As we stare in horror at violence overseas, and some look to shore up our defences against those who are running from that violence, we might be better to take a good, hard look at ourselves.
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Yesterday was White Ribbon Day.
The crime that takes up more of NSW police’s time than any other is not terrorism, but domestic violence.
Over the past 12 months, police attended more than 28,000 reports of domestic-related assault.
Twenty-seven people died as a result of domestic violence during that time.
It is believed that only one-third of incidents are reported.
Our state and our country has violent people in every corner.
These are people who unleash their anger not on strangers or those who oppose their ideals, but on their own families. It could be that dinner is not good enough, something has been left at school, or maybe it’s just been a bad day – whatever the reaon, or no reason at all, lives are being dimmed and extinguished.
The very place that should be a sanctuary has turned into a place of fear.
Australia is, of course, far from alone in its struggle with domestic violence.
It is a global problem.
For some reason, people who can control their anger in their everyday lives, feel it is okay to let their dark side loose on the people they love.
It is not okay.
It will never be okay.
As a society, we need to say that this must stop. We need to take a deep breath and get involved where we may have feared to go before.
We need to ask the question of the people we know who might be struggling, and we need to offer a hand.
We all need to look at our own anger issues, and the way we treat our own loved ones. Even if we are not violent or abusive, are we showing them the basic kindness we would show a stranger?
Show the world enough is enough. Take the pledge to speak out against family violence.
