Domestic Violence, Is it Really Domestic?

Suddenly, it appears that have an epidemic in our midst. No, it is not the H1N1 virus, but something much more tangible, domestic violence. I am beginning to wonder if it really is domestic. The recent headline of the father of Iraqi descent, who ran his daughter down in a parking lot, because "she became too westernized" highlights the need for stricter imposition or enforcement of anger management principles, as part of the rehabilitation process for these individuals.

Wherever in the world, you come from, it is not okay to run your daughter down. What happened to the image of the loving father? How can any one believe in God as father, when the father figure in their lives is often the abuser.

At some point, we have to stop. Domestic violence is a scourge on society. It robs women of their rights as individuals, and children of a loving and caring atmosphere in their homes, which in turn, cultivates an environment in which they can succeed.

Violence in the home is not confined or bound by socio-economic status, national origin,ethnicity, nor financial standing. It is about the individual who chooses to bully and demean the women in their lives. As a survivor of domestic violence myself, I was presented with statistics that once the child becomes twelve years old, the abuser now turns his attention to hitting the child as well as the mother.

This cannot go on. The society cannot continue to turn a blind eye as men continue to hit and murder women and children. Having been through the justice system, there needs to be more enforcement of orders of protection. Sometimes this is the only way to prevent a man from bullying women and children. The recent story of the New York anchor, who for over two decades bullied and beat his wife, all the while maintaining an upright public profile, underscores the fact that women are sometimes threatened , that if they expose what happens behind closed doors, they will be killed.

I applaud law enforcement officers for doing their jobs. Sometimes, it is not that women want to side with the abuser, but they have been choked, and slapped and threatened and intimidated, that they would prefer to live in peace than have to confront the abuser. I have been there.

Now, what do we do? The Word of God says, whom the Son sets free is free indeed. If you are from another culture and you now live in the United States, you are free to leave any abusive relationship and not bound by any cultural ties. Sometimes they use these ties, to make you stay in the abuse. And if you are an American, you are free to leave. Leave and save your life. Walk out, leave everything behind, the courts will apply judgment and determine who gets what. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking that they are the only way for you to live, not in these United States.

And my brothers, as husbands, fathers, uncles, protect the women in your lives. Love them and honor them. Teach them how to be treated by a man, so they can live in expectation of a good life. Live out the Word of God, which says, love your wives as Christ loves the church.

Earlier this evening, I was at Greater Grace Temple watching "To Hell And Back". It's theme resonates with today's headlines. It was a very realistic portrayal of what hell could be like if we don't change our ways. I am beginning to think, that we have become desensitized to the effects that violence has on us. Recently in Chicago, we sat back and watched helplessly, as young people committed senseless acts of violence against one another.

Children live what they learn. Psychologists say that children are products of their environment. Broken children make broken adults. If we allow domestic violence to go on as it does, in twenty years, the society could be advanced technologically, and even financially, but would you want to be in a society, where you hear your neighbor's wife screaming for help? Stop the violence.

Harriet Cammock, is the author of "Musings of the Spirit" a book in which she details her own emotional healing from domestic violence and is the host of the weekly radio show, The Faith Hour.