Victims shouldn’t tolerate beatings
Last updated at 14:28, Tuesday, 27 March 2012
DENNIS Waterman, renowned chauvinist and failed singer, whipped up a furious storm when he admitted giving his ex-wife a black eye to end an argument he was losing.
“The problem with strong, intelligent women is that they can argue, well,” he said in a TV interview.
“Something must have brought it on. When frustration builds up and you can’t think of a way out?.?.?. I must have punched her one time ’cause she did have a black eye.”
There are two ways of looking at his miserable, grudging confession. Either he’s mitigating what he did by blaming Rula Lenska for being strong and intelligent – she brought it on herself – or he’s excusing himself for lashing out. It was the drink that did it... and she brought it on herself.
Two very common assertions are frequently tripped out in abusive relationships. I have never understood or believed either of them.
Him: She drove me too it. I’m sorry now.
Her: But I love him – and he’s sorry now.
A violent man who can rationalise by degree the pain and injury inflicted on a woman – or on anyone, for that matter – is a man who will never be anything but violent.
If he’s not winning an argument, he hits. If he’s drunk or depressed, he hits.
If he hasn’t the intelligence or ability to articulate his feelings of disappointment, he hits. That’s what he is. A man who hits women. Because he knows he can. Because she’s unlikely to leave him.
It’s the women who don’t realise they need rescuing who are the real worry.
Women who believe next time they’ll be able to talk down his fists. Because they’re cleverer than him – and he’s sorry now.
Women who think it will never happen again. Because he promised. Women who might one day leave him. When they find somewhere to go. And if they live that long.Domestic violence is a frequent and common killer of women who love men that are bad for them. And it will remain a common and too frequent killer until women – who are stronger and more intelligent than men who hit – get wise and get out. Better still, get him out.
He’s not sorry. He will hit you again. You’ll never be free of his threat. Maybe you do love him – but, believe me, you’ll get over it.
First published at 13:08, Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Have your say
Anne, good points but lacking in true balance. This may come as a shock to you, and is a very sad fact of life, but women can also be just as violent as men and also be just as guilty of the whole domestic thing and the most outrageous excuses as a means to justify themselves. Men too can be in such denial regarding who was to blame in such instances that they can and will make excuses for a partners outburst that causes physical harm to themselves.
Lets be real, there are no excuses either side of male female divide, violence does not recognise gender and cares little for political correctness. Your points are well intended I'm sure, but you do your own gender a disservice by not acknowledging that this is an issue that is not totally one sided.
Posted by Mike on 29 March 2012 at 10:21