Usually I dedicated these few lines to reflect on something happening in my life or to share an experience that has helped me learn a thing or two in this life-long journey that I call writing. However, today I am compelled to address an issue that all National Football League fans have heard about the entire summer: domestic violence. It is heartbreaking and disgusting that in any society domestic violence continues to exist. In this particular case with the NFL I am referring to the infamous Ray Rice video of him stepping out of an elevator and having to drag out his unconscious fiancé into the hallway.
While it is disheartening that the legal system seems to have done little to further investigate the incident (just my opinion), it is disturbing, absurd and criminal for the NFL to impose a two-game suspension on the star running back for the same incident. It matters little that the NFL has since adjusted its rules and policies to deal with domestic violence offenders with this incident because the damage has been done. Imposing a two-game suspension on this professional athlete for the act of hitting his girlfriend is an insult and does little to set a precedent of the consequences for such actions. I can accept that the NFL is not obligated to campaign against domestic violence but as an organization with such high visibility and influence over millions of young men across the country, they should have dealt with this incident in a more serious manner.
Any opportunity that the league can take to advocate putting an end to domestic violence, violence against women and just violence in general, should be capitalized on. Sadly, this incident was not the one to set the wheels in motion. Ideally we would never have to tell our kids, brothers, cousins or friends that domestic violence is unacceptable. Unfortunately, we live in a world where domestic violence happens and is too often ignored and brushed aside as it mot being our problem. The truth is that it is our problem. It is a problem that victimizes mostly women and we all have women in our lives that we love unconditionally. In honor of them and out of respect for them we should never stand by and allow domestic violence to flourish. We must teach our young men and learn as a society that violence of any kind is deplorable, and that violence against women is unacceptable. Allowing domestic violence to go unpunished is our failure as a society to protect the vulnerable and empower the morally corrupt.