Speaking out against Domestic Violence

This is pretty off-topic from the usual blog-ness, but a while back on Twitter, someone had posted a link to this article in The Guardian, featuring the story of Patrick Stewart and his troubled youth under his abusive father. Yes, the same Patrick Stewart who starred in Star Trek, Dune, X-men and other great venues. I highly encourage you stop right now and read the article. I’ll wait.

So, the problem of domestic violence, as Mr. Stewart points out, is devastating to society and affects everyone:

The truth is that domestic violence touches many of us. It is very possible that someone you know – a friend, sister, daughter or colleague – is experiencing abuse. One in four women will experience domestic violence at some point in her lifetime. And every week two women are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales, and 10 women take their own lives as the only way they know how to escape a violent partner. You are almost certainly paying for it. Domestic violence costs around £26bn a year in medical, legal and housing costs.

And, in every society, even the modern industrialized ones, people are often afraid to speak up about it:

Most people find the idea of violence against women – and sometimes, though rarely, against men – abhorrent, but do nothing to challenge it. More women and children, just like my mother and me, will continue to experience domestic violence unless we all speak out against it.

Keeping more on topic with the blog, a survey on the subject done in Tokyo in 1997 revealed a surprisingly high rate of abuse in homes there. This again shows that the problem is prevalent, and ignorance and silence are the key reasons why it continues.

So, please take time to reflect on this if you can, and see if there any local shelters in your area that need help. In Buddhism, we teach that all things exist in relation to all other things,1 so abuse that happens in one home degrades life for all, while a rescued mother and child do the opposite. Thus, even if you work to light one small corner of the world and brightens an abused child’s life, the efforts are certainly not in vain.

Thank you.

Namu Amida Butsu

P.S. Off-schedule post again, but I felt like posting it sooner than later.

1 The Flower Garland Sutra, while immensely long, essentially can be boiled down to this very point. Rev. Ryuei of the Nichiren Coffeehouse does a great summary as well, and I recommend reading into the Jeweled Net analogy in Buddhism as well. :)



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4 Comments on “Speaking out against Domestic Violence”

  1. NellaLou says:

    I’m glad you put this post up. It’s especially important for men to speak up about this. If men don’t then it becomes a “woman’s issue” and tends to get ignored. It’s everybody’s issue.

    While domestic abuse mostly affects women and children in the moment, the men who perpetrate it are carrying a great deal of pain around inside as well.

  2. Doug says:

    Hi Nella and thanks for the encouragement. Yes I agree that it is everyone’s problem and I hope people will come together and take action.

  3. Kendall says:

    Patrick Stewart is awesome. I always like listening to him. His voice is so comforting and easy to listen to. I didn’t know about his youth. Our experiences help mold us into who we become, both the good and the bad experiences. It’s often made me wonder if certain parts of my life were different, how would I have turned out?

    I keep telling myself I need to take the time to find some groups to donate money to, like for Haiti, or now the Chili relief aid, but never seem to get around to it. Part of it is the side of me that says, “If you’re going to do something, do it right.” And giving $10 here or there like they have been advertising on TV so much, just seems so little, like it wouldn’t make a difference. I know that’s not correct though. I just get so caught up with my thinking that the action never follows. Domestic violence is a worthy cause to fight against. I’ve never been exposed to it personally or via friends, but I see it on the news so very often.

  4. Doug says:

    Hi Kendall,

    I know what you mean. Of course, any help to anywhere does have some positive effect, even if you can readily see it, so it’s never a waste, but on the other hand there are a lot of smaller, local charities and shelters in your area that might not get the support they need, but still have positive impact in the community. Speaking from experience, you can really see a positive impact.

    I grew up on welfare and the food bank at times, so I know that donations help. :)


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