Letters To The Editor
October 24, 2007 - MidWeek
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Del.icio.usInspiring women
Thank you for featuring domestic violence victims on the cover of your magazine. This is usually such a “hush-hush” subject and it shouldn’t be, as it is a major problem on this island as well as in this country. These women were inspiring, and I would love to see more of this in MidWeek. I work as an advocate for the Domestic Violence Action Center (formerly DVCLH) and I know firsthand how much courage it takes for these women to come forward. Domestic violence is very often misunderstood. Instead of asking “Why do these women stay?” WHY aren’t we asking, “Why do men DO this?” I hope with more education and articles like this, we will draw to this problem the attention it needs. Thank you for being a part of that.
Katie Caldwell
Advocate Domestic Violence Action
Center
Children as victims
Great cover story and article on domestic violence this past week! The information will be reaching so many people who need help and do not know what to do. Children are harmed usually in domestic violence situations along with the adults. Maybe these stories from survivors of domestic violence will motivate others to get help and get out of their situations.
Aileen Deese
Program Director of Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii
Real life story
Thank you for your recent article, “Victims No More.” I am very proud of my sister, Dara Carlin, whom you interviewed in your brave, well-written article, and am so proud of her dedication and passion to make others aware of domestic violence and abuse.
I applaud you in your efforts to lend a voice to survivors of domestic violence and bringing the spotlight to the victims of this all-too-prevalent crime. It’s refreshing, encouraging and inspiring to see an article such as this one actually make the paper. This is real life; this is real news - not how much jail time Paris Hilton served or what Britney Spears’ visitation rights are.
Maya Carlin
Poway, Calif
Education is key
Thanks for this very important article, “Victims No More.” It’s amazing that this still goes on in 2007. Thanks for running it. Ongoing education seems to be the way to raise understanding.
Mitch Berman
Honolulu
Mahalo for support
I read your DV article and thought it was great. Thank you for writing about DV and your support for such an important issue.
Stacy Fukuhara-Barclay
Sent via BlackBerry by
AT&T
Men and abuse
Regarding your article “Speaking Out About Abuse,” (10/17/2007) Alice Keesing obviously did not do her DV homework. Multiple current studies have debunked the “women as victims” myth and have sought to balance the seriousness of domestic violence with actual facts.
Women initiate DV as frequently as men. Men are injured in one-third of disputes. Women will use deception and surprise and, more often, lethal weapons in a DV dispute. In mandatory arrest states, the incidence of women arrests increases. Children are far more likely to be abused, neglected, or killed by women than by men.
Still, the biggest flaw in the article is one person Ms. Keesing chose to quote, who called herself a survivor long before I met her and she has never kept quiet about her alleged victimization by her parents, her ex-boyfriends, etc.
She is a DV poster child but she is not a victim. DV is a crime. And the secret will remain so as long as you publish unsubstantiated accounts supporting sham statistics.
American men are more caring, supportive, protective, and loving of their partners than at any time in history. For every one in four women who report domestic violence, eight of 10 will admit that they directly contributed to the escalated violence.
If you really want to make a difference, you have to report the facts, not the propaganda.
Larry Holbrook
Honolulu
Send your letters to MidWeek Letters, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 500, Honolulu, HI. 96813; by fax to 585-6324, or by email to dchapman@midweek.com. Please include your name, address and daytime and evening phone numbers. We print only the letters that include this information, but only your name and area of residence will appear in print. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
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