rss
email
twitter
facebook

9/11 and Domestic Violence

by Ben Atherton-Zeman
September 11, 2011


Both 9/11 and domestic murders have claimed thousands of lives. Over 3000 victims were killed in the September 11 attacks - about 2000 victims/year are killed in the United States by their intimate partners.

Both were results of terrorist attacks - 9/11 from Al Quaeda, domestic murder from "domestic terrorists." Both kinds of terrorists use fear, violence and intimidation to get what they want. But Al Quaeda terrorists are vilified, while domestic terrorists are often called "pillars of the community."

Our country's response to each has been completely different. We responded to 9/11 with the war in Iraq - hundreds of billions of dollars. We responded to domestic murder with funding the Violence Against Women Act and other federal legislation - hundreds of millions of dollars.

Why the disparity?

What's the difference between the victims of 9/11 and the victims of domestic murder?

One is gender - many more men kill their wives and girlfriends than vice versa.

But I think the main reason for the disparity is victim-blaming.

Nobody blames folks for going to work in the Twin Towers that day. But every day, people blame the victims of domestic abuse for the violence perpetrated against them. People say, "I wouldn't let anybody do that to me," not realizing the implication of blame for those who stay with abusive spouses and partners. People ask "Why doesn't she leave?" instead of "Why is he abusing her?" and "What can we do to help?"

I've had the honor of knowing people who responded to each. Ground Zero workers, people in the United States military who fought on behalf of our country. Advocates for domestic violence survivors, volunteers and staff at shelters for battered women. All heroes - all underpaid and overworked.

As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 arrives, our country will honor those who lost their lives on that day. We will honor those who worked at Ground Zero afterward. We will honor those who are serving in uniform.

But let us also take this opportunity to realize that we've spend 1/1000th of our country's resources on stopping domestic violence, than we have on the war in Iraq. Let us question why these victims of intimate terrorism get less sympathy than the victims of Al Quaeda terrorism. Let us honor advocates for victims of domestic violence, just as we honor our women and men in uniform.



(with thanks to Patty Branco of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Feel free to reprint and repost.)

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

ҬҺіs way you help thе websites and earrn money fast аs well.
Well tҺiѕ is ѡhat millions of people out thегe aге doіng and tɦiѕ
is a small secret hhow tɦose millionaires mаke quick money online.

This is why a lot оf bail bondsman get ѕomething like a hluse ass collateral.

This training mɑy entail helping үou fіnd leads aѕ wdll as marketing plans ɑnd give ƴou what ƴoս need to motivate ƴоu in orԀer thɑt you succeed.
Ϝew days ago, asxked bout tɦe situation օf shops, a friend made sоme emotion:
а feeling of light is not enougɦ, getting goߋds tο
be able too not only optimistic abօut the level of style, mоге importantly, tօ
identify a good number; оtherwise, ߋr promising models Ԁid not sell
а few, loose money Yahuo, оr woll sell enoսgh you went into a
number of styles, like reminders, the response speed οf business not sso fast,
losing tɦe opportunity to mɑke money.

Post a Comment