Saturday, June 30, 2007

What Would You Have Done?


S.L., from one of the most important blogs I read, "The Observant Woman," had a personal experience with a victim of domestic abuse recently. She's interested in knowing what others would have done in the same situation. Would you have reported the abuse? What about if the abuser was a friend, or a member of your ward? I'd like to know how others would have handled this situation, too. Read the story here, and go here to air your views.

5 comments:

onelowerlight said...

I would break into the house, run up to the assailant, and either choke him out, break a couple of his bones, or otherwise beat him until he no longer posed a threat. Then I would escort the girl to my house and do exactly what this couple did.

Bored in Vernal said...

Wow, OLL. Did you read how big he was??

m&m said...

I would report someone in a heartbeat. Someone in that kind of situation (as was evident with her) will often sympathize and feel she is betraying the assailant or a host of other collusion-ridden behaviors. I wouldn't have hesitated for an instant to call. A man like that needs to be handled by the law.

SL said...

Thanks for your thoughts, all, and thanks, BiV for profiling this incident. I thought your addition was relevant - what if they were in your ward? The interesting thing is that my husband and I are students in Utah county. Everyone on our residential block are active members of the church EXCEPT the people living in the house where this incident happened. People have not been very good about befriending and fellowshipping them. It has crossed my mind a few times that someone must have heard S screaming before my husband did, and chose not to act. :(

I hope not, but it was a saturday afternoon in a family neighboorhood. My husband heard her from our driveway, 5 houses away.

-SL

Bored in Vernal said...

I added that because I have been in a ward where abuse was downplayed because the husband was well known and liked. I think it's a tougher call than many realize when it gets personal.