‹‘Ž‡…‡ ’”‡˜ƒŽ‡– ‹ ‘—” Š‘‡•ǡ •…Š‘‘Ž•

Sir,

Violence is prevalent in our homes, schools and even in our cities. I believe that not enough is being done to create awareness and to reduce it. Our lack of communication skills and insecurities are what leads to many people physically abusing others. The desire to show off to others about how powerful we truly are is another trait that leads to violence. The desire to take revenge and prove a point cannot be ruled out. Parents and teachers alike revert to violence when they cannot freely express themselves or when others do not obey them. When we realise that others too have rights and that violence does not solve problems, but worsens situations, perhaps then we will stop using brute force to prove our strength. Power is a myth.

Pride

The pride with which people speak when they relate how they beat up another denotes the sort of upbringing they are privy to. It becomes obvious that in their homes, beating others is a common occurrence. I then ask, if the very parents who are supposed to be an example to the children behave in such a manner, who then will be their role models?

It is not uncommon for women to attack men physically and beat them up. We should not bluff ourselves and believe that it is only men who assault women. In a perfect country, men would be able to lay charges against violent women, however, upon men arriving at the police station to report abuse, they are made fun of by the people who are supposed to assist them. Our country will not have genuine statistics on assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) as victims of violence prefer to suffer in silence.

Parents

In days gone by, one would advise parents to deal with children who beat up other children, but nowadays one gets told off in no unclear terms to mind their own business and sort out their own children. When we physically assault another, it is very easy to let this escalate to something even bigger, because while in a state of anger, one cannot think logically; this is how assault escalates to murder. Society should not condone such acts and I believe we can each take a step towards stopping the violence.

We should not remain silent and opt to think that since it does not directly affect us, we should just ignore it. It is now time to speak up against abuse whether physically or emotionally.

Jorge

Pretended

How would you feel if you pretended it did not exist and a few months later that person is killed by an abuser? How often have survivors forgiven their abusers and ended up in a coffin long before their time? One need only read newspapers to note that violence has no profession, even police officers, who are supposed to protect survivors of assault, are also assaulting their spouses.

Daily employees are verbally abused and even physically assaulted by employers and because witnesses fear losing their jobs, they remain silent and even opt to tease the survivor. If such matters end up in court, evidence is always given in favour of the boss, even if those are untruths, as witnesses would rather tell lies than lose their jobs. What is wonderful is that karma has no menu, it simply gives one what they deserve.