98209. Commentary: Be a Child's Hero

By Staff Sgt. Alicia K. Borlik, USA
American Forces Press Service
        
        WASHINGTON -- I caught part of a news show about heroes 
recently. It was refreshing to see this approach when so 
many times we just hear about the "bad guys" and the "bad 
things" people do.
        But the most interesting part of the show came when it 
asked, "What would you do if someone committed a crime right 
in front of your face?"
        Studies found that most turned a blind eye. In two test 
cases, hundreds passed by a suspicious-looking man trying to 
jimmy a car door open. Even more passers-by looked away 
after seeing a man pickpocket a woman's wallet in broad 
daylight.
        Only one man took action. When asked if he thought 
before he acted, he said no, he just did it. No thought, 
just a natural reaction, he said. These tests were conducted 
in 16 cities across the United States with the same results.
        So what does this say about us as a country? Could we 
care less what happens to others? Or maybe we justify 
turning a blind eye instead of putting ourselves in harm's 
way. What if that pickpocket had a gun? He could have. Yet 
with no thought to his own safety, that one man stood up for 
what was right.
        How many of us can say the same thing? That when we see 
a wrong, we say something or do something. Or is the real 
question what will we tolerate?
        Take child abuse and neglect. A child is at stake, not 
just a wallet, yet only half of child abuse and neglect 
cases are reported, according to the National Committee to 
Prevent Child Abuse.
        In 1996, more than 3 million cases were reported to 
U.S. child protective service agencies. The agencies 
substantiated about 1 million of those cases as victims of 
child maltreatment. That's 14 out of 1,000 U.S. children.
        And if those statistics aren't alarming enough, neglect 
was the culprit in 60 percent of those cases. Physical abuse 
accounted for 23 percent, nine percent was sexual abuse and 
emotional maltreatment accounted for four percent.
        The good news is that child abuse reporting levels have 
increased 45 percent in the past 10 years. This increase is 
attributed to better education.
        April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The 
theme for this year's observance is "Nurturing Family Growth 
... Planting Seeds for Future Generations." 
        The Defense Department sent teaching packets out to 
each military child development program. The packets include 
many learning materials to raise public awareness of child 
abuse and its prevention, such as lesson plans, information 
booklets and stickers.
        The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse put the 
packet together to encourage families and communities to 
work together to prevent abuse. Detailed ideas are given for 
families, community members and child care providers to use 
in their regular care programs.
        One great tragedy is when a child dies because of abuse 
and neglect. In 1996, 1,046 children were fatal victims of 
maltreatment -- three children every day. According to 
information from 16 states, 41 percent of the children who 
died between 1994 and 1996 had prior or current contact with 
child protective agencies.
        For more information, check out the National Committee 
to Prevent Child Abuse website at www.childabuse.org or 
reach out to the children's program in your community. 

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