“If a man has a little fight with the wife, they say this was a crime, see?” With these words Trump downplayed domestic violence, often a hidden crime. Is this for real? What kind of man thinks that hitting his wife or partner is okay? Perhaps the kind of man who thinks to grab a woman by her genitals is also okay.
Domestic violence is a serious issue, affecting the victim and anyone else in the household, which are usually children. In many states, children are removed by the state for their own protection if there is domestic violence. But, no, it doesn’t matter if the violence is in the home. Out of sight is out of mind.
Not only does Trump downplay domestic violence but his budget cut millions from services providing assistance and even wants those services to hand over victims to ICE, making victims afraid to show up in court. The DOJ has also cancelled millions in previously approved contracts for DV survivor services. Welcome to the new macho culture.
Prayer for the Day
Crying for protection, children cower at violence,
Not understanding but seeing how it controls;
Wondering how such anger takes hold of people,
We pray for an end to violence in all its forms.
Make us a people who seek to end brutality,
For we know its effects on the most vulnerable among us.
In the name of the One who cares for all,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
The frequency and the harm [of domestic violence] is not paid enough attention to, and remarks such as the president’s certainly underscore that truth.
Dawn Dalton, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a crisis that strikes at the core of our communities. Behind every victim is a story of escalating coercion, fear, and violence that can’t be ignored or trivialized.
Stephanie Love-Patterson, National Network to End Domestic Violence
In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,
“Flee like a bird to the mountains; for look, the wicked bend the bow,
They have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Psalm 11: 1-3