Published: May 06, 2008 05:33 pm         

THE WAY I SEE IT: Preventing child abuse is everyone's job

I have never been able to pass a buggy without looking in it. I have never failed to marvel at those new lives, and at the creative power that brought them into this world. They are not only miraculous, but they are completely dependent upon those who came before them for protection, nourishment and positive development. We have the power in our hands to nurture them. Sadly, we also have the power to abuse them. I have never understood, nor have I ever condoned, the verbal, physical or sexual abuse of children.

Last week, I attended a program at the Cumberland County Courthouse that spoke to child abuse and to the month of April as National Child Abuse Awareness Month. It is my hope that every decent American will unite to protect "the least among us," and to do everything in our power to end these horrible offenses. I have no illusion that the problem will ever be eradicated. But, I do believe that we can, and must, never give up.

My own experience, gained over the past 30 years, has taught me that we must always be alert to these offenses. If we see abusive behavior, we must report it. If we have the opportunity to intervene, without being confrontational, we must never look away. If we fail to meet these obligations, it makes little difference how many of us "talk a good game." It makes little difference if we gather together to make ourselves "feel better." This is not about feeling good. It is about doing good. It is about saving our children.

We must all unite behind this banner. We must require each and every agency and entity that can contribute to this effort to do everything in their power to succeed. We must not stand idly by while one agency or entity is allowed to short circuit the process. That is true whether the obstructionist is law enforcement, mental health, education, social services, or even the courts. We must not tolerate the process being undermined by any entity, no matter how powerful that entity may be. We must hold them all accountable.

A few months ago, I was shopping when I heard a woman screaming at her children from across the store. I walked to the produce department and found the woman cursing at two little girls in her grocery cart. She was screaming at those little girls, trying to make them stop crying. She didn't seem to realize that her actions were only making the problem worse. The girls were terrified. I wondered if they had good reason to be so fearful.

I walked to the cart, faced the babies with my back to their mother and placed my hand very gently on the woman's hand. Smiling and speaking in my softest voice, I said, "Well, what do we have here, a couple of satisfied customers? Why are you crying?" They stopped. Then I said, "You know you are a lot prettier when you smile. I know you are nice girls because I had four little girls and I know the nice ones when I see them." Then, I turned to the mother and said, very softly, "Next time, try it my way." As I walked away, both little girls smiled, waved and said, "Bye-bye grandpa." Two other women were standing nearby, watching. Both of them were smiling and one had tears in her eyes. The tearful lady said to me, "God bless you." I thanked her.

Robert Evans Burnette is a Crossville Chronicle columnist. His column appears on Wednesdays.