My Reaction to Oprah's Conversation with Child Molesters

Within the first 5-10 minutes of the Oprah show, I thought to myself, "This is what I have been saying for years!" She shared helpful information: 

• 90% of child molesters know their victims 
• Parents need to listen to kids when they tell about abuse. A friend of mine responded to this: "This is a very true statement. I documented that same statement in one of my research papers. We really need to listen to our children more. When they don't want to be left with a particular person we should wonder... ask why... and react accordingly."

When the interviewing proceeded, I immediately thought that it may be too much for me to watch. It was so raw, graphic and a reality. It pained me to see these men walking around with these disturbing and horrific thoughts of children (as young as 5 years old) in their head.

One of the most important things I believe Oprah said on the show was that "Molesters do not want you to talk. If you are a child watching [reading] this, TELL SOMEONE!! If your parents don't believe you, KEEP TELLING until you reach someone who does!". To this day, I wish I would have done that...

I thought the best way for me to even get through the show was to commentate while watching it--release my own feelings, if you must. I utilize Facebook, a social network, to do so. 

When I began updating my status, friends immediately began commenting. Some even sent me messages to "watch Oprah". A friend that I have chatted with and become close with in nearly a year told me while discussing the show that she too was victimized. Victims commented and shared their hurt and pain, while I furiously continued to type updates of Oprah's show. What began with two people "liking" the conversation ended in more than ten people "liking", reading and/or commenting on the conversation. 

This day, this conversation, these women and teens helped me to understand that I MUST continue my work through sharing my story...

LaQuisha Hall Is listening to Oprah say things I have been saying for years...

Mon at 4:01pm 

2 women (names undisclosed) liked this conversation...

LaQuisha Hall

Oh my, this might too much for me...

Mon at 4:04pm · 

 I'm glad you are watching! ;-) ♥

Mon at 4:04pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

So far, the age range is 5-14...

Mon at 4:04pm · 

 Its ok sweetie...it will help people like me learn, and understand.

Mon at 4:05pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

How can a father get aroused from his own daughter... it is really hard not to judge them.

Mon at 4:06pm · 

 I was just about,to tell u watch oprah lol

Mon at 4:06pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

I pretended to be sleep too... :(

Mon at 4:07pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

Oprah looks like she is going to cry...

Mon at 4:09pm · 

I just don't have the words to describe what this makes me feel...I can't imagine

Mon at 4:09pm · 

 I just turned it on...omg

Mon at 4:09pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

Oprah was raped and 9 and molested until she was 14?? I can't believe she had the courage to do these interviews...

Mon at 4:11pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

Hmmm... neglect... keeps coming up. Unbelievable...

Mon at 4:14pm · 

my roomate is watching it with me and her eyes keep watering up...this is terrible!

Mon at 4:19pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

Absolutely terrible... I don't know how Oprah had the strength to do these interviews... I feel like fighting all 4 of those men.

Mon at 4:20pm · 

I thought about you as soon as it came on.

Mon at 4:21pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

Thanks sis... This just confirms what I have been saying that some have not listened to... I hope they are watching.

Mon at 4:22pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

Of course it hurt her, she was 5 years OLD!! She is not ready for sex?? I don't understand why a 60 year old thought a 5 year would think sex was enjoyable...

Mon at 4:23pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

I wonder if they have stopped... If they have quit molesting children. What do you think?

Mon at 4:24pm · 

Well you know my story, and I swear I had no clue how common it was. Like this is crazy!

Mon at 4:24pm · 

This makes my inner-momma bear mad, but it does teach me the signs to look for.

Mon at 4:24pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

How many children do you have?

Mon at 4:25pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

Oprah was raped AND molested by family... :/ Frustrated...

Mon at 4:26pm · 

One daughter - she's 10...this disturbs me greatly

Mon at 4:27pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

Again, victims don't yell, kick and scream! They don't immediately tell... a conversation I just had this past weekend.

Mon at 4:28pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

The grooming process... they say it like they have been to school for this.

Mon at 4:33pm · 

where was that conversation at?

Mon at 4:33pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

2 or 3 times a week... sounds familiar...

Mon at 4:40pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

My abuser told me when I turned 18 he was going to marry me and he, too, told me he loved me...

Mon at 4:41pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

He is right... he KILLED that girl even though she is still alive. :(

Mon at 4:42pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

Oprah said it: "When a child is abused, it kills their spirit. It changes who they are."

Mon at 4:42pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

I ♥ my cat... She is sitting in my lap, as if she knew she needed to be close to me right now. :)

Mon at 4:45pm · 

When your abused it definately changes your whole outlook on the world...everybody and everything! Im suspicous of all older men now! It hurts to say it but family mainly! I don't even worry as much about other men that I know...Everytime someone goes in to give me a hug, I tense up a little...Everytime someone reaches out to touch me or get something from me, I try not to get to close or make sure their hands are down. I am very much so damaged!

Mon at 4:46pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

THANK YOU! A child molester said if parents watch they would KNOW what is going on... how many pairs of shoes and birthstone rings did I have to get??

Mon at 4:47pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

My apologies all, I am ranting... a little upset.

Mon at 4:48pm · 

I got shoes, clothes, trips to wal-mart, taken out to eat all the time....I don't understand it either, and it made it even worse, because I didn't know how my mother couldn't see the signs either!

Mon at 4:49pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

If you THINK something is going on, parents, INVESTIGATE!!

Mon at 4:50pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

The set was sooo quiet...

Mon at 4:59pm · 

pretending to be asleep was what I did too. I was too scared to even know what else to do...and it is correct that people that have been molested don't tell right away, it took me years to even be able to open up to anyone about it. Still to this day I get nervous being around guys to this day and it's been 6 years. It's crazy what this can do to a person.

Mon at 7:37pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

But you survived (and you are a beautiful lady!) You are destined for great things which is why you are still here... and you have got support in this corner of the world... ;)

Mon at 11:37pm · 

...i did survive, and i'm glad :) thanks

Tue at 12:11am · 

Conversation 2:

LaQuisha Hall ♥ To ALL victims and survivors: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. (watching Oprah...) ♥

Mon at 4:38pm

6 women (names undisclosed) liked this conversation...

LaQuisha Hall

Oprah said it: "When a child is abused, it kills their spirit. It changes who they are."

Mon at 4:43pm · 

So true..

Mon at 4:45pm · 

You tell it like it is! I am glad you are a voice for all of us. It certainly changed who I was and how I thought of myself and all men, unfortunately, including my dad. Keep it up!

Mon at 4:46pm · 

OMG!! You never told me... :'(

Mon at 4:46pm · 

I am watching Oprah also. It is so enlightening for a parent.

Mon at 4:46pm · 

I wish more parent's paid more attention to there children an who they allow their children to be alone with.. I wish mine did :'(

Mon at 4:47pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

Me too...

Mon at 4:49pm · 

Yea my Mom till this day won't listen and refused to believe the man she married isn't a good man...

Mon at 4:50pm · 

LaQuisha Hall

I am so sorry, sweets.... but I BELIEVE you and you are NOT alone. ♥

Mon at 4:52pm · 

It breaks my heart to know you two (and others) have experienced this but by your sharing your stories it is ensuring that people are aware of pedophiles and ways to protect their children.

Mon at 4:53pm · 

 I just wrote the same thing on the first status she wrote about the show!

My mother knows deep down inside I just don't think she could accept that it really happened, and if she does she'll have to do everything on her own. So she feels it's better to just keep it under the rug, and pretend like it didn't happen!

Mon at 4:54pm · 

There's going to be an interview on my local news tonight with the mother of a child whose body was found Christmas Day afternoon after she'd been abducted and murdered by a sex offender. The biggest question is going to be why she was living with her aunt. The offender is the aunt's boyfriend. ALot of people in the community seem to think the aunt and/or the mother should be charged with child endangerment or something for exposing this child to a known pedofile. For the full story, do a search for Sarah Haley Foxwell-Salisbury MD.

Mon at 5:07pm · 

Thank you so much for posting this. I've been struggling a lot recently with have flashbacks about the incidents. I just needed to hear that i'm not alone. Thank you so much.

Mon at 7:14pm · 

You are welcome sweets! I am sorry that you are struggling with the issues still, but remember that healing from this is a lifelong process. You can do it! Feel free to keep in touch if you need additional comfort or encouragement... ♥

Mon at 11:33pm · 

...thanks. ♥

Tue at 12:08am ·