The silence was deafening. Like many of you, I grew up with corporal punishment (for you that dont know the word, it means the infliction of pain as punishment), and I also grew up with domestic abuse, except we didnt call it that...we didnt call it anything. I am not sure when my life and views changed so much that I abhor (regard with disgust) any form of violence towards others as a means of subjugating (to defeat and gain control of another or a group through force and/or intimidation). That includes all forms of domestic violence - child abuse or neglect, mental or physical, spousal abuse or neglect, and yes, even animal abuse or neglect. It is not that I ever condoned it, or ever practiced it in any way, but I can honestly say that I turned a blind eye to it. I am ashamed I did, and I can never change that about the past. I, like many of you, decided to stop the culture of racism, hate, fear, ****phobias, abuse, threats, intimidation, etc. with me. Some did not, some will not. We must teach, through actions, that love binds, it heals, it encourages growth and acceptance. I am by no means a perfect Dad, but I will tell you what: my children wake every day that I am blessed that they are with me in my home, to me telling that that I love them and we hug, and they go to bed and close their eyes to me hugging, kissing, and telling them I love them and to sleep well. My kids randomly tell me that they love me, many times a day. I respect them more than I respect myself. Adrian Petersons child, if the reports are true, did not deserve what happened to him. Ray Rices wife, if the reports are true, did not deserve what happened to her. The other victims, which are becoming too numerous to list, did not deserve what happened to them. You can never convince me otherwise. There is more to these stories than presently known, I feel that and so do you. STOP making excuses for bad behavior. STOP making excuses for criminal behavior. STOP trying to explain it, and WORK towards making sure that it doesnt happen in your life, and the lives of those that you love. Love doesnt have to hurt, it shouldnt physically hurt. All I can think about it that little boy, the fear he surely felt, the emotional pain and uncertainty, trying to decide whether daddy loved him anymore and what he did to deserve that treatment, placing his hands up in defense, his little 4 year old hands, and having his thighs, back, buttocks, genitals, and arms receive cuts from an NFL player. Writing this, I am moved to tears. There is never, and I mean never, an excuse to subjugate any person with corporal punishment. That is not a community I wish to call mine. Scott
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 15:08:37 +0000
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