By Rev. Lainie Dowell
Oprah Winfrey Funeral Mask by David Edwards
I received an unsolicited email about the latest Oprah Winfrey show which included just about a frame-by-frame description of the horrible sexual abuses suffered by infants, tots, and many children at the hands of family members and strangers.
Many of those acts were recorded and placed in public view by sexual predators, which Oprah brought to the public's attention via her show. Before I responded to that email, I first deleted all of the writer's descriptive recounting for others to (as she wrote) get as outraged as she was. Then I sent the following email to everybody on that list (keep in mind I had received a copy of that email unsolicited).I emailed the following response.
I received this email and I question Oprah Winfrey's sanity! Her recent programming could trigger all kinds of pains and emotions for people who may have experienced those atrocities and who may still be trying to work through them.
In 1993, Oprah helped to get a bill signed into law (i.e., "The Oprah Bill") without ever using such graphic illustrations. And with her money and influence, she could have gotten that message and that SB-1738 through this time without being that graphic.
I had planned to NOT watch Oprah's recent disturbing program for just the reason portrayed in this email (deleted). As well I have been boycotting Oprah because of her political stand and inexplicable reasoning she gave for not hosting "political" forums on her show because, as she says, she is supporting Obama (and that is after the fact of promoting his candidacy).
Work to Deter Sexual Predators
One way people can help to deter sexual predators in your neighborhoods and that of others is to contact your local state government to find out if they have a sexual predator watchlist and the means to warn citizens when sexual predators (male and female) move into the area. And, if they don't, then you must advocate for them to get that in place.
You can look up the link to the national sex predator registry online. Also, your state and/or local government can arrange to have automated calls directly to your home or cell phone to let you know when a sexual predator moves into your area. They can also direct you to the website for detailed information about them (photos, backgrounds, locations, etc.). Many are relocated near schoolhouses!!
I believe Oprah has (mis)used the Senate Bill 1738 "Protect Our Children Act," which is sponsored by Senator Joe Biden, for political reasons -- to deflect attention away from the ongoing positive press about the McCain-Palin election 2008 Presidential ticket in her attempt to help give breathing room to the Obama-Biden candidacy during their now failing election bid.
For those who are outraged, and rightly so, about what is continuing to happen to humiliate, maim, terrorize and kill our children -- Stand up and speak up whenever and wherever you come across it. Get involved! Don't hesitate to contact the authorities. And, if you are afraid of making a mistake about it, then determine to err on the side of the child(ren).
Pay attention to what you see and hear and to even what you do not see or hear or know. Parents have to work and they leave children of all ages with others. Please help to save a child's life by being alert to any abuses regardless of whoever, however, or wherever way it might be manifested. We can no longer afford to take these matters for granted. These are the terrible times in which we live.
For the recipients of this response -- I do not spam or retain your emails and will not pass them along beyond this post.
Likewise, I will respond to comments but I do not accept Flaming.
Thank you.
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