Walking away a Warrior: A Call to Arms.

The purpose of this blog is to explore, research and understand the often complex issues pertaining to child abuse particularly as it occurs in the context of a religious upbringing; and, thereby it is my hope to affect a more proactive policy of education and intervention. Canada is a first world nation; and, it is my belief that if parents are unable, or worse, unwilling to raise their children in a first world (i.e., modern and secular) fashion, the state has not only the right but the responsibility to intercede on behalf of those said children. When children are raised in ignorance, neglect and abuse they are essentially robbed of their childhoods and have their very futures preempted, whether the predominant ethos be Creationist or Catholic, Muslim, Mormon or, as in my case, Mennonite. The best that many such children can hope for is a maladjusted adult life dependant on Welfare or Disability Support. I know whereof I speak because I was one such child; and I can personally attest to the fact that raising a child in religious ignorance is no less a form of abuse than those of physical, sexual or other psychological natures.

I also believe that it is incumbent upon those of us who have survived childhood abuse and are sufficiently equipped, to come forward and do whatever is necessary to prevent today's children from being similarly victimized. As is common in many religious familial settings, I was a victim of physical abuse executed in various forms of humiliating and painful corporal punishment. When I was fifteen years of age, I was afforded the opportunity to hold my (adoptive) father to account in one last physical confrontation between us: I confronted my abuser on his own ground and on his own terms and was victorious. Although it was a horrible feeling in some ways to stand above him while he lay beaten and frightened on the living room floor, I realized once I had transcended the shame that I had succeeded in doing what few are capable of: at least from the point of view of the physical abuse, I could hold my head up high and walk away a warrior. Sadly the same cannot be said of Aqsa Parvez, a sixteen year old Muslim girl who was beaten to death by her father, Muhammad Parvez simply for exercising her right as a Canadian citizen not to wear the hijab (see thestar.com, "Dad charged in teen's death" Dec.11, 2007, Bob Mitchell, Jim Wilkes). Had more vigilant policies been in place, she might not have been consigned to such a horrible fate.

It is not what one stands for that will ultimately define one's legacy, but rather what one is willing to fight for. So, one must chose one's battles wisely. Although my childhood abuse and consequent disorders present serious obstacles to any long term commitment to set right the social injustices from which I and many others have suffered, this is one battle I can and must fight. Indeed, I am uniquely qualified to do so. Furthermore, although as I stated above I held my father to account for the physical abuse, it's a little more difficult, however, to do so in terms of the sexual abuse I suffered at his hand. I have yet to find a means of "walking away a warrior" in this regard. It is my hope that any others out there among you bloggers who have suffered as I and many have, will contribute to this blog, and share their experiences, their methods of coping and any and all feelings and impressions regarding this topic. Visual art and poetry would also be appreciated. I invite anyone who can provide insight and constructive criticism to feel free to express themselves here, so that, ultimately we will all be able to hold our heads up high and walk away WARRIORS!

John Clapp a.k.a Layish


Below is one of my own pieces of art, in which I depict the metaphysical/religious symbols of surrealism in the greater context of Evolutionary Biology, Geology and Cosmology. Science, not religion provides the greater context; and, as I am fond of saying, Christianity itself is the perfect of the Darwinian (evolutionary) observation, Descent with Modification, i.e., from Judaism.