“An American Tragedy:” Boy Scout Sexual Abuse Survivor Tells His Story | Amanpour and Company
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- Опубліковано 20 вер 2024
- A new documentary investigates the Boy Scouts of America and some 82,000 claims of sexual abuse against the youth organization -- complete with firsthand accounts from survivors. Director Irene Taylor and former Boy Scout Stuart Lord join Hari Sreenivasan to discuss a century-long coverup.
Originally aired on July 15, 2022
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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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Its so obvious that Stuart is still carrying so much pain. Its so painful to hear him speak. I am glad that he has taken the steps to heal his pain. I wish him well.
This is absolute truth! I'd like to see religion disappear from the face of the earth forever.
I am inspired by Stuart. What a man! I honor his foster mother too. Beautiful honesty for others here. Thank you
“Stolen childhood” brought tears to my eyes. Ensuring children are not abused, hurt, neglected should be humanity’s #1 priority. I think it would amaze the world how many other issues would be solved if each person had the opportunity to grow up with as little trauma as possible and allowed to develop into their most solid self. Thank you for this important work in getting the message out that, similar to the Catholic Church situation, you simply cannot assume that the adults around your children are safe because they are part of a trusted organization. 💗
Made my blood boil. The abuse is still going on. We haven't found out yet. v
Humanity’s #1 priority?
Some of us have worse problems of our own to deal with, stop virtue signaling, kids become adults and there are all manners of suffering that need to be “prioritized” in this society.
@@aikaterineillt9876 I think this person's point is that many other problems that society faces have their roots in the pervasive systemic sexual abuse of children and the cover up and protection of perpetrators by organisations that are supposed to serve society. So that if this issue is priority, many other problems would be minimised in the not so distant future.
@@aikaterineillt9876 I think this person's point is that many other problems that society faces have their roots in the pervasive systemic sexual abuse of children and the cover up and protection of perpetrators by organisations that are supposed to serve society. So that if this issue is priority, many other problems would be minimised in the not so distant future.
Why do the goddamned perpetrators believe they are entitled to injure children? Abort the patriarchy NOW!
Stop protecting the abusers! You should be protecting the abused.
It’s rather sad how many institutions we trust with our children cannot be trusted.
I want to know if these offenders were charged in court and that justice was done (at least in part).
Children are so desperate for good role models. This is so sad!
Church and Boy Scouts...which teach integrity...are the worst offenders.
Coercion works well for predators.
The Assistant Scoutmaster that molested me did spend time in jail. He ultimately was, upon a verdict, convicted of the crimes of sodomy in the third degree, sexual abuse in the second degree and unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree (five counts). His sentence? One and a third to four years for the sodomy charge and one year each for the sexual abuse charge and the unlawfully dealing with a child charges to run "concurrent". He became eligible for release after 16 months.
What's being done to prevent this in ANY organization that has children involved. How are these people affected being helped. Society FAILED them. Thanks for posting & keeping the comment section open. v
Stuart is not alone in his suffering. There are 82,000 Stuarts. It's disheartening that perpetrators are running free, but we live in a society that rewards perpetrators of crimes like rape and incest.
Likely a whole lot more.
Thank you for this article and the guests discussing this very serious issue that the scouts have perpetrated on these young people for generations. These abusers must be exposed. I thought Stuart was very brave and offered excellent advice to any other survivors. There was an excellent documentary on C4, in the UK about boys at a private school. Listening to those survivors, men in their 40s and 50s highlighted the daily trauma these children endured through to adulthood, fatherhood and old age. It is incumbent on all societies and institutions not to hide from those who would harm children but to prosecute and expose. This silent monster must be exposed. Thank you to Hari for his sincerity and sensitive questioning of the guests.
Much love to you, Stuart! Stay strong. Don't ever give up. We see you. We love you. We believe you. You are a warrior. You are so brave and strong. Love that little Stuart. He still needs you. You are saving lives with your story. Thank you for your bravery and kindness. You are beautiful!!!!
82,000. Talk with your children.
Stuart, I, a 70+ woman w a sexual abuse history, was walking with a friend today and we were talking about how our lives are still partially shaped by our early trauma experiences despite all the counseling and inner work we have done. I hear it in YOUR voice too. I assume you can hold that you’re not alone, but it’s always good to hear again. We’re w you and you w us. I also lead, professionally, a support group for people who have been sexually abused by authority figures. I look forward to sharing your interview w them. I’m not religious, but blessings. Claire
Same here, Claire, Sexual Assault survivor. Stuart is one of the strongest people on this earth.
BSA must release those files. If you believe in what you do, then live your creed.
Just powerful. SIA here. So brave of this man. The shame perpetrators instill with their behavior is almost unrecoverable. Persist is the answer. Day by day, step by step. This man is beautiful and courageous.
How in the fuck have these unreleased files not been seized by authorities?
I know, right? Better lawyers, maybe. v
Unfortunately, a conspiracy of silence is the one thing these filthy Scout leaders relied on. Knowing what these monsters did to so many children burns me with anger and nauseates me to the core. 😡🤮
Imagine living several decades holding on to the feelings associated with having been molested for many years? Knowing that the organization that you paid to be a member of as a child was knowingly harboring sexual predators? And they still won't release remaining "perversion files"?
My brother was abused. I wish I could share this with him but I don’t think it would be appropriate. We’re not very close. I wish healing for him, for the man who spoke out in this video, and all survivors.
I’m so sorry Stuart. Myself a Brownie then a Girl Scout! Later Army, then Navy now retired. Only thing I can say is that I was accommodating and was in a uniform most of my life
Thank you for your service. Are you saying an angel (like you) would have saved Stuart?
I am one of those unreported abused and molested children. I was in the Cub Scouts 1955, never made it to the boy scouts. Molested in tents and at the Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge Pennsylovania. I outside of Harrisburg PA and was recruited by a neighbor. In reflection I was lucky and it was only that summer. Clearly the Boy Scout who molested me had been well taught. There never was an opportunity for me to tell or even discuss those events that altered my life forever. Cognitive Behavior Therapy helped me get passed the worst. No CBT until 1999. WTF?
I hope you're involved in the settlement & have gotten some psychological help. v
CBT is literally just brainwashing to make people see their trauma as acceptable or something it is not.
Please report it.
@@MF-ty2zn Too old too tired and it makes zero difference. If reporting made a difference it would never have occurred.
@@virginiatyree6705 The fact that you think there is settlement and help begs the question. These are and were authorities, Judges, Politicians and the clergy. I had help long ago from some good social workers but the church and the boy scouts and the girl scouts should be shut down, disbanded, all legal privileges for non profit charities gone. It still occurs and the fact that people believe this part of our elitist corporate society helps the abused is naive at best and in aid of those abusers at worst.,
This is so, so sad. Stuart's pain and trauma is still visible through his eyes, his body language. In India, the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides movement is our first brush with camps, camp fires, tents, working as teams for community driven social service projects. And for those interested in that kinda outdoor activity, the natural progression was to upgrade to National Cadet Corps(NCC). I've been there as a guide and as an NCC candidate and I am shocked to hear these stories. You are saying that the Boy Scouts movement has been on the.decline since 70's...that is probably when it started gaining ground here. I really dont know about those timelines vis-a-vis India. But we were always proud to be part of a global movement...we used to have international jamborees in India and I even got to meet boy scouts from the USA in one of those events. This interview shatters a few prisms you cherish in life. Sad man. Really sad. Great work throwing light on those well-kept secrets. But I don't understand why these ppl are speaking up only now, when the boy scouts movement is announcing bankruptcy though. This is such cultural bankruptcy, man!
Moral deficiency in the guise of coach, leader, authoritarian immunity.
If you sent your kid to hang out in the bush with grown men wearing uniforms
and then we’e surprised to find out some of these scout leaders were creeps you were not thinking.
Not every community volunteer is a creep but make sure you watch your kids in these situations.
If the scout leader asks you for time with your kid say no.
If your priest invites your kid to the sacristy say no.
If the coach offers private lessons say no.
The FBI is of no use either! They allowed Larry Nasser’s evil deeds to continue for months! Abort the patriarchy because it is sorely LACKING!!!!!👎🏾💩👎🏾💩👎🏾💩
"If you sent your kid to hang out in the bush with grown men wearing uniforms
and then we’e surprised to find out some of these scout leaders were creeps you were not thinking." Not true. The Scoutmaster of my Troop was my godfather. It was an Assistant Scoutmaster that molested me. That Assistant Scoutmaster was cunning, and took advantage of something known as trust. Hindsight is 20/20. Had the Boy Scouts of America done the right thing and reported suspected cases when they occurred, it's most likely that many such molestations in the latter years would have never occurred.
Besides the organization negligence there was lack of education for parents and their kids. Locations with many young children attract pedophiles like flies. I have witnessed it as a young child growing up in Israel. Not only the adults were aware of it but also the young kids. We need a wide spread education and awareness about it.
Heya Neomi, 🎯✊
Heartbreaking. Bless this man.
Stuart, I'm proud of your courage to be able to share your experience, as painful as it has been. I, too, experienced abuse at the hands of a trusted adult, though not via the Scouts. It's astonishing how prevalent such abuse has been in our society. I hope your story, along with the thousands of others now being made public will shed the necessary light to help prevent such atrocities.
Bravo, Mr. Lord. As a sexual assault (4X) survivor, I know the road is long, but you are an inspiration in owning your own story. Hugs to you, (only if you want it...).
How is it legal that the BS don't release the names? We need to change laws and lift all statute of limitations on Sexual Crimes. Once a rapist, always a rapist.
FYI, scouting is synonymous with integrity in some regions & some families. When I was growing up scouting was seen as kind of a goofy program for misfits. My parents always told me, early on, don't let any adults get u alone, don't necessarily trust these adults fully. Even in the 60's my parents were skeptical of these organizations. I thank them for that rare sensibility.
Thats why I never allowed my son to join the Boy Scouts or my daughter to joint Girl Scouts or Brownies. I never allowed them to sleep over at friends house. Also no religious organizations. They did their first commune but that was it.
My mother was very protective too. She knew how sick people are. v
Instead of teaching your children to fear the world, educate them to know how to react, to know what a prelude to abusing looks like and maintain open communication with them. Most people are good, and children have more intuition than we give them credit for, teach them to trust their gut.
@@DK-zu6tt, You might be aware that parents have difficulty discussing sex Ed & basic anatomy with their children. Sex Ed isn't taught in many red states. I agree with your comment & how children need to have a plan & adults need to believe them. v
The beasts always made sure their kind could get what they wanted elsewhere if the heat was on in their present location. Pillars of the community 😡
Being survivor of sexual molestation, this is so hard to watch.
It was difficult for me to watch also
WTF! Both my boys were in Scotts. Thank God they weren't abused! Talk to your kids, keep open communication without blame or anger and don't trust them with anyone!
Stuart, I wish you all the best and glad you did have an amazing foster mother!!! Your commitment is amazing!!! So many adult men/women are still struggling to deal with the same problem and can't find the courage, unfortunately, to stand up and talk to someone to ask for a help..you are giving them the hope that those people are not alone!!! I admire you!!!
Truth is ,parents dumped their children on boy scouts as babysitters.
Heartbreaking. Guess the abuser made sure no father was around to beat him up if he found out! This reminds me of survivors of abuse from priests. So much evil is coming forth and we must heal this evil.
peace and love to Stuart and all others who have suffered abuse at the hands of "trusted adults".
Thank you
Just when you think this planet couldn’t get anymore insane!
We hand our most precious possessions over to organizations and caregivers like Scouting, because we trust that their belief system will protect our children! Damn them.
Remember, many of the abusers are victims of child abuse themselves.
It’s a cycle, but not everyone becomes an abuser.
One can break the cycle.
What will stop the cycle? Educate children about the autonomy of their own bodies. Warn the children to protect them.
I've read that too; the abusers we're abused themselves. I'm not giving them a pass. Better background checks for all people involved with child. v
Stop making excuses for abusers. They chose to do what they did. It’s not a cycle. It’s a decision.
@@virginiatyree6705 I don’t give them a pass for abusive behavior. I’m pointing out the results of research on this. Of course they should be held accountable. Understanding the dynamics of behavior doesn’t condone it.
@@janwag6856 , Agreed. I didn't interpret your comment as condoning the behavior. I like to understand & gain insight into human motivation & behaviors. We're on the same page. v
Despite all this we’re getting next to nothing for our suffering!
It happened in Canada, too. Not sure about other countries, but there were similar counterparts, at least in Germany. It certainly wasn't limited to the US.
This is so hard to say I was abused by my scout master when I was 11yrs old and I'm 59 now I've been in and out of jail. I can't keep a job. I told growing up to respect my elders and to do what they asked of me and now I have no one that I trust. Like boss, police, and anyone with power over me that little boy is scared and deeply hurt I've been homeless and all alone in this world can't have a relationships I have two broken relationships And I think I have hurt them every time I have sex.i stayed drunk as much as possible though high school from 5th grade and up I didn't like gym because I have to change clothes and thought everyone would see what happened to me I don't like to be touched for The same reasons.i did whatever I could to forget what happened any kind of drugs and alcohol ever day tell 2017 I went for help to stop drinking since the it didn't help I have really bad dreams every night I looked and try to find help with it. I'm sorry I can't talk about it no more I thought I could . Sorry
Stomach turning.
Bringing back to many really bad memories
I love that everyone made jokes about this growing up, but nothing was ever done until I became an adult.
Anyone in here that was in germany and abused while in boy scouts? Please contact me this would have taken place between 1987-1993
They prey on the weak, the fatherless boys and they close ranks. When the parent complains, they blame the “ non-conforming” boy and never investigate. I took my son out after his first camping trip when no one would give him his asthma medication.
Not weak. Stuart is not weak. They prey on the lonely. Very different.
Weak, lonely, vulnerable, fatherless- take your pick. I was not describing anyone in particular. Good night!
manipulating when vulnerable. There is no worse evil.
Thats A Lot of Children being Abused for a LONG Time
I joined Cub Scouts to learn practical things and to have adventures camping and hiking. All we did is sit around listening to speeches about virtue and crap, and did stupid tricks to get our little badges and metals and pins. I left after a few weeks because it seemed like total bullshit. I'm so glad I left.
I can see now how vulnerable kids are drawn into it, and doing whatever they are asked to do to get approval and recognition.
Hear no evil! See no evil,say no evil = Deaf, blind and Deny,deny,deny...
Praying for a healing of Stuart and all the children abused. The abusers will have a hot eternity in hell.
I'd rather put them in jail & let them rot in prison first. v
I am so sad thst people suffered through this abuse. Scouts for boys & girls was a great opportunity for kids to go to Summer camp and such, what a terrible person/persons to take advantage of children & the abuse of power committing such crimes! Sounds like Catholic Church abuse stories, terrible.
Thank you for sharing this. I grew up in a house with a scout. I have would say he's pretty lucky, especially when you consider being catholic. Nope, neither of us.👍
Consider yourself lucky. Some of us weren't that fortunate.
@@NewYorkGiant518 Lucky.... How?
@@kenryan4496 I understood your original comment to mean that you and the person you grew up with weren't molested by either Catholics or Boy Scout leaders. From my perspective, you're both very lucky.
@@NewYorkGiant518 Indeed Sir, indeed ✌️
@Mike Do we know each other or what 🤪✌️
Be very, very cautious who has access to your children. Ask if coaches/teachers/pastors etc have been background checked or pay to do the check yourself or hire a private investigator to look into past schools/congregations etc. Also understand that siblings, uncles, cousins and yes, fathers (men are 95%) are most of the abusers and find a way for your children to know that if anyone, especially adults, wants to touch their private parts, or touch theirs to tell you.My sister has told her kids "it's ok to touch your own in private." to avoid any sex shame/guilt neuroses. I hope our species can find a way to genetically eliminate this horrific damaging behavior.
Background checks are 100% useless, unless prior *convictions* exist.
A century of coverup.
The amount of guilt is phenominal, pure evil.
There should be jail terms for these pedophiles.
So sorry for all the victims. 😢
This enrages me. My son did not like boy scouts, thank goodness.
Talk to him & see if he can talk to you. v
Yea this guy just wants to take a bunch young boys camping ⛺️. Nothing fishy here.
RELEASE THE FILES!!!
How these files are still unreleased is abhorrent!
I will watch this documentary
The Mormon church endorses the goddamned abuse!!
Was Jim Jordan a ",scout" "master" ?
That'd be Gym Jordan; scumbag. v
Wouldn't be surprised
💔
I can’t even get my lawyer to call me back I believe they will try to keep my money 😮😮😮
I am 63 do we die with not being compensated or is it being drug out on purpose!!!!!
Because the Mormon Church dropped the BSA program, the membership dropped drastically in the last 3-4 years. As a current leader, I see the hardship in the organization to pay the debt, but I believe that the BSA can rebuild better and stronger keeping the safety of youth in mind. As mentioned in this interview, there have been trainings in youth protection for quite some time, but recently it has been revamped and re-emphasized. We also encourage all youth (as age appropriate) and parents to take the training as well. The more everyone is aware of how to keep kids protected, the easier it is to maintain the integrity of the program.
If you saw the video, the BSA is still refusing to release the list of abusers. And, that is an organization that you want to be associated with? Ok, sure. Tells me something about you. Have you considered helping the children and families that want an outdoor experience, doing something on your own? I guess you're not familiar with the Catholic priests convicted of molesting children as young as 2yo (you mentioned age appropriate). I'm not sure what's the youngest age to be a boy scout is. Society has failed it's children. v
P.S.: Doesn't the Mormon church have molestation issues that they won't own up to?
So, they are STILL refusing to release the names of abusers and you support the organization. You say whatever makes you feel good, but they are still perpetuating molestation culture. Why wouldn't they release all the "perversion files?" They are putting molesters over children.
@@DK-zu6tt , That may be part of the story. I would think money has a part too. The boy scouts own a lot of land throughout the country. I completely agree the names should be released & anyone can start their own organization that background checks everyone. Don't even get me started about the Mormon church. I think ALL churches should be taxed. They've become way too political for their own good. v
Oh, my!
Catholic boys out troops or Southern Baptist Boy Scout affiliated troops. I’m an Eagle Scout and it has served me well in life.
Congratulations! My Assistant Scoutmaster was too busy abusing me so I never got the opportunity to earn my Eagle Scout.
Picture the 1960"s....in a small town...predominantly catholic town...young boys camping in tents....some cutting their way out of the tents in the night to escape the pervert scout masters. Then decades later when the subject was revisited in local vevues - bars, the Moose Club - the townspeople seemed to view the atrocity on the same level as the catholic priest perversions - something to be laughed or joked about, the opinion that, well, everybody knew, always knew, no big deal...even the WIVES of the offenders laughed it off, boys being boys on a "camping trip", "character-building" trip, no big deal, and those scout masters going on to be Mayor, or City Council member, or police officer, or pastor....Those adults, those BS officials who KNEW back then and did NOTHING are the worst kind of coward and guilty by association...highly likely, in fact, they are perverts themselves. They can all look forward to answering to God. But in truth, they are total non-believers no matter what they may say. They are below ANY beast in the field.
The Masons are a gay grooming club. Boy could I tell you some stories. Anytime children are around ANY adult, they need to have background checks. Parents need to be very protective of their children. Its not the strangers, it's adults that know the children. v
Make me sick I hope they close it
I guess that sadly, being prepared, can manifest in some scary ways as well as well as the good ones. Same as any organization. Organizations are an easy thing for predatory people to manipulate because of the way subcultures within other subcultures have a tendency to not let people question their "tenets" and "procedures" too much. The good things coming from methodical teamwork can mask many covert harms. Adults seem to easily throw children and other adults over to simply not complicate what they see as socially expedient for themselves somehow in the moment. I mean, look at what is happening with our congress situation on so many levels, and how far, and what, people are willing to ignore. It's similar to how people will leave an abusive situation so many times questioning themselves about "Was it really that bad?"
and thinking, "Maybe it will stop or this bus driver will quit or eventually get fired for something they do to somebody with more money or a lawyer they're able to "keep on retainer." A child who is already exhausted, beat up, or shot, is expected to handle it by themselves, almost always while adults just shut down.
I guess it's effective brainwashing. v
No words
I was a cub Scout.." Bob a job" kid used to do gardening or Odd jobs for Oldies . I grew up to a " Scout" scout, good with knots 'n stuff Never, ever in my experience with the Scouting movement was I treated inappropriately or taken advantage of. Perhaps I was too ugly or not desirable in some eyes but, in any event, I graduated to school Cadets and , ultimately , the regular army and combat experience. I'm sorry that some people were taken advantage of , but, this experience in the Scouting movement has been something that I would never, ever, disparage. These experiences, map reading, navigation, knots, surviving in " hostile" scrub have really been of benefit at every level. Great respectful experienced WW2 vets and thorough gentlemen and women have provided me with skills and attitudes that will never leave me. Im over 70 years now and take umbrage at the slagging off about the Scouting Organisation.
As I stated, I'm sorry about the "bad apple" stuff but maybe the vulnerability of kids is a parental problem (or lack of Parenting Warnings)
I don't mean to rant, I want to thank the Akelas' and Baloos' who gave their time and skills to me. It's so sad that this teaching resource is now under threat. I salute the genuine Leaders who impart their knowledge , wisdom and citizenship.
With all due respect, the rationale you use here is dismissive and is precisely *how* these “bad apples” get away with destroying so many children. Allow me to explain: That none of these hideous crimes happened to you has exactly nothing to do with the life-altering crimes committed against others. The organization you praise actively covered up the crimes committed by these “bad apples”. Simply because you were having a grand old time and were unaware of what was going on does *not* mean the other children were having the same experience. The BSA is fundamentally dishonorable, breaking the very BS rules they taught the children with whom they were entrusted. They *knew* what happened to these children yet covered it up in order for the organization to continue to exist-at the cost of hundreds of thousands of children. Pedophiles, you see, don’t *ever* have just one victim. The BSA protected themselves and only themselves. They knew they had fatal flaws but didn’t correct them, compounding the crimes being committed against *children*. They are culpable in the victimization of their innocent, vulnerable clients but all they cared about was protecting their brand. Their brand, sir, no longer has value.
@@girlsrnotwimps it's quite obvious you've had an unfortunate time in the scouting movement. I'm sorry for you but it's manifestly unfair to condemn the entire organisation worldwide . You may as well condemn the whole teaching profession. Again, I wish you well dealing with your experiences.
@@joeadams1225 You just helped me understand the whole “OK Boomer” thing! I’d thought that was dismissive of them. It’s a “back atcha” dismissal! Priceless! Lol 🤣
@@girlsrnotwimps You've sharpened my focus.
Just lucky, I guess.
Thanks and regards.
@@girlsrnotwimps As a survivor of this immense problem, I agree 💯. An organization that covered up systemic child abuse for several decades should not be allowed to continue in any capacity. All assets should be sold and said sales ought to be used to compensate the TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS directly.
It’s like the Catholic Church!
It's not just in the Catholic church - other churches too.
You got it...picture this in a predominately catholic town...double whammy literally.
Gut wrenching
N my lawyer is still not answering my calls back n I think THAY are keeping my money 😮
😢😢😢😢