Given that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month I want to share some difficult statistics with you as well as remind you that domestic violence is present throughout the world, but I want to focus on the domestic violence that has happened and continues to happen in our own country.
However, out of deference and respect for our sisters in Africa I will note that the Democratic Republic of Congo has the highest rate of violence against women and there is no indication that it will subside in the near future. TRAGIC. The African country of Nigeria has a despicable rate of sexual violence against women, as well. As incomprehensible as it is, recall that in 2014 in the city of Chibok, Nigeria 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped.
The focus here, my friends, is not to sensationalize this horror. These are facts and we need to be aware of these confirmed facts of the treatment of women. Without AWARENESS we will not be energized and motivated to, 1) treat each person with respect – child, woman or man; 2) do our part, however small it might be, to raise awareness of the plight of so many women and assure that we always take each case of sexual assault that we know about or are aware of seriously and respectfully. There is no room for judgment, only compassion.
Focusing on our own country there are myths and lies about women who have been sexually assaulted. I refuse to even go there. No man is ever, ever justified in assaulting a woman or a child. End of discussion.
Given that our country is currently preparing for a presidential election I feel compelled to remind each of you reading this blog that there are at least ten women who have accused and filed lawsuits against Donald Trump for sexual assault. In the case of E. Jean Carroll, Ms. Carroll’s lawsuit has gone to court and Donald Trump has been found liable for sexually abusing the advice columnist as well as for defaming Ms. Carroll over her allegations against him. The ten women are: Rachel Crooks, Alva Johnson, Jessica Leeds, Kristin Anderson, Amy Dorris, E. Jean Carroll, Karena Virginia, Samantha Holvey, Natasha Stoynoff, Jill Harth. (They Call Themselves the ‘Strange Sorority.’ Trump Was Their Initiation., by Jessica Bennett. New York Times, Sunday, September 27, 2024.)
Not only is Donald Trump against the pro-life issue of immigration, he also continues to treat women in particular and many people in general with disrespect and denigration.
Coercion, chaos, and lying are qualities of an abuser. Calm isn’t perfect but it allows us to be aware of and consider best options and better practices for all of us. Calm also allows us to work out our differences on critical issues in an adult manner. This actually happened with the bi-partisan immigration legislation that was brought to Congress in January 2024.
However, Trump used his influence to stop the bi-partisan bill because he did not want President Biden to get credit for it. That is not the quality of a national leader, it is the quality of a megalomaniac. (That Donald Trump did indeed interfere with and pressured Congress members to vote against the bill is substantiated by several Republicans and Democrats.)
This is not an “ordinary time” presidential election. Even though we may not agree with some of the policies that Kamala Harris supports she will lead a government of calm, stability, and integrity, allowing us to work towards the changes that we deem important.
I would like to close with this very sobering quote:
“The most reliable predictor of whether a country is violent within itself – or will use military violence against another country – is not poverty, natural resources, religion or even the degree of democracy; it’s violence against females. Violence against women normalizes all other violence.”
Sex and World Peace, Valerie Hudson, et. al, 2012.
Thank you for reading this blog entry. Feel free to share this information with whomever you think would benefit from it.
Bridget
The Annunciation Blog 