| Since the "Chris Brown and Rihanna" situation, as they | | | | among young adults and teens even, is way out of |
| call it, the news has been non-stop about the criminal | | | | control and a bit frightening. |
| charges that Chris Brown faces. While it is truly a sad | | | | I'm not a Chris Brown basher. In fact, I love his music |
| and unfortunate situation for both Chris Brown and | | | | and I think he's an extremely talented young man, |
| Rihanna, my question is what about the millions of | | | | but wrong is wrong and he was dead wrong. This is |
| other people who are abused every day? Yes, I | | | | not Ike and Tina Turner, nor is it the 60's when |
| know that the publicity stems from the fact that | | | | people thought it was okay for a man to slap his |
| these are two of the hottest artists on the planet | | | | woman around from time to time. It wasn't right |
| right now, but what about the women who are | | | | then and it's not right now. This is 2009, and people |
| dealing with this situation on a daily basis; in fact | | | | actually get jail time for what is now called "assault." |
| probably right at this very moment. Rihanna could | | | | It's not my place to judge anyone - my thoughts are |
| have walked away from the situation at any time, | | | | prayers are turned to those who don't have the |
| and no one should judge her, but what about women | | | | courage to speak up - the women, children and |
| who can't walk away? Domestic violence isn't | | | | sometimes men who live with violent partners. |
| something new, but now that it's two well-known | | | | Perhaps with all the publicity surrounding this very |
| music artists, it's like a new album release: Chris | | | | serious issue, additional funding for counseling, |
| Brown and Rihanna - Domestic Violence Finally in the | | | | education, shelter, or even legal help will be made |
| Spotlight. | | | | available for those who need it. There is always a |
| Statistics from the Institute On Domestic Violence | | | | way out of a situation, it's taking the first step that |
| have reported that: Five percent of all domestic | | | | seems the most difficult. |
| violence victims are female; over 500,000 women are | | | | I can't begin to imagine what goes through one's |
| stalked by an intimate partner each year; 5.3 million | | | | mind when faced with this dilemma, and I don't want |
| women are abused each year; and 1,232 women are | | | | to. My motto is, if it's not working and you can't fix |
| killed each year by an intimate partner. These | | | | it, get out. While that is easier said than done, in this |
| numbers are astounding and when you think that | | | | particular case of two successful young people |
| 1,232 women are killed each year, that's three | | | | constantly in the spotlight, it seems that there could |
| women a day losing their lives to violence. | | | | have been an easier way to resolve any issues they |
| I do give Rihanna credit for actually reporting the | | | | may have had. I hope they both can heal from the |
| abuse this time, since it was mentioned that it has | | | | wounds that they both have suffered, physically and |
| happened in the past. I wonder had she not reported | | | | emotionally. Yes I say both of them because this |
| him this time would it have gone on, and how many | | | | incident has and will have an impact on the career of |
| other unreported incidents have there been. There's | | | | Chris. More importantly, I hope this unfortunate |
| an old adage that says you can't teach an old dog | | | | incident will shed some light and offer a way out for |
| new tricks, well I wonder if the same applies to | | | | those who aren't in the spotlight, but suffer abuse on |
| puppies. The increasing rate of domestic violence | | | | an all too frequent basis. |