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Who are we? What defines us? What is a dream? Do we dream without hope? Do we dream without sharing the essence of ourselves with another?
EQUALITY‘Full Equality under the Law’ Are we equal? Are we one?As a matter of definitive truth those living within a state of equality are equal to one another. A state of equality is absent of color, race, religion, prejudice and the many other ‘isms’ that spark discrimination. A state of equality can only exist within a state of complete acceptance. If we are to look within the eyes of a stranger and see him as we see ourselves we must believe in his worth as a person. Believe in his worth as a human being even if he or she does not mirror our own image. Equality is within the eyes, the soul and the heart of a human being as within us equality can exist. Only with true equality can hope spread throughout our society and the world. How are we as people suppose to work for one another if we truly do not care for one another? How are we as people suppose to want something better for everyone who we do not perceive as equal? When did we become better then one another? When did we lose hope for one another? Hope! In hope there is strength beyond any freedom we are guaranteed. With the guarantee of freedom comes the ability to be ourselves without prejudice. Hope defines the American dream as with hope even those less fortunate have an opportunity for true achievement. This section of the website will be dedicated to those among us who need to be reminded that hope still exists. When we watch the news or read the local paper we are reading headlines solely designed to capture viewers. Behind the headlines there are people whose lives are in turmoil or even worse in danger of being taken away by another. What the news keeps us from realizing is that behind every name is a person just like you and I. They walk, talk and breathe like everyone else except their life for whatever reason makes a good story. Living in the United States of America, we may live in one of thee, if the not thee, most comfortable societies in the world today. For all of our faults we live in a decent society that provides opportunity for everyone even if the struggle to succeed for some is longer then others. Even with all of our accomplishments we still have work to do. We need to begin to look beyond the headline to the real story beneath the glitz. Understanding our faults is the first step to embracing them. Understanding our faults will provide hope for those who need us to overcome difficulties in their lives. In researching issues such as domestic violence or poverty I began to understand the scope of the problem. There are countless studies, countless stories of people in need that to list everyone would be impossible. Statistics can only help us to begin to understand the scope of social problems in our society. Maybe if we had a monument filed with the names of all the women who have been abused in the last ten years we then would come to understand the enormity of the problem. In the following few pages you the reader will find a collection of original work and statistics designed to educate you, to enlighten you. When you’re reading through the various issues try to picture the stories behind the numbers. Try to picture the faces of those who the numbers can not speak for no matter how shocking they may be. I could not possibly list all of the names behind the numbers but in creating this page my hope is to inspire you to educate another. In time maybe some of us will begin to volunteer our time, our thoughts and our voices to those who need us. In time maybe we will come together in a common desire to help those in turmoil or at risk. In time maybe we will begin to return to the ideals that Anmerica was built upon and refuse to leave another behind. Domestic ViolenceSome of us, hopefully most of us, probably could not imagine striking our child or significant other. Domestic violence may seem unfathomable to most of us but for many of us domestic violence is a very real issue. Unfortunately many cases of domestic violence go unreported so truly understanding the enormity of the issue may be difficult. Officials estimate between two million to as high as four million cases of domestic violence occur every year in America. While the exact number of cases may not be known what is known is that 572,000 cases are reported on an average year in America. 4By itself the number four may seem underwhelming but when you find out that on an average day four women pass at the hands of their husbands or boyfriends. Four women, who had a story, had a life and maybe children gave their life for no reason. In fact the number of women killed in their own homes outnumbers the number of men killed in Vietnam. With over two million cases of domestic abuse there are many untold stories of survival. Some escape with just a few bruises while others are not so lucky. On average four hundred and forty six women a day require hospitalization because of injuries sustained at the hands of their husbands or boyfriends. What about the children?The impact on those who are victims of domestic violence is easy to see as the physical scars that remain behind serve as a constant reminder. Physical scars may heal over time but the emotional toll on the victims as well the witnesses is everlasting. Children raised in a home full of violence are more likely to be abusers themselves as they grow up. Studies show that a child is five times more likely to commit a violent act as a juvenile if he or she grew up in a home full of violence. If that is not scary enough think about the following fact. Seventeen percent of pregnant women report being abused during their pregnancy. Seventeen percent of pregnant women are abused leading to miscarriages, still births and developmental problems. Is there hope?In 1994 several organizations including the National Organization for Women helped secure a Violence Against Women Act in Congress. The bill allocated 1.8 billion dollars to address issues of domestic violence. The act was reauthorized in 2000 and continues to allocate money for programs to stop domestic violence. What can you do? The Violence Against Women Act is under review as the funding along with its principles is set to expire in 2005. What we can do is pressure Congress to reauthorize the act with even more funding and programs to stop the violence. |
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