Domestic Violence as a Social Crisis

We are well into Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We don't like to talk about it, but we all know people who are or were in a dangerous situation. If we feel uncomfortable discussing it, imagine how horrible it is to live it. We are left with emotional scars for years after the physical scars have healed. It affects our entire family. Worse yet, the archaic legal system causes secondary victimization and fails to adequately protect our children.

The only way this problem, which affects every aspect of our society, will ever be solved, is through discussion and action. Talk to your spouse, your friends, and your children about it. Write letters and call your lawmakers to request more attention to the issue. Volunteer to help victims - you may be surprised at who they are and how they have been affected. They feel that nobody cares and they suffer in silence.

You might think you know all about Domestic Violence, but you probably don't know much unless you have either lived through it or worked with victims. I've done both, and I am still learning every day. The cycle of violence is passed on to future generations, causing a threat to civilized society. Usually nothing is done until it becomes a matter of us vs. them, which further divides our country.

It doesn't have to get that far. Dealing with problems early on can save our families, but they must have the information and tools they need to stop the cycle BEFORE they seek professional assistance. That's where we come in - who better to trust than those in your own social circle? If we get the information and offer our support (not judgement) to families who are at risk of future crisis, we may be able to empower them to change their course.

Let's not wait until there is little choice but to dissolve the family. Lets start talking about relationships, family challenges, and dealing with conflicts in the home. Lets use the words: domestic violence. What does that entail? How do family problems escalate into that? How can every member of a family feel valued and empowered? These are the questions you need to be asking TODAY.