Domestic and Structural Violence

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE

Another family has been put asunder by this social malady we call domestic violence.

A mother is dead, killed by her husband, who killed himself, leaving a daughter with the horror of a memory, and our prayer for her healing.

And soon, so she can move on to pick up the pieces of her life.

But we are left with the pang of rage.

And anger.

And self-questioning.

Why would incidents like this happen?

Who end up destroyed in this wanton destruction of limbs and life as domestic violence continues to lurk in the corner, or loom large before our very eyes, with the statistics reminding us that so much is being done, and yet so much is yet to be done?

The fact that many Filipino and Filipino-descended families have been affected by this social pathology and disease is a cause for alarm for all of us in Hawai`i and everywhere.

The number is growing—and the stories of tragedy we wish did not happen are getting to be more sordid and bleak and dark each day.

No, we cannot afford to have more of these killings because of domestic violence in the way we cannot afford to ignore the fact that there is something in the structure of our societies that make these incidents of domestic violence happen.

Something is wrong with those who think of domestic violence as a solution to life’s worries and challenges.

But something is wrong as well when the structures of our societies—structures that include our institutions—are held hostage by these tragedies that are now becoming more frequent.

We make a call in strongest terms possible to stop domestic violence in order to stop once and for all the evils that it brings to all of us.

Our wish is to see that no family will ever suffer because of domestic violence.

And we wish that this be realized now, not later.


FAO Editorial, Jul 2008