No One was born to be the physical, sexual, emotional, verbal or financial punching bag of another human being!”
-Leigh Thomas
Unfortunately, it happens everyday...which is why the doors at Angels Voices Foundation opened, and my twice award nominated book has the title, “An Ordinary Journey”...A User’s Guide to Healing from the Abuses of SEX, DRUGS, ROCK ‘n ROLL and ATTEMPTED MURDER.After my domestic violence journey, I realized I hadn’t walked alone -- rather the crowded roads were filled with way too many -- all of us too afraid to speak.Everyday millions of silent survivors walk under the umbrella of domestic violence.If lucky, they survive physical, emotional, verbal and/or financial abuse, coupled with date rape, stalking and bullying.Tragically, millions more don’t make it through the experience or the pain.
Many won’t talk because they think they’ve done something wrong to cause the situation, and/or are afraid to say anything for fear of getting themselves/others into trouble. Thirty years after a sexual incident, I awoke from a nightmare and I remembered being told not to say anything.It was then I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, but had been protecting someone else's dirty little secret.
When I realized what had happened to me as a child, I got mad as hell and starting talking about it.I talk for myself and those voiceless victims, who walked with me, until they find their own voice.I talk for those who made it through and those who didn’t.I say every day, once I found my voice - I haven’t been able to shut up.
A few very disturbing statistics:
Last year 26% more cases of domestic violence were reported over 2006 -- 74% not reported were not able to find their voice and get to safety.
The leading cause of death in pregnant women is murder -- they no longer have a voice.
Stacy Peterson, Laci Peterson, Nicole Brown probably hadn’t heard of the escalating domestic violence warning signs -- before their last thought, “I didn’t think he’d do this”.
Women are victims of roughly 4.5 million violent crimes a year, including 500,000 rapes or other sexual assaults, nearly 30% of the crimes are committed by current or ex-boyfriends, or husbands.It can, does and, unfortunately, probably will happen to someone you know or love.
