Comments

Just sort of off the cuff, Maggie, I got to thinking today about how doctors and inventors also do things to benefit the public, but they don't give their services or ideas away for free. For what you and your wonderful Dallas have done, you deserve to be multi-millionaires. JYF is a priceless gift for all of mankind! For it, I'm truly sorry that the proper gratitude it deserves can only be expressed in the old cliché that no words in the English language are sufficient enough; no word, no phrase. To me, this is one of less than maybe a handful of ideas since time immemorial that will prove to have such a thorough, beneficial impact on mankind.

Thank you so much for taking this issue to heart and acting on it! I am a rape survivor. 26 years later I am the wife of a minister and mother of 5 - two of them girls. I was sitting at my desk today with my back to the TV. It was really only on for "ambient noise". I was engrossed in my task at hand - literally making my written plan for a group I am starting for survivors of sexual abuse and rape. When I heard your segment on the Montel show today my blood ran cold at the divine timing. (Obviously your appearance on this date in July was a second run) I can't describe the feeling of empowerment I had listening to you girls! I am humbled by your passion for your mission. Perhaps I didn't know what to do all those years ago but my daughters will- thanks to strong young women like you! And for those of us (and we are many) who have lived with this horrible crime I will continue to share my story so that other women can regain their lives.

You young ladies have my utmost admiration and respect for your commitment to protecting other girls like Carly Bruscia and the countless others who don't make the national news. May God bless you richly for your compassion. You have certainly used the gifts He has given you for His glory!

I am a psychologist, volunteer at the Sexual Assault Center at York University, and mother of a 13-yr.-old daughter who also has her black belt. I congratulate you on what you have produced and hope your work will inspire all females to stand up and fight back.

I was so impressed with the Just Yell Fire video that a few weeks ago I brought it to the attention of one of the guidance counselors at our local high school, Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale, Illinois. I got word from him today that he had shared the video with the school's physical education and health teachers. They thought it was great and they have decided to use it in their classes.

Hi there, I watched "Just Yell Fire" last night with my 13 year old daughter at a viewing held by REACH of Macon County, North Carolina. This is a tremendous service you are performing - thank you so much for taking action and giving girls (& women) a valuable tool to protect themselves. Thanks so much!

I took self-defense classes for over 2 years and I am now an instructor. I told all of the women I have taught about your website and what you have been doing for the world. I'm so grateful that there are people like you that let girls know that they have the right to be treated with respect and to defend themselves when necessary.

Last night I was reading People magazine and saw the article about giving girls the power to fight back. I visited the website, justyellfire.com and watched the movie. I proceeded to forward the website link to many friends and family in hopes that word will continue to spread about this amazing video.

I am incredibly impressed with Dallas and Catherine, their families and everyone who participated in putting together the movie and website. I am absolutely convinced that many lives will be saved and many potential rapes will be stopped. I am trying to teach my children that each person should live their lives such that they are contributing something of value to their family, their community and humanity. When we pass from the screen of life, we should be able to look back and know that we made a difference. Well, Dallas and Catherine have already done so, before they have even graduated high school! They are to be congratulated for being such wonderful role models.

Please let them know that I, as a mother, am so grateful for the work they have done, and the tools they have provided to my 3 children to help protect themselves. If I could keep them safe every moment of every day, I would do so in a heartbeat. Of course, that is not possible and so they need to know how to help themselves. Again, thank you so very much.

I am interested in becoming a certified trainer for Just Yell Fire. I gained my Master's degree in Library Science last May with an emphasis in children's and youth services, and hope to find a job soon as a public librarian. With the amount of contact I will have in that field with young and teenage girls, as well as contacts with schools and other libraries, I would like to find out how to become involved and help promote your program.

I have been training in aikido as a self-defense art since June, and will be testing for my first rank soon. The more I learned in aikido, the more it made me aware of how girls and women in America are socialized about violence. Movies, television, and popular media seem to promote the belief that girls and women cannot win or escape in a situation where we are under attack by a man. Recognizing this made me interested in finding out what programs were already available to promote girls' and women's self-defense. I discovered Just Yell Fire by Googling "women's self-defense". I was thrilled to find that someone has begun a movement to counter that socialization early in women's lives, beginning with teaching the girls who are most at risk that they CAN defend themselves and escape an attacker, even if their attacker is much larger. I myself am only 5'1", and the techniques that eliminate an attacker's advantage of greater height are also especially applicable to me.

I live in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and I would like any information available on training for certification for Just Yell Fire, either locally or in neighboring states if necessary. Many thanks to you, Dallas, and everyone else involved with Just Yell Fire for your caring and hard work.

I just watched the 'Montel Williams Show' and saw your segment. I was very impressed with the young girls and their inspirational story. I have a young daughter who we talk to on a regular basis about what to do in an emergency situation, along with weekly classes of karate. Unfortunately for her father and I we may have more reason to be overly protective of our kids...almost eight years ago my husband's sister was kidnapped and later found murdered, the killer still remains unknown. I feel that this DVD could bring us comfort in knowing that if faced with a dangerous situation our children would have a better advantage of getting away safely!

Thanks for your story and God bless you for sharing this with the nation!

I have been telling all of my daughter's mothers about the DVD and download. Thanks for getting the word out. Our young women need to know what to do in the real world and we as parents need to be reminded as well. I am so proud of the young women who were moved to make this DVD. It may very well save more lives than we will ever know.

My faith in humanity is restored once again. Stay pro-active girls.