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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2000)
Th e Opinion CL ac I< amas P rínt ' 'Dear Mr. Jesus'' Dear Mr. Jesus, I just had to write to you Something really scared me, when I saw it on the news A story ‘bout a little girl beaten black and blue Jesus, thought I’d take this right to you • Dear Mr. Jesus, I don't understand Why they took her mom and dad away I know that they don’t mean to hit with wild and angry hands Tell them just how big they are I pray Please don’t let them hurt your children We need love and shelter from the storm Please don’t let them hurt your '■ children Won’t you keep us safe and warm Dear Mr. Jesus, they say that she may die Oh I hope the doctors stop the pain I know that you could save her and take her up to the sky So she would never have to hurt again Please don’t let them hurt your children. Dear Mr Jesus, please tell me what to do And please don’t tell my daddy But my mommy hits me, too Please don’t let them hurt your children... words and music by Richard Klender © 1985 Klenco, Inc. (Klenco Music Group), ASCAP http://www.daytheChild.org Cry out against child abuse; stop the tears hild abuse cries for us all to join the fight in saving the lives of our children— our future. C Make a statement, be heard... ence more pain and hatred than love and comfort. I shudder at the thought of these same children grow ing up and becom ing what their parents were, to inflict suf fering and pain on their own children. I im Opinion Editar plore every one to hug your children, tell them you love them, but please don’t ever raise your hand in anger towards them. It’s so sickening to hear the ex cuses for the bruises: “The child fell down the stairs,” or “They’re just clumsy.” My God, when will it ever stop? When will we as brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers see that hurting the children only hurts our futures? Join the fight. Let your voice be heard. Call radio stations, request to hear “Dear Mr. Jesus,” write let ters, help to remind everyone that the fight is far from over. Child abuse is an issue that we need to face everyday. We must fight for those who cannot, or are too scared, to fight for themselves. SalenaDeLaCruz In Oregon, according to the Or egonian, children who suffered abuse or neglect reached a high of 11,241 in 1999, a 10.8 percent increase from 1998.54% were under the age of seven. I am shocked, even appalled. Growing up in a strong, family-ori- ented atmosphere, I never under- stood the hurt that could be inflicted on children by their parents. I re member hearing the song, “Dear Mr. Jesus” played on the radio. After that I began to ask questions that my mother didn’t quite know how to answer. How do you tell your children that parents may love them, but they are still capable of hurting their children? The biggest question I had and maybe still do is, do they love them too much or not enough? I cry for the children who experi- " Querido Señor Jesus" Spanish Translation & Adapta tion by Roberto Cruz & Alberto DZaz 1 These are the words to "Dear Mr. Jesus," the song played around the world to help in the fight against child abuse. Join the fight by requesting to hear the song on local radio stations. WEÓNEsdAy, M ay , 10 2000 Lost Innocence -Anonymous- Looking back on a time and place Seeing a child’s innocent face Knowing that things aren’t as they appear For inside she cries silent tears Deep inside she is filied with pain She feels dirty andfull of shame If there isn ’t something different she could have done Why didn’t she scream or at least try to run Fear kept her frozen to the spot While this grown man did what he should have not Shame and fear made her keep the silence Innocence lost at a very young age Locked this child in a pain filled cage There is no freedom or escape Kept her telling anyone about the violence The thing that is shocking beyond belief From the fact this child was raped While the guilty man is roaming free Is that this child could not get any relief This child is sentenced to eternity The same thing happened again and again Eternity locked away with all this shame The first one was just how it began She can’t help but feel that she was to blame Even though common sense says it was not her fault More than one man did his worst None of them caring about the child they hurt After the first time was it easy to tell She can’t seem to help from having these thoughts Was it her pain and shame they could smell? What ifs ’ keep running through her mind With every touch a part of her died She keeps going back io those moments in time Now she is in a prison that has no gate Every one of them sealing herfate Questions or comments cccprint@clackamas.cc.or.us. Child Abuse In America Te escribo porque hoy vi :: Algo en las noticias, que deveras me asusto. A una ninita que su mami la golpeo tan duro que se puede hasta morir. Querido Sr. Jesus, yo no puedo comprender por que a sus padres, se los llevaron, yo no s&. No son ellos tan grandes, para asi golpear, y a su propia hijita lastimar. Chorus: Por favor ya no permitas que a tus ñiños hagan tanto daño. Por favor no lo permitas. Queremos tu protección. Querido, Sr. Jesus, por la nina que yo vi, haz que los doctoréis, puedan quitarle eT dolor. Pero si ella se muere, al cielo llévala, para que no vuelva a sufrir mas. Chorus: Por favor no lo permitas...etc. Querido Sr. Jesus,, no le digas a papa, que a mi también me pega muy duro mi mama. _________________________ x Statistics: JÌ.GU& Ike fan tke c/üldbieM, • In 1997, more than 3 million child abuse reports were made. • The actual incidence of abuse and neglect is estimated to be three times greater than the number reported to authorities. Every 10 sec onds a child is abused. • Child abuse kills more children in America than do accidental falls, drowning, choking on food, fires in the home, or suffocation. • More than three children die each day as a result of parental mal treatment. • Head trauma is the leading cause of child abuse death among ba bies. This includes shaken baby syndrome in which 25% of victims die and the majority of survivors suffer brain damage. Victims: • Between 1995 and 1997, 78% of child abuse and neglect fatalities were children under the age of five, 38% were children under one year of age. • Girls are sexually abused three times more often than boys, while boys are at greater risk of emotional neglect and serious injury. Women sexually abused before age 18 have lower levels of interpersonal func tions and social adjustment as adults and are less likely to form trust ing relationships. Information obtained from www.childabuse.org n Friday, December 1st, 2000, a worldwide media event will be held to raise awareness for abused chil dren, Day of the Child 2000. You can help make history, along with thousands of radio stations whom we are asking to join us on this day, along with media outlets, and child abuse agencies around the globe. For more information go to: http://dayofthechild.org.
