Imagine this... you're in a place where you think you are safe, you parents leave you with someone they trust that won't harm you. One minute, you're treated like a princess (or prince), and the next, you are locked in a small closet for what seems like enternity. You are hit and beat up, yet you can't say a word. You just can't wait for your mom or dad to come to pick you up. You want to be held, because your told that you're not beautiful, or that you will never amount to anything. It's not so easy to be 3 years old and not believe the things that you hear. You cry in the corner of your room when you're home and alone. You try to protect yourself, by putting a mask on, while you personally know, that inside, you are being torn apart.

Each week, child protective services (CPS) agencies throughout the United States receive more than 50,000 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. In 2002, 2.6 million reports concerning the welfare of approximately 4.5 million children were made. More than half (60 percent) of victims experienced neglect, meaning a caretaker failed to provide for the child's basic needs. Fewer victims experienced physical abuse (nearly 20 percent) or sexual abuse (10 percent), though these cases are typically more likely to be publicized. percent) were found to be victims of emotional abuse, which includes criticizing, rejecting, or refusing to nurture a child. An average of nearly four children die every day as a result of child abuse or neglect (1,400 in 2002). (http://pediatrics.about.com/od/childabuse/a/05_abuse_stats.htm)

The most common types of abuse that we normally hear about, if at all, is sexual abuse. But keep in mind, that sexual abuse, is not the only type of abuse in our world. Almost at least once a week, we as a whole society, hear about the troubles that gay and lesbians are dealing with, how they can't marry in most states, or about the war across the seas. But what we don't often hear enough about, is the subject of child abuse. MTV, a common TV station that most of the youth today watches, covers subjects such as cheerleaders, college students, gay and lesbian acts, and other common subjects we see daily on a show called "True Life". I am a child abuse victim myself, and I have worked hard to get past the fact that my past isn't so beautiful, but what I havn't seen in the Media, is the subject of child abuse. The negative affects it has on children and society all together. It's just as important as the war across the seas that we keep hearing about, in fact, it's a war in itself. Everyday, children battle against what they are told, what they deal with, and what they feel. I know I did.

Child abuse, has a huge role on the mind of a person, or any being for that matter. It causes a great deal of damage, often leading to level of depression. The affects of abuse during ones child hood, can be very detrimental to their imagination, or even their future. I know that this can all be very overwhelming, but think about this, each year, so many children suffer from some sort of abuse, and every year, the abuse goes unoticed. You don't hear many people who have been victims of abuse before come out stating that there should be more media coverage on the subject. It's a touchy subject, and I have lived with it for years. But I want to raise noise on this subject, it needs to be brought the the attention of society. There are SO many ways of helping rid our society and lives of child abuse. Even just reading up on it a little bit, helps.

When one life is affected by something this life-changing, then every life is affected by it in some way or another.

Start a movement, create some noise, stop abuse of any and all kinds. One person can't change the world, but one person can make a difference.

There are tons of things you can do. You can volunteer in toturing a child at one of the local homes that house the children. You can raise money, you can do tons of things.

So what do people suggest? I'd like to help.