Hi All.
So by now everybody knows how I feel about domestic violence. If you have any questions on that stance, please let me know I will be happy to help you understand. If you need help, contact me I swear to God, no matter where you are in the world I will find you help. I will use all the resources I have and they are plentiful to get you help.
The reason I'm bring this up is because I came across a horrific article yesterday. One about Afghan justice. It is so revolting I was stunned to my core. If you know me at all, you know how hard that is to do. I'm going to post the article for you, so you can see how dire the circumstances are when it comes to violence against women. Basically a woman was attacked, six of her fingers cut off, her lips slashed and her nose cut off. (go ahead, try to imagine that) I can't, it is too disturbing for me. For a dispute between families. All too often the Taliban and Afghans take matters into their own hands, if ALWAYS ends with the abuse of a woman or mutilation or rape or some other form of torture or degradation.
Another had her ears and nose cut off for shaming her husband's family. I'm posting these articles for you, I understand if they are too much to bear and you cannot look. It was hard for me. I am an advocate though and as such, I must know how women are treated throughout the world to understand. The saddest part of violence against women is that is completely curable. Simply DON'T DO IT. I am revolted at the savagery that men are capable of. By men, I mean mankind in general. I do hate men, yes, but one of these women was promised help by two other women who then tried to sell her when they got her to Kandahar. I see no reason for this. That people would treat woman, who are human, worse than their dogs is sickening to me. Here are the two articles of which I speak:
Rape, mutilation: Pakistan's tribal justice for women - Yahoo! News
Afghan woman whose nose, ears cut off travels to U.S. - CNN.com
I understand if you can't read it. Really I do. To you I say thank God you are safe and have no fear of mistreatment. That is heartfelt and I truly mean that. Thank God you are safe. It gives me one less to worry about.
This is reminiscent of a couple of years ago in Darfur. I don't hear so much about it now, but children. Did you hear me? CHILDREN as young as 6 years old being raped by adult men. It is the worst kind of crime. Then left to die as the soldiers killed the men in the villages. If you are reading this and you have children, think about your child being systematically RAPED by dozens of men. Attached is an article that is a few years old, but this is still happening as of 2009. apologize for the graphic nature of this horrific crime.
Children of Darfur reveal their pain with pictures of rape and murder - Africa, World - The Independent
People the violence has to end, we MUST take a stance. We sit and say "tsk tsk, how can that happen?" Let me tell you how it happens. Apathy from every corner of the world. Yes, us too. Were you even aware of this? Perhaps not. Why not? I, for one, do not watch the news. It is too depressing. This is what I see. This is what makes me sick. This is the cause I have taken arms up to prevent. What can I do? I can raise awareness. I can tell you about it. You can support it by one of these things I'm going to tell you about. It is not much, it is a few mouse clicks. No money, just a an hour or so of your time or a sharing on FB or an RT on Twitter or a reblog. If you believe that I am asking too much, please read these articles again and imagine it happening to someone you know. Oh right. It has. I personally am a domestic violence survivor. I realize this may be something some may not want to hear. But I was beaten violently, kicked, screamed at, had a gun in my face, raped. By who? Oh my husband (ex) who was supposed to love me. People this is not how to treat people you love. I managed to escape. Yes, escape, literally. I know some may not want to hear this and have probably stopped reading. Ok, we can bury our head in the sand all we want, but it is not to stop. Now for some good news to share on the violence against women war.
David Schwimmer, from the TV show Friends, is an advocate for women, for stopping the rape, the beatings, the violence. Brava David. Here is his story: Read what he does not just the charity he supports.
David Schwimmer's Charity Work, Events and Causes
Here is what you can do. On Facebook, follow the Pixel Project, 'like' them and when you get a message in your timeline, share it on your wall. Not too hard, just a click of the mouse. If you are on Twitter, 'follow' @pixelproject and RT everything that you see from them. In both cases you could save a life. I KNOW I am saving lives by just spreading the word.
A little on the Pixel Project. They are an worldwide organization founded by Regina Yau in Malaysia. Understand that Malaysia is a primarily Muslim country and to not marry young, start a non profit to help abused, battered, raped, mutilated women, is almost unheard of. Regina attended Oxford University in London and is tireless. She gave up her own life to aide women in crises. I find that to be an honorable thing and something not many of us would do. How simple to help her in her mission. I am an Ambassador for the Pixel Project. I RT when I am on Twitter as any of my followers know and I share on FB as any of my friends know. Little enough to do to help. Regina is my hero. I speak to her often and she is nice, no pushover and knows what she is doing to raise funds. You can donate to the Pixel Project if you like or just support the cause as I've said. I know in these times money is hard to come by. If you find it is too much, re-read those articles. We have help in every single country in the world. Thank you for helping. Think if it were your child this were happening to.
BTW, domestic violence is not always physical. Mental abuse is just as bad if not worse. A bruise will heal, a broken bone will heal. A psyche not so much. Read the published poem on Pixel Project's blog that I sent you all. It can and does take years to recover if you ever truly can. I am not beat now, but my mistrust of men runs deep still.
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