{"id":3420,"date":"2020-02-18T12:38:39","date_gmt":"2020-02-18T17:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toppun.com\/blog\/?p=3420"},"modified":"2020-02-18T12:38:39","modified_gmt":"2020-02-18T17:38:39","slug":"poem-neighboring-accountability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toppun.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/18\/poem-neighboring-accountability\/","title":{"rendered":"POEM: Neighboring Accountability"},"content":{"rendered":"

Neighboring Accountability<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Several homes<\/strong>
\nDown<\/strong>
\nThere is<\/strong>
\nA child molester<\/strong>
\nYou can\u2019t no<\/strong>
\nFor sure<\/strong>
\nBuddies sow nice<\/strong>
\nToo those knew<\/strong>
\nKids on the block<\/strong>
\nHow could you<\/strong>
\nWarn up to him<\/strong>
\nSurly there are other neighbors<\/strong>
\nAxing the question<\/strong>
\nWhat shitty do<\/strong>
\nEspecially iffing correct<\/strong>
\nThe prize to be paid<\/strong>
\nFrom phallus testimony<\/strong>
\nAnd illicit probes<\/strong>
\nIn the end<\/strong>
\nAssessing what is<\/strong>
\nDear<\/strong>
\nIn the light<\/strong>
\nOf what is<\/strong>
\nDumb<\/strong>
\nStruck<\/strong>
\nBuy that veritable truth<\/strong>
\nIt is awe<\/strong>
\nIn the risk<\/strong>
\nAnd neighboring accountability<\/strong><\/p>\n

This poem is about the all-too-common tragic trauma that child sexual abuse wreaks on its victims, their families and the community. More specifically, this poem deals with the responsibility that we have toward one another, especially children as potential victims. Child molestation and sexual assault is perpetuated by silence. Perpetrators can only continue their crimes if targets or victims are silenced by threat or shame. Such silencing also depends on adults in a child’s community turning the other way when suspicions are raised. Also, a child’s community may not be supportive enough for the child to feel that they will be believed or feel safe in saying anything. This poem arose from a conversation with someone who found great difficulty in potentially wrongly accusing someone of something very serious. My perspective is that this is precisely why we need to deal decisively with any suspected child endangerment, because it is so serious. Such hesitation, which in my view quite reliably chooses doing too little, strikes me as far more dangerous than being a little too ardent in protecting children. Plus, in larger terms, perpetrators are typically also victims who end up perpetuating a cycle of abuse. Perpetrators also need a community that can hold them accountable and offer real help to them, not just enabling. May we act vigilantly to build supportive communities that are committed to protect children and provide compassionate care and healing for all victims.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Neighboring Accountability Several homes Down There is A child molester You can\u2019t no For sure Buddies sow nice Too those knew Kids on the block How could you Warn up to him Surly there are other neighbors Axing the question … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,15],"tags":[251,294,519,331,339,164,497,63,354,658,94,409,260,716,131,421],"class_list":["post-3420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poems","category-political-and-philosophical-musings","tag-accountability","tag-awe","tag-children","tag-community","tag-compassion","tag-crime","tag-healing","tag-kids","tag-perspective","tag-poems","tag-poetry","tag-responsibility","tag-risk","tag-sexual-assault","tag-silence","tag-truth"],"yoast_head":"\nPOEM: Neighboring Accountability | Poems, Political and Philosophical Musings | Top Pun's Poetry, Funny Puns, Free Posters, Public Health Radio Show! 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