Violence Is Never The Answer

Tags

abuse, awareness, blogging, child abuse, compassion, cruelty, damaged, heart, prose, reblogged, spanking, violence

Stephen D Jennings post “Violence is Never the Answer” has prompted me to reiterate and reinforce my view. My best Christmas present of all would be to know that everyone would subscribe to this. This and my last post are really depressing, I know, especially as this is a time when we’re filled with anticipation for good times over the festive season. But I hope everyone will see that my heart is in the right place. We need to keep sending this message until it is finally heard.

Steven D. Jennings

When is it okay to spank your child, to slap their hand, to pull their hair, or to beat them with a stick?

According to Adrian Peterson, and millions of others, these actions are okay if your child pushes down another child, or misbehaves.

This topic angers me! It is NEVER okay to inflict pain on a child. PERIOD! Spankings are not okay. I don’t care what a child does…there are other, more effective remedies.

Adrian Peterson said he got flogged as a child. So what! That doesn’t make it okay. Now look at him. He’s flogging his child…and could end up in prison for it.

VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE ANSWER.

For all you parents out there, DO NOT hit your child. How could you? How could you hit someone you love sooo much?

Instead, show patience, love, and understanding as you impose effective, non-violent discipline.

Take the time to…

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Damaged People

Tags

blogging, cruelty, damaged, healing, imagery, metaphor, pain, peace, poetry, tranquility, trauma

Aren’t we all damaged in some way or another?  We all have baggage.  Not one of us can go through life completely unscathed.  Sometimes we do not know what to do with our pain: we hide it, we disguise it, we pretend it didn’t happen.  But no matter how much we try to leave it behind it follows us, manifesting itself in anger, depression, withdrawal.  Let’s care for our damaged brothers and sisters in whatever way we can by recognising their pain and offering love and understanding.

Damaged People

“Damaged people are dangerous”*
Are they really, I reflect
Can this be so, how do you know?
On this bright morning in a country far away
Such sorrow permeates my soul
Does that make me dangerous to know?

A morning of tears, remembered fears
Withering looks from the past
Cut the heart, tear me apart
Pain racked soul heaves my body
Causing me to tremble and shudder

Cruel words spoken with loathing
With no care for the innocent soul
Who listens carefully
And believes this to be truly
The way things could be

No! Damaged people are not dangerous
That simply is a fallacy
And one to be
Disregarded and buried
With past memories in a hurried
And impermeable coffin

Damaged people are to be loved
Taken to your bosom
Allowed to rest there
To be provided with a shady cove
A haven of peace and tranquility

Spoken to as if re-born
Gentle whispers in their ear
Reassuring them there’s no need to fear
That which hurt and broke them
Can no longer stoke the fires of pain

The embers glow now
Softly speaking of
The peace within
That poker no longer
Rakes the healing scars
It is powerless
My tortured soul’s at rest.

*Ouote from the film Damaged

© Marie Williams April 2009