We have all been watching the drama called domestic abuse play out with Rihanna and Chris Brown, but what kind of message are we getting from this sad situation?  Even more important a question is, what kind of message are teenagers getting from this?

It is quite understandable that such young people have not fully mastered their emotions and I feel sadly for both of them.  In the case of Rihanna and Chris Brown, I fear the message being sent is one of “This is okay, vioelnce is acceptable”.  Well actually, NO! IT IS NOT.  Their relationship is reported off again then on again. This is the wrong message to send out.  I think the relationship needs to be permanently off again until some issues are resolved.

However, in a world where domestic abuse is so rampant, this situation forces me to take a look at the reality of it.  Over 2 1/2 million women a year fall victim to domestic abuse.  Every 21 days a woman is killed by domestic violence.  The abused usually grows to become the abuser.  Chris Brown has apparently lived in a world that involved domestic abuse.  It has been reported that he grew up watching his mother suffer domestic abuse at the hands of his step father.  Instead if seeking counseling from family and friends, he should consider seeing a good therapist that can help him overcome his anger.  That would be what I would encourage my son to do.

More than half of all abused women feel that they are responsible for the abuse.  I believe they have a tendancy to suffer from low self esteem and are afraid of seeking help.  If Rihanna were my daughter I would have to share with her the cold facts that between two and four thousand women are murdered by abusive partners every year.  This is not something I would want my daughter or any woman exposed to.  Nobody, man, woman or child, deserves to be abused for any reason.  Domestic violence is the fault of the abuser.

If you find yourself or a loved one in a situation of abuse please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224. They also have a website that you can visit at www.ndvh.org/.  I speak to all woman who are the victims of domestic abuse or have a mother, sister, friend who is the victim of domestic abuse, Please know and remember there is help just pick up the phone.  No one deserves to be abused. 

This is a very disturbing subject and I would like to hear opinions from anyone out there who can help share information, thoughts and ideas on the subject.  If you know of anything that can be of help to someone in this situation, please let us know.

Technorati Tags: Chris Brown, Domestic Abuse, Domestic Violence, Rihanna

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