Child Sex Abuse (CSA) is not isolated to any socio-economic class, race, gender or political affiliation.

Child Sex Abuse (CSA) is a crime against humanity

I am currently writing a piece about hope and why I have so much hope for our world. I paused my work on this because there is so much noise right now about Epstein files and blaming certain groups.

---

Childhood Sexual Abuse is the greatest threat to our humanity

I pause to remind everyone that Childhood Sexual Abuse is so damaging and so prevalent that I consider it one of the, if not the greatest threat to our species we have ever known.

I am not alone in this stance. In the first publication of Paperdolls: Healing from Sexual Abuse in Mormon Neighborhoods, my co-author quoted David Hechler :

“It has been suggested that, given the vast array of crime and violence which can be traced to those who were sexually abused as children, child sexual abuse represents a greater threat to this country’s future than cancer or nuclear war. Hyperbole? Time will tell.”

Decades later, Dr. Robert Block¹, the former President of the American Academy of Pediatrics said:

"Adverse childhood experiences are the single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today."

Based on my experience

• This is not a female problem:
  As a child, I was sexually abused with more boys than little girls. A few of those grew up to become predators themselves. Two (with whom I am aware) acknowledged the abuse they suffered as a child. Sadly both of those men are deceased, from cancer. There appears to be a few that are living realively healthy lives, I do not know if they have had professional help or dealt with the trauma of their childhood. The is a large percent of these little boys who were sexually abused as children who suffered early deaths via freak accidents, drug overdoses, or suicide.

• This is not isolated to socio-economic status or privilege:
  Our neighborhood was considered one of the wealthiest in the Intermountain area.

• This is not a race issue:
  My area was almost entirely White

• This is not a religious issue:
  The only common characteristic I’ve been able to determine about the various religions that are deeply in denial regarding the prevalence of sexual abuse in their particular religion is Patriarchal religions. Many of the leaders in those patriarchal organizations have engaged in minimizing, covering up, and blaming the children for the abuse.

Little boy and little girl crying

Conspiracy Theories

Until we acknowledge the prevalence of this problem, inaccurate rumblings and fear will continue to spread fear based myths, legends, folklore, and fantastical conspiracy theories. We don’t need to believe aliens from other planets land on the earth and abuse children—when it happens far too frequently in the privacy on ones’ own home.

I believe that conspiracy theories run rampant because childhood sexual abuse is so prevalent and so damaging—that the walking wounded grappling with its effects gravitate to cockamamie ideas and theories.

Once those outlandish theories are disproven, those in denial and frequently in power, use those conspiracy theories to discount the actual atrocities committed against children…continuously.

Summary

In 1992, when Paperdolls was first released, the late Linda Sillitoe wrote:

“With warmth and intelligence these authors blast light into the dark corners of a determinedly “innocent” society. Their honesty convinces and enlightens.”

Let’s all endeavor to “blast light” in our ailing society.

---

Subscribers can buy the printed version of Paperdolls & Cowboy Boots at cost

E-Books and international sales.

1.