Letter to the Editor
Posted October 10, 2016
Dear Editor:
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and I want you to take a moment and imagine this: every hour of every day, all you think about is pleasing him. You live in a constant fear of what will happen if you mess up, if you step out of line. You feel like he can hear every thought in your head, see every move you make, as if he is as much a part of your mind as you are. Every decision you make from the clothes you buy to the music you listen to, even the people you talk to are based on what he thinks. Maybe, you think, if you please him, you will finally be worthy of his friendship, his ‘love’.
Love is just one of the many reasons why victims stay in an abusive relationship. Other such reasons include money, children, love, religious and cultural beliefs, fear of retaliation, and fear of the justice system. Every 9 seconds a woman is battered in the United States. To put this into perspective, by the end of this hour long program 420 women will have suffered at the hands of their abuser. Every year more women are injured by domestic violence than muggings, rapes, and car accidents combined. Every year more than 10 million children witness domestic violence in their homes.
With alarming statistics like these, odds are, you likely know someone who is experiencing domestic violence. It could be a sibling, parent, friend, co-worker, congregation member, or student. I encourage everyone who reads this to please attend our annual Candle Lighting Ceremony that will be held on Monday, October 10th at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at the Lane Christian Church at 4794 Lane St, Lane, IL 61750. We will honor both the survivors and victims of domestic violence.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Tolladay
Dove DeWitt County Coordinator