The general public only becomes more and more aware of the issue of domestic violence. And I can only hope that awareness continues to spread and safe solutions continue to be offered to those in need.
The first time I can remember being aware of the issue of domestic violence was when a friend played a Tracy Chapman song for me in Junior High School. It was Chapman's "Behind the Wall." I remember struggling not to cry and simultaneously thinking that my friend was absolutely so amazing for knowing such a fabulous song and wondering how she could listen to it over and over without breaking down. I still love that song and I still struggle not to cry whenever I listen to it. My children think I'm a bit of a nutcase since I advise them to avoid things that make them sad or hurt, yet I play music that brings tears.
As the YA book this blog is dedicated to is a fictional account of a teen dating violence situation I feel it's only right to dedicate a bit of space to recognizing what's being done to generate more awareness of the issue during Domestic Violence Month.
Here are a few items worth noting:
6. The National Domestic Violence Hotline Continues to Aid Those in Need: They began their work in 1996.
This is, of course, a very limited list. The amount of time and effort and thought that is put into the cause by professionals and organizations dedicated to the issue and individuals who have decided on their own to make it their business are truly making a difference. While there is still a lot of work to be done to eradicate the problem (I continue to long for the possibility of perfection) we've really come a long way. Sometimes it might not seem like we've made a difference, but all I have to do is listen to Tracy Chapman's song "Behind the Wall" and I know that we've made progress. I like to think that that the situation described by Chapman in her astounding song is no longer the norm, but the worst case scenario.
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