A heart-breakingly innocent account of domestic violence was in the news after a 7-year-old girl’s testimony was used in an attempted murder case.
“I tried to get my dad’s hand off of my mother,” she said. “I got on the bed and screamed, ‘Stop it,’“ said the 7-year-old in her videotaped interview.
“Then my mother ran away and my dad took a knife out of his pocket.”
“I was scared. . . He was putting it (knife) on my mom. I said stop, don’t fight.”
“I don’t really want to talk about it. I won’t sleep in night,” she said.
The girl, who is not being identified, was injured in the attack. “I don’t know how I got cut. . . Mom went down on (the) floor - something quick happened.”
The jury is now deliberating on whether or not the man intended to kill his estranged wife, who had recently filed for divorce.
The defence is claiming the man’s wife repeatedly “charged” and “punched” him like “a mad animal” while he was holding the knife.
Does that remind anyone else of the Cell Block Tango lyrics; “Then he ran into my knife. He ran into my knife ten times.”?
The defence is doing what lawyers often do in cases like this, trying to paint the victim as a harlot. “She told him his daughter wasn’t his!” “She’s seeing another man!” “She wants support from him but has $70,000 in the bank with her new man!”
As though any of that is justification for pulling out a knife.
I’m glad the woman got to the hospital before she died but I'm haunted by that young girl's words and what affect all this will have on her.
Prevention. So many men are stupid to the core of their gonads. Prevention.
Step 1, as I advised my son, and a couple of his male friends, always have a paternity test on the infant as soon as possible after it is born. I have received narratives from a very few men that their female so-called partner told them that their child really wasn't theirs.
Whether it is true or not, such an assertion is absolutely devastating to a man. Regardless, it is no justification for any retaliation whatsoever -- just consider where it came from. Easier said than done, but with painful effort, the high road feels good in the long run.
No doubt some women have made this odious assertion to their male-other in a pique of anger for no other purpose than to hurt him to the quick. It does. If a man has the results of a paternity test, it precludes such a disgusting comment from a woman ever having any effect. It also prevents her from making such a hurtful statement.
If the woman is having sexual relations with another man, there's two options; (1) enjoy sexual relations with other women, (2) leave her and pay your monthly dues knowing there are always other women available for pay.
If she continues to desire sexual relations along with the others, insist on (1) regular STD tests, (2) always wear a condom (3) ensure she gargles with a strong flouride disinfectant.
Men need to have it "pounded" into their heads that there are plenty of options other than the simple-minded thick-neck response of violence.
BTW, recent news from Brighton (http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1451298) about a woman who alledgedly punched her spouse in the head several times throughout the day, was charged with two counts of assault and then released. Yes, released. Imagine the outcry from feminists if a man were released after punching his spouse in the head several times in a day, but that's not the way it goes. Feminists spout equality, but never practice it.
Posted by: Wally Keeler | February 26, 2009 at 07:03 AM
I am offended by your overt anti-feminism Wally. I am a feminist, I 'spout' equality, and I practice it. These sweeping generalizations you make about feminists confirm for me that you lack an understanding of third-wave feminism. I can only hope you haven't managed to prosthelytize many (if any) men and women to your narrow view of feminism.
That said, abuse is never okay regardless of the sex of the perpetrator. Don't get your paternity test in a knot because more feminists aren't up on the latest breaking news in small town Brighton. By all means, spread the word, but please spare us your sweaping accusations of an entire ideology.
Posted by: brei | March 02, 2009 at 01:46 AM
Mr Keeler's posts are not anti-feminist; rather, he offers one man's perspective. That's all.
However, your uncalled for comment of feminists in 'small town Brighton' is a fine example of 'sweaping (sic) accusations' as well as intolerance. I also would not call the woman who beat her spouse a feminist.
Posted by: Rory | March 06, 2009 at 12:25 PM