Behind the looking glass

Why does there appear to be an increase in domestic violence? I suppose the answer to that is simple, it has really only been against the law to beat one’s wife the last hundred years. People’s behavior is shaped by the laws and the sediments that the society they live in creates. It was always done, and taught from generation to generation, and despite our belief it has changed it has in fact gotten worse. There are specific times when an increase is noted, for instance during Superbowl Sunday. It would be laughable if it were not so simple and stupid. This is the man our culture has groomed.

Of course murder rates differ from country to country. In Canada you have a 1 in 100,000 chance of being murdered. It is ten times higher in the US. This tells a lot about the nature of a culture, the stress and fractures, and animosity inside a culture. England is very low, and has been for many centuries, as well as most Canadian cities that were founded by England. Perhaps we were taught to be civil, as I mention in being taught by society. This is a pattern, something we have inherited. What does this tell you about the US?

Of course we live in a world where people feel out of touch with what is expected of them, shut out from life, made fun of and ostracized. It does not take much, the ego of man is frail at best and even more so in the world we live in today. Maddening of course when the supposed wrong is perpetrated by a woman.

And what about Domestic Violence in the workplace? Homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the work-place. Of the approx 1.7 million incidents of workplace violence that occur in the US every year 18,700 are committed by an intimate partner, current of former spouse or partner.

One must ask the question, “what about another choice?” Why do we kill when walking away is easier? Are we so attached to things, whether materialistic in nature, or viewing another as a possession, that taking a life seems equal in some minds? Or does the moment overcome us and before we know it has passed.

The human factor is this. 85-95% of all domestic violence victims are female. Over 500,000 women are stalked each year. 5.3 million are abused. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.

It seems we know more and more about less and less.