Phoenix, Arizona --An 8 year-old little girl was sexually assaulted and gang raped by a group of her male peers. The boys, ranging in ages from 9-14, were charged with sexual assault. According to reports, the girl was at an apartment complex on July 14, when she was lured to a storage shed by the boys. Allegedly, the boys offered the little girl some gum and then proceeded to restrain and sexually assault her. Police called this case “one of the worst cases they have investigated in many years.” The oldest suspect, who was 14, was charged as an adult and faces 2 counts of sexual assault and one count of kidnapping. The other three boys will be charged as juveniles. All the boys lived in the apartment complex except the 14 year old.
All these children came from refugee families that came to the US from the war-torn West African nation of Liberia. The mentality of these children is quite different from typical American children, but nonetheless, they are children. The little girl’s condition is not yet known, but she has been removed from her family because of their negative attitude towards her. Her family feels embarrassed and ashamed of the little girl, and blames her for what happened to her. The little girl’s 23-year old sister was babysitting her at the time of the alleged attack; the sister wants the boys released from jail because she says, “we are the same people.”
Instead of the community embracing this little 8-year old girl, she is being treated like an outcast. The family blames her for bringing confusion to the refugee. Cultural differences definitely separates one group from the next, but some things are embedded in just being human. Up until 2006, rape was not against the law in Liberia. Children and women have been mistreated for centuries, not only in Liberia, but all around the world, and it’s time for change. No matter where you are from, I don’t care if it’s your culture or not, it’s never ok to engage in sex with a child. We are ruining our children who were given to us by God to protect. This 8-year old child didn’t deserve to be sexually assaulted or raped, and she surly doesn’t deserve to be ostracized by her family. Giving up on our children means giving up on our future.
All these children came from refugee families that came to the US from the war-torn West African nation of Liberia. The mentality of these children is quite different from typical American children, but nonetheless, they are children. The little girl’s condition is not yet known, but she has been removed from her family because of their negative attitude towards her. Her family feels embarrassed and ashamed of the little girl, and blames her for what happened to her. The little girl’s 23-year old sister was babysitting her at the time of the alleged attack; the sister wants the boys released from jail because she says, “we are the same people.”
Instead of the community embracing this little 8-year old girl, she is being treated like an outcast. The family blames her for bringing confusion to the refugee. Cultural differences definitely separates one group from the next, but some things are embedded in just being human. Up until 2006, rape was not against the law in Liberia. Children and women have been mistreated for centuries, not only in Liberia, but all around the world, and it’s time for change. No matter where you are from, I don’t care if it’s your culture or not, it’s never ok to engage in sex with a child. We are ruining our children who were given to us by God to protect. This 8-year old child didn’t deserve to be sexually assaulted or raped, and she surly doesn’t deserve to be ostracized by her family. Giving up on our children means giving up on our future.
1 comment:
I agree with your observations. But I want to raise a question? We are the Only countries in the world where we feel the need to pass moral judgment upon others. How so? Do not get it twisted I am condoning sex with children or the sexual assault of children I think something is wrong with a culture that allows that. What I am saying is I hear from so many of my friends from near and far and sometimes you will run into one who has that belief. Now my friends who are also Liberia are condemning the thought that someone would blame a child for being assaulted and are working on solving this issue. One by taking the girl and placing her another home where she will receive much needed care and understanding. When I heard this I was appalled by the comments. My friends (Liberians) and I talked about this for many hours. They were also appalled by this act and actions for the adults. To point they were calling them "war babies" because they did not know any better. It is truly appalling!!
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