I Recently Asked 5 Liberal Politicians What They Intend to Do About Family Violence.... and their answer infuriated me!
Last week, the chilling news broke out that yet another woman and baby lost their lives due to family violence. The horror, the despair, and the helplessness many felt upon hearing this news cannot be put into words. How did we get here, and what can be done to change the course?
Seeking answers, I recently attended a meeting where I asked five liberal politicians about their plans to tackle this seemingly relentless issue. Their unanimous response was that it's "all about family values". However, I must say, this answer is a cop-out and nowhere near enough. Here's why.
Family Values Are Not Enough
Blaming the escalating violence on the degradation of family values is a simplistic and insufficient response. It doesn't address the root causes, nor does it provide actionable steps to combat the issue. Family violence is a deeply ingrained problem that transcends boundaries of class, ethnicity, and social status.
Shifting the Cultural Paradigm
What we desperately need is a cultural shift. The age-old notion that what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors must be eradicated. It's high time that we all, not just the young ones, understand the respect and recognize that family violence can occur in every walk of life.
Taking a Firm Stand
Soft words and gentle admonishments will not do. We must come down hard on perpetrators. Our laws need to reflect the gravity of the issue, and enforcement must be uncompromising.
Changing Culture is Possible
Those who say culture cannot be changed are peddling rubbish. Take the seatbelt laws as an example. Before 1971, wearing a seatbelt a legal requirement. Look how far we've come. Or consider smoking restrictions inside shopping malls. Remember when people thought shops would go broke because of these rules? We adapted, and we grew.
Just as we transformed attitudes toward seatbelts and smoking, we can change the culture around family violence.
We Can Do It, But We Must Act Now
The death of a woman and a baby must not become just another statistic or a fleeting headline. It's a loud, agonizing cry for change. The politicians' answers were unsatisfactory, but we, as a society, don't have to accept that.
Together, we can foster a society where respect is paramount, where understanding is widespread, and where violence is never tolerated. But it requires a collective effort, determination, and most importantly, the belief that we can change.
Family violence is not an unsolvable enigma. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the examples from our history to guide us. Now is the time to act. Let's make a pledge to create a culture where no woman, no child, no person has to live in fear in their own home. We changed before, and we can change again. Let's do it!
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