October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Sep 24 2007 at 1:16 PM |
A slap. A kick. A verbal attack. This is not what a relationship should include. But in many homes and relationships that is only the beginning. In fact, for 73 Indiana women, men and children between July 2006 and June 2007, what often times started as a verbal attack, ended in their death. Could it have been avoided? We may never know. But, I believe the lesson that we can learn from those 73 deaths is just how serious domestic violence is. It also reaffirms for me that when someone says they are living in a violent home, never ever tell them they might just need to deal with it. No one, under any circumstances should be told to deal with their abusive marriage or relationship. Unless you are living in that home you have no idea how serious or life threatening the situation is. By telling someone to deal with what is happening, you might be handing that person a death sentence. Or in other cases, you might be sentencing that person and that person's children to a life of verbal, emotional, sexual, financial and often times physical abuse. For the children in that home you are also indirectly telling them this is what they can expect out of their future life partner or spouse. We as a society must work to install in ourselves and our children a very high standard of living. A standard that does not include verbal attacks or any kind of physical or emotional abuse. We must all first look at our own relationships and make sure they are healthy. Only then can we begin to model for others how a violent free lifestyle should be.
To help people truly understand how domestic violence affects our lives, as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October two events have been planned for Wabash and Grant counties.
At Noon, Oct. 16 on the lawn of the Wabash County Courthouse a rally will take place discussing domestic violence. Local criminal justice representatives will be on hand along with Hands of Hope staff to discuss new programs and offer assistance to victims.
On Oct. 15, 73 shirts representing each of the Indiana men, women and children who died as a result of domestic violence will be displayed on the east side of the courthouse lawn. The display will remain on the lawn for the week.
At 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 8, in Grant County, Congressman Dan Burton will share his story of childhood abuse and the mixed messages he and his mother received from law enforcement and the community. It is a powerful story of child abuse and domestic violence. It is also a testimony that someone born into a violent home can break the cycle of abuse. Congressman Burton's story will be told as part of Hands of Hope's annual candlelight vigil that this year will be held at First Baptist Church, Fourth and Nebraska streets, Marion.
Please take time to attend the vigil or the rally. But if you can’t go to either event, at least take a few minutes to view the domestic violence display. And remember, each one of us must take a stand against domestic violence if it will ever end.
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