Comments on: Real men swear http://rodneyolsen.net/2009/11/real-men-swear.html Thu, 17 May 2012 10:15:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Rodney Olsen http://rodneyolsen.net/2009/11/real-men-swear.html/comment-page-1#comment-7914 Rodney Olsen Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:23:12 +0000 http://rodneyolsen.net/?p=3654#comment-7914 You're absolutely right. There is a great danger that this will simply be a 'feel good exercise' for those who would never lift a hand in anger, but I'm encouraged by the part of the oath that calls for men to "never remain silent about violence against women". If even a handful of us take that seriously then we will be able to keep the message alive that it's NEVER OK to be violent against women. When I look at the oath I can honestly say that I've never committed violence against a woman and I've never excused violence against women, but when I get to that final line I need to admit that I have been silent to some degree. Even this blog post contributes in a small way towards breaking that silence and getting people talking about this horrible tragedy. I certainly hope I can find more ways to highlight the severity of violence against women. You’re absolutely right. There is a great danger that this will simply be a ‘feel good exercise’ for those who would never lift a hand in anger, but I’m encouraged by the part of the oath that calls for men to “never remain silent about violence against women”.

If even a handful of us take that seriously then we will be able to keep the message alive that it’s NEVER OK to be violent against women.

When I look at the oath I can honestly say that I’ve never committed violence against a woman and I’ve never excused violence against women, but when I get to that final line I need to admit that I have been silent to some degree.

Even this blog post contributes in a small way towards breaking that silence and getting people talking about this horrible tragedy. I certainly hope I can find more ways to highlight the severity of violence against women.

]]> By: hazelblackberry http://rodneyolsen.net/2009/11/real-men-swear.html/comment-page-1#comment-7913 hazelblackberry Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:04:27 +0000 http://rodneyolsen.net/?p=3654#comment-7913 Hi Rodney, this is a great initiative but, of course, the people who will make the oath are people who would never engage in that kind of behaviour in the first place or who are reformed offenders. However, having been a miserable git in saying that, what I will add is that every action like this that gets the "no to violence" message circulating publicly is another reminder to perpetrators and victims alike that this behaviour isn't normal or socially sanctioned - that a perpetrator must stop and can get the help to stop and that a victim doesn't have to stay to cop more of the same. Hi Rodney, this is a great initiative but, of course, the people who will make the oath are people who would never engage in that kind of behaviour in the first place or who are reformed offenders. However, having been a miserable git in saying that, what I will add is that every action like this that gets the “no to violence” message circulating publicly is another reminder to perpetrators and victims alike that this behaviour isn’t normal or socially sanctioned – that a perpetrator must stop and can get the help to stop and that a victim doesn’t have to stay to cop more of the same.

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