alt.NPR: Youthcast from PRX

According to the website DomesticViolence.org, "domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating.

Examples of abuse include:

• name-calling or putdowns
• keeping a partner from contacting their family or friends
• withholding money
• stopping a partner from getting or keeping a job
• actual or threatened physical harm
• sexual assault
• stalking
• intimidation"

The Chris Brown-Rihanna case has brought much attention to this very serious issue.  According to the American Bar Association, approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually in the United States.

In some news reports, teens are blaming Rihanna for the abuse.  I honestly don't understand this. No man nor woman should put his/her hands on another. And why do young people believe this type of violence is the norm? It's shocking, or more like disturbing that we've become desensitized.

I sympathize with both Brown and Rihanna, but I am so grateful this incident has helped us open our eyes and address this phenomenon. I have witnessed domestic violence a few times, and I am a witness that it not only affects the abusee, but everyone involved in the saga. I encourage you, if you know someone being abused, report it and seek support. This is a very serious issue.

Telly

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