The child safety professionals in Indiana have created a video, in the hopes of getting attention. It is my understanding that the video was made for the purposes of getting people to think about critical issues regarding the safety of our children. Apparently, the most recent video had such an effect on viewers that it left some of them with anxiety. I, personally, advocate the use of these commercials, since far too many times child abuse is brushed under the political carpet and forgotten. How many of us have heard about cases of abuse and domestic violence, involving children, yet, the seriousness of it isn’t always portrayed because it’s something we read about or caught a thirty second blurb about it on the evening news. It’s a different story when we watch a commercial that gives out vibes of domestic violence.

I suppose what I’m trying to say is that most of us hear of abuse cases, but we don’t actually see them occurring. When we hear of cases happening, there are often no pictures of the perpetrators and certainly no pictures of the victims; consequently, it doesn’t seem as serious as it really is, to the listener. Even when the abusive parent is shown on the news, there are no children seen, for their own safety. However, when someone shows a short commercial about someone endangering their child, or abusing their child, it brings it home to us because we actually see the family and the danger that the child is in, even if they are only acting out the scenario. This leaves many viewers feeling anxiety at what they witnessed.

While some people may not advocate the use of video’s, I most certainly do. I believe the children’s protective services of Indiana should be commended for bringing a very secretive and hush-hush issue to the forefront. People that actually witness child abuse happening are far more likely to be on the alert in their own community, as well as being appropriately educated on the topic. How can our society even begin to think of stopping the cycle of domestic violence, unless we are all willing to put the truth of it out in front for everyone to see? The longer the issue of domestic violence is hidden and hushed, children will continue to live in danger within their own homes. It’s time for our society to stop hiding this topic. It’s time for our society to stop making excuses for it. And, it’s most certainly time for our society to be educated on abuse. For every person that becomes educated about domestic violence, I believe our society is one step closer to being able to stop the cycle of abuse.