Saturday, June 29, 2013

Petition: "The Canadian Justice Department: Increase prison sentences for sexual assault and child molestation"


There's a new petition on Change.Org called "The Canadian Justice Department: Increase Prison Sentences for Sexual Assault and Child Molestation." The petition cites these law articles for reference:
271. Everyone who commits a sexual assault is guilty of
(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years and, if the complainant is under the age of 16 years, to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of one year; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 18 months and, if the complainant is under the age of 16 years, to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of 90 days.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 271; R.S., 1985, c. 19 (3rd Supp.), s. 10; 1994, c. 44, s. 19; 2012, c. 1, s. 25.

I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like nearly a long enough punishment for changing my whole life forever. However this year Canada is facing the possibility of serious changes to their system. However they still face serious opposition due to overcrowding of jails and the cost of it all. Speak up and demand to be taken seriously, if not for any other reason than to stop the suffering for the victims. 

This article list Canada's current laws on child abuse: http://www.haltnow.ca/abuse/child-abuse/191-child-abuse-and-the-law.html

And this article discusses what they are hoping to change this year: http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunity/2013/02/is-canada-too-soft-on-child-sexual-abuse.html

 To sign the petition go here: http://www.change.org/petitions/the-canadian-justice-department-increase-prison-sentences-for-sexual-assault-and-child-molestation

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The Good Men Project, Nathan's Story, and Surviving the Fourth Cycle

Today I'm sharing an article I stumbled upon from The Good Men Project. If you're like me and have never heard of them this is an excerpt from their About section on their website.
"The Good Men Project was founded by Tom Matlack in 2009 as an anthology and documentary film featuring men’s stories about the defining moments in their lives. The original, modest goal, was to tell stories about men that “changed the writer and changed the reader.” In the process, it became apparent that this book was fostering a much-needed cultural conversation about manhood. Since that time, The Good Men Project has grown into a diverse, multi-faceted media company and an idea-based social platform." 
I think this idea is totally brilliant and of course the first story I stumble upon on their site was this one. "What My Sister Did: Surviving Incest" by Nathan C. Daniels. On the site Nathan shares his painful story and you can definitely feel his uncomfortableness, but very real, very raw pain he has suffered. 
"They say that time heals all wounds… that’s bullshit! In this situation, time is not on your side and, if left to its own devices, it will form an alliance with your problems… not you."
Nathan has also written his own book called "Surviving the Fourth Cycle" his true story about overcoming suicide and mental illness.
"Surviving the Fourth Cycle swings pendulously back and forth between two stories that ultimately bleed into one. 
You will experience the author's most recent battle with mental illness through raw and honest journal entries that give you a rare "fly on the wall" perspective from a truly haunted mind. At the same time, Nathan rips his closet door off its hinges and lets all the skeletons come rattling out through a series of writings that are, in essence, the chapters of his life. You are in for a bumpy ride as he picks through the bones in these extremely personal essays that examine the intense relationships and experiences that have led to both his struggle to function in society, and his ability to persevere."

In Nathan's article he shared several steps that helped him recover that he hopes will help others. I'll spare quoting his whole article right here, but if your suffering and want to see what a true survivor, a male survivor, found helpful in his own recovery I strongly suggest checking this out.


Thank you Nathan for coming forward in a harsh society against male rape and speaking out. You are braver than you know and as a survivor I thank you.
To read more about Nathan's book go here: http://www.survivingthefourthcycle.com
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A Letter to a Molester.

This is from http://www.therealsupermumblog.com/2013/05/letter-molester/ but it was so touching I just had to share it here.

A Letter To My Molester
“Just this once,” you used to say, but that was just a lie.
You stole my innocence and made your little brother cry.
Not just when you touched my skin, throughout my whole existence.
Nightmares! Flashbacks! Memories, pursued with great persistence.
You would bring me to the basement, in the quiet of the night.
I know you were a victim too. That doesn’t make it right.
It was wrong, our uncle touched you once, outside by grandma’s shed.
He shared a sickness with you, sis, and then you helped it spread!
It wasn’t good enough to touch… you made me touch you back!
You forced my face between your legs, while writhing on your back.
Once was traumatizing, but this would last throughout a year!
You filled a dwindling childhood with painful, shameful fear!
I’d go to school on Mondays with my wounded pubic bone.
Surrounded by a hundred kids… you made me feel alone!
A six-year old, should never feel the things you had me feeling.
It wasn’t just that year, you took —Decades you were stealing!
I did try to forget it all… once that nightmare passed.
I’m glad I didn’t know back then, how long the pain would last.
You fucked my life up really bad —Without so much as trying.
I’ve cut myself! I’ve gone insane —Envisioned myself dying!
From fear, to shame, to hatred, that I carried for too long,
To numbness, and insanity… before I could be strong!
For thirty years, I’ve struggled with insatiable confusion,
To finally, after all this time, achieve some restitution.
Now, that I’m no longer numb, and I have found relief…
Now, that I’ve survived abuse, and loss, and death, and grief…
I’m finally letting go of all the hate and shame you made!
I’ve learned to reach out for a pen, a lot more than a blade.
I will never say I love you… and I cannot wish you well,
But, I released my hatred too, and now I’m free from Hell!
You molested me, big sister, and now I’m writing so you know…
My wounds have finally healed inside, but getting here was slow.
One more thing I want to share —It’s important, that you see…
The sickness that you tried to spread… I let it end with me!

To the 'The Real Supermom' that wrote this, you are awesome.
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