The War On The Child: Battlefront “Be Prepared”
Suggestions for protecting children from predators.
Summary
Preface
It’s been a continuing challenge to post, find me on Notes for the near future
The War On The Child has many battlefronts
Child Sex Slavery and ‘Sound of Freedom’
What can we each do about it
Substack Note
The War On The Child: Battlefront “Be Prepared”
Preface
I haven’t posted for ages, mainly due to a series of life events dating back to spring, 2022, which have required time, sustained focus, and emotional energy, and which have left me with little time to pull together any sort of reasonable post. I expect little time for posting in the coming months.
That’s my reason/excuse for falling off the posting wagon. I apologize. I hope you understand. I’m grateful for my (small) band of readers.
Substack Notes has recently become a way for me to get engaged again to a limited degree, without the time to research and pull together a post with references. You can find me there for the near future.
The War On The Child has many battlefronts
I’ve had The War On The Child in mind since early 2022 as a series of posts covering the many and varied battlefronts. Over the last 18 months, it has become clear there are many battlefronts. There are many sorties from both sides in these ongoing battles. It is still my hope to pull together this series. In the mean time, I’m leveraging Notes to create a trail of relevant links to happenings in this War. This is in addition to what I was collecting before my hiatus.
This brings me to the current post, which is based on a recent Note.
I feel this is too important a topic to not turn the Note into a basis for a post, in order to make some small but practical contribution in this War.
Child Sex Slavery and ‘Sound of Freedom’
Child sex slavery a.k.a. child trafficking, and child abuse in general (verbal, mental, physical), constitute one of the major battlefronts in The War On The Child. One might go so far as to call it a theater of the War, no pun intended. This industry can be very lucrative, even in comparison to drugs. A portion of drugs can be consumed only once, but a child can be abused and reused, repeatedly over ten (or many) years, returning large, sustained revenue to the industry’s participants, much more than some joints, some hits of Fen, a little bag of rocks, or some coke for a few lines.
A week ago, I saw “Sound of Freedom” in a local theater. I found the movie emotionally compelling, as well as doing a service to bring attention to this dire issue. The short series of clips of in-real-life abductions impact-fully back up the premise of the movie and establish a basis in reality, even more so than the simple statement that the film is based on a true story.
There were only a dozen or so people in the theater. Unfortunately, two thirds left when the credits started rolling, despite the countdown clock that a special message was coming in a couple of minutes. I had heard about the special message, and was prepared to stay. I usually stay to the end of the credits anyways.
Jim Caviezel gave a heartfelt message and encouraged viewers to spread the word and pay it forward. I remembered the URL. The next day, I paid it forward for ten people. Here is the link (both short link, and longer link):
As an aside, there is a controversy around AMC Theaters making the rounds on social media. Angel has spoken up that AMC is a valued partner, and to please support AMC as well as other theaters showing this film. In my view, this controversy distracts people from discussing the important matter.
What can we each do about it?
There is a ground swell of reaction to this film. Many people are on social media decrying child sex trafficking (which I believe should be called child sex slavery for more impact).
But we all can’t carry out covert operations in the deep jungles and cities of other countries. What can we do in our own sphere of influence? I have realized that I can make my own small contribution to tactics on this battlefront, first by publishing the Note, and now by making it a post.
First, we can share the movie, spread the word, and pay it forward. We all know this. But we can do more.
We can become vigilant for the warning signs of abuse. We can quietly collect and provide a set of facts to law enforcement when warranted, not frivolously (!), and then leave it to them to take it where it needs to go or conclude it as a non-matter.
This can be tricky and has pitfalls if not done well.
I am not a professional counselor, nor a professional law enforcement officer, nor a professional lawyer, nor a professional psychologist. I am not qualified as a professional trainer in regards to child abuse.
What I do have is experience as a former scout leader who went through repeated training sessions on the subject, because we cared for our scouts and had an obligation to look out for the children in our care.
It is my hope that the following suggestions can offer a practical means for more people to engage on the side of protecting children, in this battlefront of The War On The Child.
Constructive suggestions are welcome in the comments.
With that, here is the Note…
The War On The Child: Battlefront “Be Prepared”
As a former scout leader I was frequently trained in child safety and looking for signs of child abuse - whether verbal, physical, or mental.
For example, two-deep leadership always, was essential. To protect the youth and to protect the adults from false accusations. Never let an adult be alone with one or more kids out of sight for any period of time.
Here, however, I want to focus on observation.
Most of the time abusers have learned to leave the physical record of their abuse where it is not easily seen. Therefore one has to learn the behavioral, social, and mental patterns of the children you have opportunity to be around.
Parents - whether at celebrations or supervised playdates or vacations, …
Teachers - whether academic or church, …
Leaders - of any activity involving children whether sports, scouts, after school activities, church outings, …
… if you ever see a strange behavior or a change in behavior in any child that you have a chance to periodically observe, write down the strange behavior or the change on a 3x5 index card.
Capture specifics of the behavior or the change - normal vs changed. Capture time and place and identity to the best you can determine. Capture words if spoken.
Do not write down speculation or worries or concerns. Just the facts and circumstances.
Toss the card in a drawer and forget about it.
Don’t investigate. Don’t involve yourself. Do not speak to anyone about this.
Toss the card in a drawer and forget about it.
Keeping quiet is very important to protect the parents and child from potential harm that can arise from gossip and rumors regarding possibly false allegations. Reputations can be wrongly damaged and you can end up in hot water for defamation.
Toss the card in a drawer and forget about it. …
Periodically, go through the drawer and review the cards. Look for any children with repeat cards. Look for patterns. If there are several cards for a child over a sustained period of time, find your local police or detective.
Make an appointment. Bring in the cards for the child and turn them over. Answer their questions. They should respect your privacy as a source.
Then walk away.
If you are worried about anonymity, mail the package of the index cards for that one child. Then forget it.
Again, do not speak of what you observed or what you have done.
Forget about it (but keep on making cards whenever warranted).
You have just provided a set of facts. It is the job of the professionals to discretely investigate the facts, and determine whether there is anything of concern that warrants a closer look, or to pursue any possible criminal investigation.
Most of the time the professionals will find some innocent explanation.
Sometimes they will find evil.
Either way, maintaining the aforementioned privacy is beneficial to your person.
Either way, feel good you did your part in The War On The Child.
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We can't afford healthcare for American children because we need to keep bombing everyone else's for the love of Jesus and Israel . . .
https://cwspangle.substack.com/p/we-cant-afford-healthcare-for-american