slavicinferno:

“I heard police or ambulancemen, standing in our house, say, “She must have provoked him,” or, “Mrs Stewart, it takes two to make a fight.” They had no idea. The truth is my mother did nothing to deserve the violence she endured. She did not provoke my father, and even if she had, violence is an unacceptable way of dealing with conflict. Violence is a choice a man makes and he alone is responsible for it.”-Patrick Stewart

Dude. DUDE. Yes. It only takes one person to violate boundaries, harass, threaten, disrespect and bully. Lack of personal responsibility for behavior that violates others’ rights and bodies (and the acceptance of such) is a trend I would like to see end.

I want to stop being a silent bystander. I want to express my disapproval of attitudes that there are excuses for violence toward and assault on others, or that it’s a cause for humor or ridicule and ostracization of the victims for speaking up. Thoughts and feelings may be beyond our capacity to control. Actions and words toward others are choices.

Many who were abused as children chose to break the cycle of abuse. I am one. I believe that there are resources to assist those who hurt others to find better choices, but that first and foremost, support and acceptance of those behaviors must stop. As long as there are no consequences for such behavior, I feel it takes away from the pressure to change. I feel as long as those who abuse remain unaware of the consequences of their actions, they are robbed of the opportunities to seek resources to make other choices to deal with the underlying issues.

My words may fall on a lot of deaf ears, but if only one person listens and makes a decision to think them over, perhaps it was worth it to speak.

“Them as can do has to do for them as can’t. And someone has to speak up for them as has no voices.” —‘The Wee Free Men,’ Sir Terry Pratchett

I don’t know whose the original art is, but these are the words I feel almost daily.

amandaonwriting:

Shakespearean Insults

YES ALL THE EVERYTHING

“Free advice is often overpriced.” —E. C. McKenzie

(Source: tehtam)