Hello,
I’m hoping you’ll be interested in joining a closed Facebook group called “Abuse Nation”.
I have found that the majority of the non-abused population are unwilling to discuss abuse, blocking any substantial progress in strengthening laws and helping end abuse. In my experience this problem will not abate significantly because there is no form of leverage to persuade people to deal with a subject that they can easily ignore, to some extent with the support of much of society. My long range goal is to bring the millions of abuse victims (all types of abuse) together in a coalition. Not all victims will be a willing to become involved as it requires quite a bit more exposure than it would be fair expect.
There are many horrifying statistics but two, for me, are emblematic of the level of denial that permeates our country and our legislature:
1. Each day three or more women are murdered by their boyfriends or husbands on average, according to the American Psychology Association.
2. In 2014, state agencies identified an estimated 1,580 children who died as a result of abuse and neglect— between four and five children a day. However, studies also indicate significant undercounting of child maltreatment fatalities by state agencies — by 50% or more, According to Childhelp
To me these represent an acceptance of unnecessary violence that we usual attribute to fascist nations, yet we accept them in our nation with little or no outrage. Based on these statistics and a host of others, I’ve concluded that lawmakers and the general population do not have the motivation to address issues like this. I believe that that a concerted effort to change laws, change minds and end abuse will have to come from those with the greatest stake in the matter: abuse victims and people who fight for them. It has been estimated that there are fourty-two million adult survivors of child sexual abuse. If these adults were to form a coalition with victims of domestic violence, human trafficking. Physical and emotional neglect, we would have a tsunami of influence and power. That is the goal of Abuse Nation.
The purpose of this group is four fold:
1. Encouraging an exchange of ideas regarding methods of fighting abuse
2. Encouraging discussion regarding “social entrepreneurship” projects, especially the project described in number 3 below.
3. Help gathering music written and performed by abuse victims under the brand “Abuse Nation”. I have settled on this idea due to my feeling that people will listen to music about a controversial subject before they will take time to read a book or watch a movie or television show and they will do this without a lot of conscious thought; this is proven by the long list of disturbing songs that have made it into the top 40s. Perhaps it’s the fact that music seems to speak to listeners at a deeper level and passes the internal censors without trouble. I am hoping to put this music on YouTube initially and eventually, have it played on the radio under the “Abuse Nation” brand. I would also work to have this music performed and composed by celebrities; both Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera have admitted to sexual abuse and domestic abuse respectively.
In the long run I expect that Abuse Nation will become a musical brand that is accepted by radio and internet listeners. What people become used to, they tend to accept. The sale of this music would help fund the entire effort and further the program.
My first contribution to this musical effort can be found at this link:
Note: All music must be copyrighted before submission
4. Gather statistics and articles on various types of abuse. There is a related, non-group, public Facebook page, also named “Abuse Nation” that is a clearing house for bulletins, announcements and articles. It will also act to preview music written and performed by abuse victims that will eventually be transferred to YouTube. That page is found here:
Exposing people to specific information about the many, often obscure, types of abuse and their effects is imperative in educating members of the abuse and non-abuse communities. Creating a coalition of abuse victims and anti-abuse workers requires that all parties are brought together and understand the commonality of their respective struggles.
If you are interested in:
1. Joining the group (it is a closed group so I must approve you).
2. Submitting an article on any form of abuse
3. Submitting music written by abuse victims
Please contact me at abusenation@yahoo.com. Thank you for your time.
Neil Newton
