Written by: Tharchini Val
He wasn’t like the other kids
The doctors made this clear
He was aging really fast
The future always near
Progeria they said,
Something very rare
A precious little child
Now under constant stare
Facing countless pranks
Had turned into routine
It didn’t make any sense
He wasn’t even a teen
A happy little boy
As pure as truth can be
Laughter everyday
As though he held the key
Until one day it had clicked
And he began to see
That he was different from the others
And it brought him to his knees
It wasn’t his disorder
The public couldn’t see
His sister’s broken self esteem
Her hidden secret pleas
More clearer than the glares,
Was his sibling’s pain
Of being battered night and day
Broken legs and ankles sprained
Young as he was
He laid there confused
He could not understand
The reason for abuse
Domestic violence takes place on such a large platform that it would be ignorant to look away. It’s abuse, on so many different levels, to so many different people. For the most part, people tend to focus on just physical abuse, but that limits the scope of what domestic violence really entails for it could also refer to verbal, emotional, or even sexual abuse. The reality is that when a child gets beaten up, or when a spouse gets emotionally broken down, it doesn’t merely end there. It’s like a chain. It hits one person, and then one by one it starts impacting everyone else. It places someone in a state of mind where they feel inferior and vulnerable, and this feeling becomes contagious. While some individuals are able to find the strength to come out of this state of helplessness, a lot of people just give up.
At times, domestic violence can leave scars that are too deep to ever really get completely healed. Even though physical violence is often visible, emotional abuse leaves psychological impairments that can often change people’s outlook on life itself. For instance, when someone gets abused, they may turn to any type of comfort or acceptance, even if that itself may be detrimental to them. When a young boy witnesses his father abusing his mother, it may make him feel as though that is the norm in society. On the other hand, it could also make the child become fearful and withdraw from everyone around him. It really is a lot more complicated than a few words can ever fairly depict, but it shows how significant of an issue it is, and how important it is to get addressed.
Dr. Haim Ginott once said, ‘Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression’. This statement is applicable on so many issues that are related to domestic violence, among other things. It recognizes the impact that domestic violence can have on children, and it further makes one realize that abuse can alter lives. One of the most heartbreaking realities is when the victims of abuse actually believe that they deserve the abuse. Sometimes, they even come to a point where they feel so powerless that they fool themselves into believing that help is either nowhere to be found, or that no one would be willing to help. By doing this, they ‘give up’ and ‘give in’ to the abuse. They essentially become silenced and voiceless due to no other reason than being hurt so much, for too long, and seeing no alternative.
Take a moment and think about the mentally challenged child who gets sexually abused on a daily basis, without even realizing what’s happening. It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it? Now, picture an elderly man who gets verbally abused merely because he’s poor. It’s tough. It’s really hard, and when the world chooses to look the other way, it makes it that much harder. Sometimes, people just need to know that they have a choice, and the simplest act of kindness can make them realize this choice. On this October month of Domestic Violence Awareness, open your eyes and your hearts. Get informed and before you judge someone, understand that their lives may differ from yours, and that a little act of compassion can go a long way.
Tags: Speak Out
