Don’t Turn Your Face Away

16 Feb

Hello! Welcome to my blog! My name is Vashti and I’m a writer of fiction. I plan to entertain you with my short stories, articles and featured writers, artists and poets, but once in a while I will get serious about the issues I care about. I have zero tolerance for any kind of bullying or child abuse. I believe creating awareness of these issues is an important first step to stopping it. I also believe that the people who stand up to bullies and abusers are real life superheroes.

 

child abuse-don't-turn-your-face-away

 

Don’t Turn Your Face Away

by Vashti Quiroz-Vega

♥

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Don’t turn your face away.
Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know.
Open your eyes to the truth. It’s all around you.
Don’t deny what the eyes to your soul have revealed to you.

Now that you know, you cannot feign ignorance.
Now that you’re aware, you cannot pretend you don’t care.
To be concerned is to be human.
To act is to care.

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence and Abuse: Signs of Abusive Relationships (Click on picture)

1 out of 7 children are abused . . .
How many do you know?

stop-child-abuse

Child Abuse Prevention: What You Should Know and How You Can Help (click on picture)

Don’t turn your face away.

woman-abuses-man

Domestic Violence Against Men (click on picture)

If my post were made of paper it would be wet with my tears. Have you ever confronted a bully? If you saw a woman beating up a man would you interfere?

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43 Responses to “Don’t Turn Your Face Away”

  1. trentpmcd February 16, 2015 at 2:50 pm #

    Powerful post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Michelle Stanley February 16, 2015 at 3:12 pm #

    Hi Vashti, It also angers me when I hear these stories. Sometimes people portray happy family lives in public, so we will never suspect the horrors that occur in their homes.

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    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 16, 2015 at 4:16 pm #

      You’re right Michelle. To some people appearances are more important than their own well-being but for others it’s fear that’s keeping them from telling others what’s going on. Each picture here is linked to a site that can help us read the signs of domestic violence and child abuse.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Sunni Morris February 16, 2015 at 4:13 pm #

    Great post Vashti. I think abuse goes on far more than we all know.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 16, 2015 at 4:18 pm #

      That’s exactly true. If we are to believe the statistics than at least one child we know is being abused in some way and that breaks my heart. 😦

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. A Long February 16, 2015 at 5:19 pm #

    Sad reality, Vashti.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. davidprosser February 16, 2015 at 5:44 pm #

    Well done Vashti. It has to be brought into the open and not hidden behind closed doors any more. Any bullying is too much bullying. There’s no excuse for violence like this.
    I knew you were a wonderful person.
    xxx Huge Hugs xxx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 17, 2015 at 12:09 pm #

      Thank you David. You’re right there is no excuse for any type of bullying. Aw, I appreciate the kind words. 🙂 *Hugs & Kisses*

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. coldhandboyack February 16, 2015 at 6:03 pm #

    Strong stuff today. Very good post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 17, 2015 at 12:06 pm #

      Thank you. I know it’s difficult for some people to face this kind of reality but every so often you have to remind them that this is going on and it may be close to home.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. john flanagan February 16, 2015 at 8:25 pm #

    Thank You, Vashti, for this valuable and very necessary offering.

    Best Wishes

    john

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. jenanita01 February 17, 2015 at 3:54 am #

    A very powerful post, Vashti. I wish there was a way we could all do more to stop this abuse…

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  9. jenanita01 February 17, 2015 at 3:54 am #

    Reblogged this on Anita & Jaye Dawes.

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  10. 1stpeaksteve February 17, 2015 at 11:41 am #

    If you have a young child, you see how they look at you. Like you are bigger than a movie star. To betray that love is monster like. Just as it is to be bully and abuse anyone…or animals.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 17, 2015 at 12:03 pm #

      I completely agree. Kids do look up to us. That’s why when someone they love and trust abuses them it affects them for the rest of their lives.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Hugh's Views and News February 17, 2015 at 12:33 pm #

    Very powerful words, Vashti, and I am so much behind you in what you say. I also feel the same way about people (if we can even call them that) who are cruel to animals. These people should face a heavy jail sentence.

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    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 18, 2015 at 4:45 pm #

      Hi Hugh! Thank you. I knew you would. Oh, that’s a whole other issue but I feel just as strongly about it, and you’re right, there should be much stiffer punishment for animal abusers. After all, animals feel fear, sorrow, and pain just like we do. It’s hard for me to even think about it.

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  12. GiGi Eats Celebrities February 17, 2015 at 11:30 pm #

    I find bullying completely and utterly sickening and I cannot even believe that it happens. It’s absolutely disturbing to me! 😦

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 18, 2015 at 4:41 pm #

      Hi GiGi! I know exactly how you feel. The sad part is that some parents condone this behavior from their children. They figure that it’s better to be a bully than to be bullied. That’s ignorant. It’s better to be a good person.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. marykatbpcsc45 February 18, 2015 at 8:32 am #

    Such an important reminder to all. We shouldn’t let abuse happen. Report it! I was an abused woman, myself. If I see abuse, I will report.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 18, 2015 at 4:37 pm #

      Hi Mary! I’m sorry you had to go through that. I’m glad that you have the courage to report abuse. If more people report abuse things wouldn’t be as bad. Thank you. 🙂

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      Reply
  14. JESS44903 February 18, 2015 at 10:29 am #

    Wow. What a great post!

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

    Like

    Reply
  15. ShrutiInsights February 18, 2015 at 3:00 pm #

    Dear Vashti,
    I feel lucky to have visisted you! I get furious at such issues quite often…
    Although these inhuman acts exist around all of us, people chose to accept them as a course of life (SO WRONG!!)
    The wya you’re putting this point forth (the manner, the tone), it’s so impactful I cant explain…..GREAT GREAT JOB!
    God bless you, really! :):)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 18, 2015 at 4:32 pm #

      Thank you Shruti. I feel just as lucky to have met you. I guess I’m tired of people beating around the bush, sugar-coating, and turning a blind eye to this very important issue. It’s time to stop avoiding the evil that, like you said, is all around us. We have to step up. Thanks again. 😀 xx

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  16. izzy-grabs-life February 19, 2015 at 7:18 pm #

    I agree with what’s been said. I also love how you bring up women beating on men. Too often, men don’t speak up and bystanders won’t step in. I myself would be quicker to act if I saw a man hit a woman than vice versa. I’m not proud of that, but I acknowledge it to change and grow. Thank you for speaking out, spreading more awareness, and providing more access.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 19, 2015 at 8:15 pm #

      You’re very welcome Izzy. I have to admit that I would be quicker to act if I saw a man hit a woman too. I think that although there are women who physically abuse men there’s probably more women who emotionally and psychologically abuse men which can be just as bad.

      Liked by 2 people

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      • izzy-grabs-life February 19, 2015 at 9:40 pm #

        Another great point! Very wise of you to explicitly state that abuse isn’t just physical and that no form of abuse is better or worse than the others.

        Liked by 2 people

  17. izzy-grabs-life February 19, 2015 at 7:21 pm #

    It’s also sad to know that many do report abuse, but they aren’t given the attention they deserve. Overlooked, left for another day. A day too late.

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  18. Z. R. Southcombe February 22, 2015 at 1:12 pm #

    Often bullying can be so much more than physical – and talking about it is the first step.

    Younger children who bully, from my experience, often don’t know better. It’s learned behaviour, or they don’t know how to manage their emotions, or it’s reaction to the insecurity they feel.

    Adults need to take on more responsibility. We need to be people we want our children to be, and as you said, to raise awareness so that victims of bullying don’t ever feel like it’s their fault.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 23, 2015 at 4:28 pm #

      I agree, Zee! Parents need to teach their children early that bullying is not accepted behavior. Many adults believe that being bullied or bullying is part of growing up but nothing could be farther from the truth. Some kids don’t get to grow up because of bullying and abuse. 😦

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      • Z. R. Southcombe February 23, 2015 at 4:31 pm #

        Yup! Though I know it’s in every school in New Zealand – I’m sure it would be similar in the States?

        Perhaps a better way to see it is that bullying is not acceptable, and dealing with bullies, as well as not becoming one yourself, is part of growing up.

        It’s interesting, a lot of the kids who were the biggest bullies in classes I taught didn’t identify as one. They seriously didn’t think their behaviour was bullying. There’s a lot of good in schools, of course, but a lot still needs to change.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Vashti Quiroz-Vega February 23, 2015 at 4:48 pm #

        Yes, you’re right. Bullying is part of every school here in the US as well. Sad but true. 😦 I guess small children need to be taught what bullying behavior is so that they’ll understand not to do it. I think educational programs, cartoons, and skits done in school could help but parents have to be the #1 source.

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      • Z. R. Southcombe February 23, 2015 at 5:05 pm #

        Yes – things in school *help* but parents and siblings are the biggest influence.

        Liked by 1 person

  19. Mari February 27, 2015 at 10:41 am #

    Wow Vashti very powerful images and words. Thanks for the share 🙂

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