or religion deserves to be protected against any kind of abuse be it emotional, physical, physiological or sexual.”
    Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

  15. I have spent my life devoted to children through being a mother and a teacher. I am appalled at the reports of sexual abuse at this college’s football program. Thank you for making sure we didn’t bury our heads in the sand about this.

  19. I’m glad you brought RAINN to my attention. I haven’t heard of them before. Thanks for contributing to a great cause, Bev.

  20. I wasn’t aware that RAINN existed either. What a wonderful organization. Anything devoted to reducing sexual violence is absolutely worth supporting.

  21. I can’t condemn an entire school for the sins of a few, but this is a wonderful thing you are doing.

  24. You my dear Bev., have a wonderful heart. It hurt to know that a adult or child, no matter the sex, sexually abused or physically battered. It’s hard to accept that we live in a world filled with horrible people, but we do. No one should live in fear for the rest of their lives, and that’s exactly what these sick people are doing to our future children, and hard working people. I admire anyone who is willing to help and stand up by saying, “Enough is Enough.”

  25. We all teach our children to be wary of strangers but this is so heartbreaking since this is a person a parent would have welcomed into their child’s life. I live in Pennsylvania and cannot believe this was allowed to happen here.

  26. As a child who was abused and an adult who alternates between ‘surviving’ and ‘thriving’ sometimes – and one with DID – I want to thank you for your donation – anything to end child abuse, or abuse of any kind. We KNOW some of what these children (and those children grown adults – you’d better believe there’s probably a lot more Sandusky has molested) – will have a difficult time ahead. Some of them may have been coerced, betrayed by what they were feeling, thinking that they were getting love and acceptance when they were getting something else – the yoke of shame that society will inadvertently lay at their feet, if only through ‘cross-contamination’ of the shame Sandusky should be feeling – perhaps even feeling that (in some way) – it was their own fault. We pray for these kids, their futures and their souls – that they should be happy and somehow overcome this – that society will indeed change it ways and help them – for these are MALE survivors, one of the most under-represented groups of sexual survivors of all – and they are going to need it: every bit of HELP and LOVE and ACCEPTANCE that they can get.

    God bless them – each and every one. From everyone in ‘our’ system – to all those living souls. May peace, contentment and happiness go with them – from now on. (sad, knowing it won’t come true … but hoping so for them anyways …)

  27. This has been a heartbreaking story to follow. Thank you for taking a stand, Bev, and for being so generous.

  31. This story was heartbreaking, and I was suprised and appalled by multiple revelations throughout the last week. I think what you’re doing is absolutely great Bev. Again we prove that the romance community believes strongly in the protection of children, and if we continue to ban together hopefully we can protect those who don’t get protection.
    God Bless you!

  32. It makes me so mad when I hear things like this and yes it happens all the time. I can’t really post what I would like to do to people that abuse children but just use your imagination and you could about guess.

  33. A wonderful thig to do. I have never heard of RAINN, sounds like a group worth supporting.
    It is an awful story that makes my heart break for the victims involved. Children are so precious and innocent, it is awful that not everyone believes so and treats them as such.

  36. Thank you so much for what you’re doing.

    The Penn State scandal angered me quite a bit. Like many people, I had admired Penn State generally, and Joe Paterno specifically. After I read the Grand Jury report, I was convinced that the university ignored or covered up information they had. And that led to the abuse of more children. It’s heartbreaking.

  38. I still do not understand how so many of the perpetrators justify their actions and don’t see them as wrong. “They asked for it.” “It was consensual.” “They just needed a little discipline.” “He/she loves me.” “I love him/her.” “I didn’t mean it.” “It won’t happen again.” “It didn’t hurt anyone.” “We were just playing around.” “Nothing happened.” The excuses and rationalizations go on and on.
    What makes it difficult for the victim is that they are made to feel guilty and often feel it is their fault. It doesn’t help that people often don’t believe them or punish them for making the accusation. They shouldn’t feel ashamed to report what happened.
    All the help organizations like RAINN are so necessary to help the victims report and recover from the abuse. Thanks for making more people aware of this organization and the work they do.

  40. Well, can’t not comment! That Grand Jury report was… unreal. There just kept being another one – victim number 6, victim number 7, it went on and on… I have a ten year old son, just thinking about it makes me feel like puking.

  41. Thank you, Bev! I’ve already ranted to my boyfriend about the Sandusky/Penn State situation so I won’t do so here. , but thank you!

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  44. Such a great cause, and what a wonderful thing for you to get involved and donate. It’s so sad that groups like this are necessary, but it’s amazing that so many people want to make a stand to educate and try to prevent these disturbing acts of violence.

  51. Thank you for this post, Bev. The entire situation – what occurred at Penn State is horrible, and everything that we’re finding out is basically making it worse. :\

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  54. Thank you so much for doing this Beverly! What a wonderful way to have something good come out of a truly horrible situation.

  55. Limecello sent me. Thank you for doing this. Odds are that I know (and we all know) someone who has suffered abuse, we just don’t know it. The only way to curtail this is to give support to the abused so that they are willing to speak out, and then to support them after the fact so they can move beyond.

  56. Being a victim myself eons ago as a young child, I worry for the children who are under the such media pressure, and privacy is so precious for victims. Sending them love & light, and keeping them all in my love, thoughts and prayers. May they come out stronger on the other side. Please know that you are not alone, and many, many people out here in the world are sending you so much support.

  57. This is a great charity to deal with an awful thing to happen to anyone. Thank you for your post and your wonderful donation to a great cause.

  59. Thanks for doing this. It saddens me that this could have gone on for so long without anyone really getting involved. Now more allegations are coming up about other coaches in other sports. It’s so sad for all those innocents that are the alleged victims.

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  62. Such a sad, tragic situation. Thanks for bringing attention to this cause and I hope you have lots of success.

  64. RAINN is a wonderful cause, and thank you Bev, for bringing atttention to it. I was one of those abused children myself and I never told anyone except my DH. It happened long ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. My heart goes out to all of those poor children that are/were abused. I hope they find the courage to speak up so that those guily of such a foul deed can go to jail/prison. Thank you for donating 50 cents for each post!

  65. Thank you, Beverley, for doing this. We need to support this so our children can get the help they need to live full and rewarding lives while those that perpetrate the abuse are made to pay for those crimes.

  66. Thanks for posting this, Bev! Thanks for doing this! The world needs to support each other and prevent children from being abused this horrifically. RAINN is a wonderful cause and I would love to help you in any other way possble since my major is Sociology and I would love to be a Social Worker. Thanks for bringing attention to this cause. My heart and soul goes out to every child that was abused or are abused. Thank you for donating fifty cents for each post. Good luck on all your future endeavors! God Bless you all for doing this!

  67. Thank you Beverley for posting this. My heart goes out to those little ones. Thank you also for the donation. It will help in many childrens lives.

  68. I’m glad that our littlest victims have advocates to give them a voice when they would otherwise have none. This is truly a worthy cause.

  72. This is a serious issue and it’s sad that something like this has to happen to bring attention to a larger problem. Thanks for supporting this cause through your donation. Hopefully the comments keep rolling in.

  77. Thank you for bringing this organization to my (our) attention! This Penn State incident has shown how easily people are willing to overlook something that they don’t think is right because of someone’s power/position. It should be interesting to see as this story develops how many people knew or suspected and for how long! It also shows how powerless the victims feel to be affected by someone in such a way when everyone else seems to think these people are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

  78. I posted once, but I just wanted to give a special thanks to all the people who go out of their way to support and help the victims who had to deal with such a violent and despicable assult. This matter is so grave that I pray, with RAINN and many others, the number of abuse victims will go down, and the number of arrest will be found guilty are dealt with swifty. Years have past since our justice system properly dealt with a rapist. Maybe the justice system should reconsider and bring back the death penalty for such cause.

  79. Thank you for sharing this organization with us. I am glad there is one out there to help people who end up in such horrible situations.

  80. It’s a great cause to help and it’s great you’re bringing it to attention. I’ve been watching the news about it, such a sad situation.

  82. Thanks for supporting this wonderful cause, helping those who are trapped in a nightmare and unable to help themselves.

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