I watched this clip and I transcribed the inmportant part, this is in context. Looking at this, Ann Curry's comment is correct SOMETIMES meaning are there abusers that have been abused, yes. Kathy Lee agrees with her but expands all that to give the impression that if you've been abused there is a good chance you will abuse as well. Thats not right, if some one has to guess a percantage she means by very often, I would think that they would come up with atleast 75%. So what they are saying is 3 out of every 4 survivors of abuse abuse themselves?

Heres the tran>

Our very own Dr. Richard Gartner, PHD author of Beyond Betrayal has a section in his book about this. Page 144 reads "Research suggests that ALTHOUGH many male abusers were sexually victimized as boys only a small minority of these boys goes on to become sexual predators".

Having said that they'll probably blow us off saying that they were talking about physical and emotional abusers.

Thanks jtt for the info.

But I want to challenge the above statement. None of us know what their reaction will be. I understand the sentiment, but I won't allow myself to get discouraged. I know that the facts are on with us, and even if they don't hear us this time, maybe if we speak up this time, the next time we speak out we'll be taken a little more seriously. Besides, what's the harm in sending an email in this case?

For whatever reason, I guess I am not as offended or upset by the comments made on Today as some others.

My feeling is that, overall the segment was very positive by providing the information on Childhelp.org and 1-800-4achild. I am watching news tv right now and I have a feeling I am not going to hear anything about a National Day of Hope for Kids. I will be wonderfully surprised if I do.

We need to keep in mind that no statistics were given. I believe that there was just a poor choice of words used during the interview.

I agree that we should not bombard Today with negative responses, because I do not see how this will be effective in educating anyone, but I do think the type of response that was mentioned earlier may provide a possibility for some additional positive coverage on the subject. Wouldn't it be great it Today were to show an excerpt from the Broken Trusts Broken Childhoods Documentary and encouraged a parent to be more observant, or a victim to seek recovery ?

(please don't hit me)
Keith

Keith,

Thanks for your input. I'm not trying to suggest that anything bad was done, merely something ignorant. I can't fully explain why it's charged me up the way it has, and I don't necessarily expect everyone to feel the same way I do. But I feel very strongly that the essence of the statement, and the fact that it was made so almost non-chalantly chill me.

What frustrates me is that, our reponse to issues of abuse as a society is so confused and disorganized that not only will almost no one hear anything about this National Day ofHope for Kids, but those that do got a mixed message. IT screams to me about the need for education, not anger. And if I can do something to advance the cause, then by gum I'm a gonna.

And not to worry, I'm not taking swings at anyone.

OK....I'm remaining calm over here Tartu....

This is one of the things i fear most about my disclosure....(still remaining calm)...

The Segmment-Producer or Show-Producer ought to be approached abou this...don't you think?

remaining calm....

but get the gaskets ready..cuz i my blow some...

stay calm bro. stay calm.

I'm working on it.

Here is the letter I'm going to send to the Today show. Please feel free to copy and paste from it at your leisure if you would like to contact the shows yourselves (and I'd encourage all of us to... ).

Remember, anger, though a perfectly jsutifiable feeling, is not a good response. In point of fact Ms. Gifford and the Today show did something very GOOD in bringing attention to the scourge of abuse. What I'd like to see more of (and I think many of you will join me in this) is wanting to see more information made available to victims and much less "victim hazing".

April 4, 2007

My name is Chris. I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. I want to bring to your attention some comments that aired during the Today show broadcast on Wednesday April 4, 2007 that struck me deeply. In a segment about the organization Childhelp, Ann Curry interviewed Kathie Lee Gifford. During the brief segment both women made the assertion that victims of abuse become abusers themselves.

The statement was made casually, almost nonchalantly, reflecting an unquestioned assumption that many people have in our society. This statement is also factually wrong. In his book, "Beyond Betrayal" Dr. Richard Gartner, PhD. states the following: "Research suggests that ALTHOUGH many male abusers were sexually victimized as boys only a small minority of these boys goes on to become sexual predators (p. 144)". Similar quotes can be found supporting the truth that victims do NOT go on to become abusers in a great majority of cases.

Although I certainly applaud and wholeheartedly support the efforts made by Ms. Gifford, and the Childhelp organization, the sad truth is that far too much of our attention remains focused upon ineffectual attempts at protection before the crime and tragically difficult persecution after the crime. The result is that very little advice and information gets out in the media to the people who need it most -- the victims.

Such silence about the needs of victims, coupled with statements such as those made by Ms. Curry and Ms Gifford stigmatize victims. In point of fact, perpetrating the myth that victims themselves are the ones responsible for continuing the cycle of abuse only makes it harder for those of us who have suffered to come forward and ask for the help that we need to heal.

Please know that I am very grateful to the Today show for its long history of airing stories that try to open up our nation's eyes to the hidden, silent dangers all around us. That said, I feel I cannot remain silent when a statement made on national television by people who are so well known strikes such a false note. If you would wish to learn more about the needs of victims, please feel free to contact me. I can gladly provide you with a wide array of resources.

Sincerely,


Christopher _________

Hi everyone,

I'm still working finding a good contact at the Today show, but you can send an email to Kathie Lee Gifford here:

http://www.kathieleegifford.com/lamb04/mailbag.php?mailbagrequest=submit

PLEASE remember - this is not about yelling at anyone. No one has done anything bad here. All Ms. Gifford did was say something ignorant. We should be thanking her for the work she does do on behalf of abused children already, but try to make her aware that it is just as important to not stigmatize victims in the way that she did. As well, we must all work much harder to help victims find the support they need to speak up and the information they need to heal.

We want to educate, and no one listens when the teacher is screaming.

Posted at 'Kathie Lee's site':

On April 4, you made an appearance on the 'Today' show, to discuss a charity which aims to help children who are victims of child abuse. Although I think, that it is a cause well worthy of being more addressed, an error, I believe grave error, was made during your discussion with Ann Curry.

While you were speaking of the numbers of children who will be abused, and the frequency, Ms. Curry interjected that 'and many will become abusers as well'. You quickly agreed with this statement. This is, in fact, an error which I feel does disservice to those adult survivors of child abuse who are working diligently at reconstructing their lives. It is a factual statement, that most abusers have been abused themselves. However, it is also factual that the majority of children who have been abused will NOT grow up to abuse others. There is a distinct difference in these two facts.

Per Dr. Richard Gartner, PHD, in his book 'Beyond Betrayal', he remarks on page 144 that although many male abusers (sexual) have been victimized as boys, only a small minority will go on to become abusers themselves. Although Dr. Gartner's book is primarily about male survivors of sexual abuse, I am sure with minimal research, you could discover similar statistics of other kinds of abuse as well.

As a male survivor of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse myself, I have seen the misconceptions many people have of male survivors; that we will, indeed, be abusers ourselves is a very common and hurtful one. You are a person fortunate enough to have the power of 'celebrity' behind you in your charitable endeavors. Please do, use this power wisely, and to do what you can to correctly educate the public of this traumatic subject, not to assist in perpetuating old and inaccurate stereotypes.

Thank you, very much.

Leosha