OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

By the GBC Task Force on Abuse of Women chaired by Radha devi dasi

I found this article in a small town Tennessee newspaper.

“The Haven of Hope” Inc. provides shelter for victims in danger, judicial assistance, violence assessment and safety planning, referral information and support, as well as educational information to domestic violence victims in Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall, and Moore counties. They would like to spread the word about how common domestic violence is and ask for your help to stop it.

Six years have passed us by since terrorists struck our country, and just when we all start feeling a little more at ease,, fear comes again. The U.S. response to there attacks was an important step in seeking justice and freeing ourselves from the continued fear of being attacked again. We can learn multitudes in understanding domestic violence from the terrorists events of the past several years. How that feelings we have felt and the resurgence/escalation of fear correlate so closely with those victims of domestic violence. Everyday, victims of domestic violence live with the fear of terrorist attacks in their own home. The terrorist, a person living in their home, a person who should love and cherish them most, use numerous tactics to reinforce fear and maintain power over the victim. The victim is often fearful of participating in normal daily activities, anticipating unwarranted retaliation by the terrorist. Imagine experiencing the fear of 911 and the months that followed daily because you “didn’t dress right”, you didn’t fix the correct menu”, “you didn’t submit a receipt of expenditures from teh grocery store”, or you didn’t keep the baby from crying”! Fear of things happening that you really have no control over! Being attacked for no real reason except for the fact that you are who you are! For victims, as has been for most AMericans during this tragedy, just about the time they think things have calmed down, things are beginning to return to “normal”, the tension builds and the fear of imminent retaliatory attacks begin again! Victims of domestic violence may go through the crises, shock, and post traumatic disorder phase numerous times during the course of a year or even a month. Imagine no recovery period at all, and again the source of the terror living in your home. Victims of domestic violence will suffer even more without the specific support to deal with these issues. Non-profits area-wide are fearful not only of the things everyone is fearful of right now, but of financial support being redirected to victims of a different type of terrorist attack. Don’t forget, continue to reach out to victims of domestic violence right here in our community. Get involved, make a difference in the life of someone who lives with terrorism daily, sometimes for a lifetime! For assistance with issues of domestic violence, telephone the Haven of Hope hotline at 1-800-435-7739 or (931)728-4235.”

While visiting a “Correctional Institution” (Prison) for a preaching program in Johannesburg, I noticed that attached “ABUSE OF POWER” poster on the wall. It is directed at domestic violence, but the principles apply to anyone in a position of authority. We have witnessed temple commanders, sankirtana leaders, husbands, fathers, teachers, TPs, sannyasis, and even gurus fall victim to pride and misuse their position of authority.