Story on Oprah: Cradle Rape

[NannaNurse]

I watched Oprah today and I've never felt more disgusted or ill in my life, hearing about babies that are being raped in South Africa by grown, AIDS infested 'men' who have been told that if they have sex or 'lay with a child' that the purity of the virgin child will cause the AIDS to go away.

Have any of you ever heard a more sickening thing? They told of a 8 month old........8 MONTHS OLD......that had been savagely gang rapes and cut. The baby was found abandoned and was rushed to the hospital. The injuries so severe, that even the ER doc's cried. AMAZING TO ALL, that precious little miracle lived!! She was adopted by an amazing lady and the baby, now 2 is healthy, loving, and doing well.

My heart is so heavy with this horrafic thing that is going on.

As nurses, what could we do? I don't know how I would even react if I had to treat a patient like this. Would my emotions consume me? Could I be partial?? Oprah said that the country is ashamed. I GUESS SO!! What could our country, our medical society do to help stop this?? Any suggestions??

[joloza]

Hi, I'm new here and though I am not a nurse, I am very interested in all the topics here and considering becoming one..

And also: I am proudly South African! And thus felt that I had to reply to this thread.

Yes, it's terrible that young girls and babies get raped. Unfortunately the one Oprah talks about is not the only one, perhaps just the most famous one. There are plenty others. Luckily the perpetrators are usually caught and sent to prison for life. But what damage does it do to the child?

A life long physical battle to recover from all what has been done and a life long psychological battle to trust an adult, fall in love.. you name it?

So, how can I be proudly South African knowing that this goes on in my country? Because, hard as it might be, I try to find solutions to the problems. That starts by finding out what causes all this and there is not one answer. The myth that sleeping with a virgin cures AIDS is one, the fact that women are often still treated as second class contributes as well. And don't forget that only 10 years ago we still lived under apartheid rule where torture, rape, murder, political violence etc were everyday life. This has desensitised a whole society, the price of a human life is not much more than a cell phone and lots of young men that are unemployed, have no structure, no struggle to fight for, are left, trying to make ends meet. Drug and alcohol abuse adds to all this.

I paint a bleak picture here, but that is how it is in many places.

And so, yes, men turn to raping babies, girls, their wives, their pupils...

The solution then..

Education and creating opportunities for dignity, employment, support, treatment for AIDS related diseases, for a way out of poverty.

As they say: ambition is the best contraception...

As to our president being so vague about what causes AIDS, he has passed this stage, though he might still be quoted on it in the media. A big anti-retroviral campaign has started, mothers receive free treatment etc. Too little too late perhaps, but let's concentrate on the way forward instead of looking back at all the mistakes of the past.

Afterall that's how our country managed to transform itself. I can You can South Afri can.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Like Oprah said:

"if you are female and born in America, you are already one of the luckiest girls on Earth"amen to that.

Agree, agree. We, as women in the U.S., are among the most fortunate and blessed women on earth.

I am grateful every day to be here. Let us not take our citizenship and our rights for granted!

I just cannot imagine how people can do such things. How can they not know that they are torturing a child? How can they not care?

Can't they hear the screams and cries?

These men are not human beings.

The "abstinence only" plan will not have much effect.

We need education, and CONDOMS in Africa NOW.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Joloza - thanks for your post. Welcome to the board.

My son has been in Mozambique, Dondo to be exact. And also just returned from a trip to Imhaminga. Maybe what he and his team are doing won't amount to a hill of beans for the folks they are serving but it will change my son's perspective on life beyond our little rural community. And maybe that is a small step. But a step nonetheless.

They are in South Africa now . .not sure of the town but on a safari for their last days.

I do know that this trip has also opened up my eyes to a place I didn't think much about and I have been fascinated by your country. The photographs on the website for my son's team are beautiful, the children are beautiful.

Thanks again.

steph

[mother/babyRN, RN]

Sarah, while I have to say if I could I would be the first to go help people I do NOT NOT NOT think our country, government or people should be made to feel required to help ANYONE else other than Americans out. I personally want my tax dollars concentrated here although I do not begrudge anyone who wants to personally assist....Those sorts of things go on here as well although not to the same degree..I am glad attempts are being made to see what is happening and think of ways to assist, but no way are the people of America responsible for "fixing" the problems....We have enough difficulties here...I know I will get flamed for that but it is my personal opinion and has not or will not change....As a victim of sexual abuse I strongly feel not a whole lot is being done here to correct or change things. We (America) comes first..Our money should stay here first...So, should you disagree with me, I respect that and kudos for people who put their personal time, energy and heart into foreign affairs.....

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Sarah, while I have to say if I could I would be the first to go help people I do NOT NOT NOT think our country, government or people should be made to feel required to help ANYONE else other than Americans out. I personally want my tax dollars concentrated here although I do not begrudge anyone who wants to personally assist....Those sorts of things go on here as well although not to the same degree..I am glad attempts are being made to see what is happening and think of ways to assist, but no way are the people of America responsible for "fixing" the problems....We have enough difficulties here...I know I will get flamed for that but it is my personal opinion and has not or will not change....As a victim of sexual abuse I strongly feel not a whole lot is being done here to correct or change things. We (America) comes first..Our money should stay here first...So, should you disagree with me, I respect that and kudos for people who put their personal time, energy and heart into foreign affairs.....

This is exactly the discussion I've been having with a friend who was a foreign missionary for years. He also thinks our money would be better spent here where we have so very many problems. Being a nurse certainly brings me in touch with folks who abuse drugs and their children. I'm an ardent anti-drug crusader . . . :) Especially methamphetamine. :angryfire

However, sending my son on a summer mission trip as a requirement through his university is a good thing too. During the year he volunteers for more local issues . . every Saturday is given over to a local community need.

And we have always tried to contribute here at home too. My husband and kids cut firewood for folks too poor to buy it among other things. Our youth group contributes to our local food pantry and also do home repairs or just general cleaning. I think raising kids to serve others is a good thing.

steph

[TexasPoodleMix]

yet people like Michael Moore like to whine about how horrible it is over here ! :angryfire yea right.

[TexasPoodleMix]

Sarah, while I have to say if I could I would be the first to go help people I do NOT NOT NOT think our country, government or people should be made to feel required to help ANYONE else other than Americans out. I personally want my tax dollars concentrated here although I do not begrudge anyone who wants to personally assist....Those sorts of things go on here as well although not to the same degree..I am glad attempts are being made to see what is happening and think of ways to assist, but no way are the people of America responsible for "fixing" the problems....We have enough difficulties here...I know I will get flamed for that but it is my personal opinion and has not or will not change....As a victim of sexual abuse I strongly feel not a whole lot is being done here to correct or change things. We (America) comes first..Our money should stay here first...So, should you disagree with me, I respect that and kudos for people who put their personal time, energy and heart into foreign affairs.....

I could not agree with you more.

[joloza]

I agree when you guys say that it's good to use the money in America when you are American. Charity begins at home, right?

We often only hear about America's foreign affairs, but not about what's being done about the problems within the USA and as I understand they are many: poverty, racism, abuse etc.

But when you say you mustn't spend too much money on foreign affairs, how come the USA has been (and still is) spending a lot of money on foreign "affairs" in places it has no right to be in the first place? Africa is poor and has many problems, so are Central America, certain parts of Asia...And so are plenty other countries where the USA (and other so called "civilised" countries) have walked in, taken over, shouted orders and left a mess.

I know that I might be offending a lot of people here, but I had to get it off my chest, if we could all be more focussed on making this world a better place, then it would be one.

So, let's all do what we can wherever we are, with respect, dignity and an open mind to everyone who is different, thinks different and lives different.

Peace to you all!

Joloza, South Africa

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

yet people like Michael Moore like to whine about how horrible it is over here ! :angryfire yea right.

Just because it is far better here than in most other places, does not mean we should ignore or fail to expose problems we do have. That is probably one of the reasons things are better here- we are free to expose and critisize anything or anyone we want.

[TexasPoodleMix]

Just because it is far better here than in most other places, does not mean we should ignore or fail to expose problems we do have. That is probably one of the reasons things are better here- we are free to expose and critisize anything or anyone we want.

didn't say anything about ignoring the problems here. However, instead of whining about them why not try and fix them, AND be *thankful* for all that we have -- surely you can admit we have it pretty good over here, better than in many places.

And I wouldn't call MM's propoganda "exposure" either. He complains and says it's so horrible, why doesn't he leave ? I doubt he cares, just wants to make a buck. He's repulsive.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

TexasPoodleMix, see my previous post in this thread (post #62). I am truly grateful to be in the U.S.

[elkpark]

didn't say anything about ignoring the problems here. However, instead of whining about them why not try and fix them, AND be *thankful* for all that we have -- surely you can admit we have it pretty good over here, better than in many places.

And I wouldn't call MM's propoganda "exposure" either. He complains and says it's so horrible, why doesn't he leave ? I doubt he cares, just wants to make a buck. He's repulsive.

So, which is it? Is he supposed to stay and try to fix problems (by, oh, say, drawing public attention to them through his films ...) or leave because he sees problems here? Would be v. difficult to do both at the same time. :)