That may seem like an obvious statement, yet it happens every day to children all over the world. Many parents, for whatever selfish reasons they may have, beat and, sometimes, even KILL their children.
Many times, child abuse is an action that is handed down from one generation to the next. When a parent beats thier child, they may think they are doing the right thing in order to teach the child right from wrong. There are many reasons why this method of discipline does not work.
One thing a child will learn from being abused is how to be afraid of their parents who hurt them. The same parent who they depend on for love and support. They also learn that someone who is bigger and stronger than they are will beat them up if they dont submit to the bigger persons wishes, leading them to live in a life of fear. At the same time, they learn that if and when they are bigger and stronger than someone else, they can overpower that smaller, weaker person to be submissive to them upon demand. This is what leads to the dangerous cycle of child abuse that can be passed from one generation to the next, all the while, never learning that difference between right and wrong, which could have been taught through patience and education. It is our responsibility, (those of us who were abused as children), to stop the cycle before it goes any further.
This can be very difficult, as sometimes the abused child grows with an accustomed habit of letting other confusing emotions blossom into anger. When the abused child becomes a parent, they recall how their parents handled problems and they automatically follow the pattern, unfortunately. Of course, as that child grows up and becomes a parent, he or she is likely to fall into the same patten as well. At some point, someone has to realize that these actions are wrong and they must take steps to stop the horror that is child abuse.
Even when the person decides that it is time to stop the violence, there can still be many problems. When a child is abused, many confusing thoughts enter his or her mind. Why am I so bad? Why dont my parents love me? Because I am so bad, does that mean no one will ever love me? Why was I even born? These question will haunt the abused child far into adulthood, creating complexed inner problems that will most likely require some sort of therepy to learn how to cope with them.
Many times, the memories of child abuse can be so painful, that the victims fall into a state of denial. For some it is far easier to pretend it didn't happen rather than to face the harsh truth. The truth that their parents did terrible things to them at a time when they were dependant and defenceless. This may seem like an easy way out, but by avoiding the truth, it could lead to living a life without accute common reasoning in many aspects. By denying the past, you could be closing your eyes, as well, to bad things in the present. This could lead to several crucial misjudgents in the adult life.
I am pleased to see that there are several laws against child abuse now that didn't exist when I was a child. I can recall, as a child, calling the police when my stepfather beat me, only to see that the officer was in support of him using that type of discipline. That senerio is unlikely today. Yet with all the laws and punishments against child abuse, it still continues, and in a big way, I might add.
You can still help. If you suspect anyone of any kind of child abuse, please report that person to the authorities. You don't need proof, if you have a reason to suspect it. Please do not worry about what anyone else might think of you, or what might happen to a friend or family member, if you report it. A child is innocent and defenceless. By not reporting it, you are contributing to the problem. Maybe you will save a child's life by doing so.
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