Dear Source:
What can we do to stop this scourge that is plaguing our families and our communities? What words can our mothers and fathers and uncles and grandfathers, husbands, brothers and sisters use to talk to the men in their lives, in our lives, to say that physical, mental and emotional abuse is bad? That there are other ways of settling disagreements? How can these men and women be encouraged, pushed, cajoled into seeking help before the problem gets to the point of no return? How do we stop the pain that manifests itself into this crazy, angry violence that takes no prisoners? How do we break the cycle? How do we keep our children and women safe? So many questions, so few answers.
But we must find answers. We must find a way to end this violence. All violence that is plaguing our community. Now is the time; today is the day. Too many broken homes, broken lives, broken hearts. We must put a stop to it. Now! We must let our women know that they are not alone. That they can and should seek help. We must lift the veil of darkness of this terrible scourge and begin to light the darkness, so that women of all ages know that domestic violence is a serious problem that they cannot fight it alone. It is important to remind our women that in trying to fight domestic problems alone, that in keeping this terrible secret, they put themselves and their children at even greater risk. In thinking they can fight this war on their own, they may end up dead. We must light the way for our women and girls to find their way out of these problematic relationships. This is a family problem, a community problem and a law enforcement problem, that we must all join hands in fighting.
Organizations such as the Women's Resource Center and The Women's Coalition are fighting an uphill battle each day, and need the help of the community to do the work that needs to be done to protect our women and children. Please volunteer and lend a hand when you can. Lives depend on it. Love should not hurt. Love does not cause pain. And love does not cause death.
Joan Harrigan Farrelly
Washington, D.C.
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