Ocala Movie gives hope to survivors of child sexual abuse of males ...

I would be remiss if I didn't tell you about the Ocala Movie. The script is about a man who comes to terms with an abusive childhood and finally discovers who he is. This isn't just his story but it is the story of the 1:6 boys who are victims of child sexual abuse of males.

The team allowed me to review the script. I was impressed by what I read and am glad to support the movie. 

Don't think that it's "only" about overcoming child sexual abuse of males. Although the movie does give hope to survivors of abuse, the story is not so simple. The script is raw but powerful and realistic but hopeful. There are scenes of abuse that will make you mad and scenes of forgiveness that will make you cry.

Abuse alters the world around you and causes a victim to think and act differently. The actions can lead to damaged or broken relationships or abusive behaviors. It can cause survivors to lash out in anger against the people they love most or at themselves. Ocala doesn't shy away from that but it also gives survivors a reason to hope. 

It takes its name from the street where the abuse happened. One of the things that struck me about the script is that Ocala could be any street in any neighborhood. Children play. Neighbors call to each other. On the surface it seems to be an ideal place to raise children. In reality, the street holds a dark secret because of one man, in one house.

Here is more about the Ocala Movie. Once you hear more about it, I think that you'll want to join me in supporting the movie.
 

Domestic violence and childhood from a survivor

How does domestic violence effect children in the household. Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story gives us a rare glimpse into the life of a child. Domestic violence robbed Lynn Tolson of her childhood. She could have chosen not to share her story with us. We would have missed the pain but also her joy in discovering that life is worth fighting for.

The number of children each year who are effected by domestic violence is shocking. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that as many as 10-20% of the children in this country are at risk for exposure.

As Lynn's blog can tell you the results are lifelong. Children who are exposed to domestic violence tend to have higher levels aggression than those who do not. The Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence says that children can act as a parent substitute, withdraw, self-abuse or display other symptoms.

Domestic violence is preventable and inexcusable.

Today's status update is on children and domestic violence. Why not Tweet it or post it to your Facebook status?

Get the facts about children and domestic violence from US Child Welfare http://1.usa.gov/owdDni  #dvam 

Therapy dog helps 15 year old rape victim put rapist behind bars

If a therapy dog helps a 15 year old rape victim testify isn't that a good thing? Kids are taught that bad guys go away. They're taught good-touch-bad-touch and they're told to tell. Then, they're told to keep telling until an adult finally listens.

In a child's world kids are taught that monsters aren't real. Children who fall have their boo-boos kissed away and are given something soft to comfort them. They're told that police, teachers and parents are the good guys and that people who rape kids are the bad guys. Kids learn that they have the right to be comforted and that no one has the right to hurt them.

That's the way it works in an ideal world. The problem is that we don't live in an ideal world. Some kids find out that monsters are real. They learn fast that they may not be comforted and they grow up scared. Worst of all they find out that a 15 year old can be a rape victim.

So, if a cute fluffy dog gives a 15 year old rape victim courage to testify what problem could there be? The idea seems innocent enough.

The objection comes from a defense attorney who says that he can't cross examine a dog. He claims that the jury that found his client guilty could have been unduly influenced by a cute dog that gave a 15 year old rape victim the courage to testify against his client.

The last time I checked juries are adults. Adults are old enough to discern the truth and base their decisions on it. They're smart enough to base decisions on facts, not fur.
 
Personally, I'd like to shake the paw of any  therapy dog that helps a 15 year old rape victim testify. Attorneys sit next to their client in the courtroom. The article linked below indicated that the defendant had two attorneys at his side. Essentially, the defendant had four legs by his side. That must have brought him comfort or encouragement as the proceedings went on.

Rape victims aren't comforted when they testify. Yet all victims, teens and children included, have to tell their story to a courtroom full of adults. Children and teens can only hope that adults will believe them. When this 15 year old rape victim spoke, 12 people listened and chose to put the bad guy away. That's the way the world is supposed to work.

When I read Dog Helps Rape Victim 15 Testify on the NY Times it made me want to say 'Good job, Rosie!

Most of all, it made me want to say the same thing to the courageous 15 year old who testified and to the 12 who believed her. To them I say, good job.

TSA stoops to searching screaming 3 year olds

We teach children to scream if an adult touches them where a swimsuit covers. Kids are instructed to yell and tell if someone touches in a way that makes them feel bad inside. But what is a child to do when the adult is a TSA employee who has been paid to search them in an attempt to keep our country safe?

The child in this video did what she was supposed to do. She was being touched by a stranger and she began screaming at the top of her lungs. There was nothing that mom could do about it but help. The problem is that there's stupid and then there are some TSA employees. Just when we thought airport security screenings couldn't get any more bizarre the bar was dropped lower.

That the TSA is stooping to search screaming 3 year olds is absurd. In this video, the little girl began screaming when her teddy bear was sent through the scanner.

The screams of the 3 year old intensified when the TSA employee had to search her. It's understandable that we have to do some searches and scans to keep our country. It's a sad day when a 3 year old is suspected of being a terrorist. I'm glad her dad said that she is ok. This You Tube link of the search just pulls at your heart.

Amazon pulls pedophile book amid controversy

Yesterday, I posted on my Facebook page about a pedophile guidebook that was available on Amazon.com. In a very smart move the company has now made the item unavailable. As an Amazon customer it makes me feel good to know that they took the complaints seriously and acted on them. My dissatisfaction is that doing so took an email landslide, news and blogging firestorm. 

Today, I'm sending another email to Amazon asking them to act quicker when the first complaints trickle in. Much of this might have been prevented if an employee could have removed the pedophile guidebook from Amazon when it first came to light. A temporary hold of several hours would allow for the book to be researched and would possibly not effect sales if the book was found to be legitimate.

As a writer and published author I understand that Amazon wants to make this publishing platform available to everyone. That's not a bad idea. But to me, if a book or e-book gets even one flag it's time to take a took. A few flags and it's time to consider action. If several thousand emails, articles and blog posts are condemning book (like the pedophile guidebook on Amazon). Then it's past time to take action.

Amazon, you're a good company. Please consider tweaking your policies to allow for a quicker response to flagged material.

Dad confronts daughter's bullies on school bus. Gets arrested. Kids laugh.

That seems to be the news coming out of Seminole, Florida. The news station WFTV.com is reporting on a sad situation.

Imagine for a minute that you are in the reported position of Mr. James Jones. Your sixth grade daughter is disabled with cerebral palsy. She comes home from school one afternoon upset. It turns out that she'd been bullied unmercifully since the start of school. Think how you'd react if your little girl was so upset that she had to be hospitalized and put on suicide watch.

Apparently that's what Mr. James Jones was dealing with in Seminole, Florida. He allegedly boarded his daughter's school bus and confronted the bullies. The end result is that he was arrested and had to bond out of jail.

The bus video shows children laughing at the incident. You can watch the video online.

Who is really at fault here? Is it a hurting father? The parents of the bullies or a school system and school bus system that may fail to protect its students?

There are no easy answers. May this little girl find emotional healing and be safe from all harm.

What do you think?