November 25 is a watershed occasion in Australia and Worldwide, with White Ribbon day being marked as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Fantastic effort, or is it?
I don't intend to, nor can I speak for the entire world but since when did we need a $100 million and the PM to tell us that violence against women is not ok? As much as I believe in the power of humans standing together, I can't help but feel a hint of sadness that, a white ribbon and plenty of media is what it takes for the world to truly understand the damage that violence adjacent women is doing to our society. The doubt I'm constantly plagued with, is where did we go wrong? Where did this all come undone?
PM Turnbull hit the nail on the head when he said the answer to this issue lies with us, as men. When our sons see their mothers being respected, they in turn will respect their sisters. My first thought to that, brilliant, absolutely crucial point that we all need to realise. Then the cynic in me says, what does that actually mean? I don't by any means intend to offend or debunk this amazing cause (which I wholeheartedly support), but what does this campaign quantify in? As a husband, brother and uncle, do I feel reassured that this campaign will ensure I don't open the paper tomorrow and read about another Tara Brown, Karina Lock, Kiralee Dugo or Kerry Michael? These are just the women who succumbed to their nightmare. What about the thousands who continue to suffer through their living hell everyday? Will a white ribbon and $100 million truly repair the damage that their experiences have caused, or even the hell their children live through?
I'm no politician, hell I'm not even an intellect, I am a regular bloke with an opinion and a lot of latent anger at how women continue to be treated! I most definitely am a very very proud family man. A husband who prides himself on treating his wife with the utmost respect so one day my children learn from me what I did from my father. A sibling, who is blessed with 3 goddesses for sisters-in-law, who have forged amazing careers whilst being fantastic wives and mothers. My 3 absolutely stunning nieces, who are beautiful, intelligent and stronger human beings than I could have even imagined (just like their mums I hear my sisters say) and the three nephews to boot who grow up to be kinder and more gentle than I could ask.
I constantly wonder what kind of society are these kids growing up in? One that needs a tonne of media coverage and hundreds of millions of dollars to tell them something is wrong or the kind where intolerance towards women, let alone violence is dealt with swiftly and unabashedly by our governments and law enforcement. I always hope that these girls grow up to be intelligent, brave and righteous women, as their mothers, aunts and grandmothers before them. I pray that they encounter men, much like my nephews and brothers, kind, gentle and unwavering in their morals. That these boys grow up to be sheepdogs, blessed with a never-ending need to protect the flock, is my greatest hope. For it is in the sheepdog, that we put our greatest faith in fighting and defeating the wolves amongst us, the wolves who prey on women and continue destroying their faith in humanity as they continue living through their own hell.
My sincerest hope for White Ribbon Day, is that it brings about the change that we so desperate need in society. What I would love to see is our lawmakers get behind this wonderful cause by providing more than lip service. We don't hesitate to implement a mandatory minimum sentence for certain crimes, so why is violence against women any different? Throw the book at these scumbags, they don't deserve the freedom or leniency that they are currently being afforded. Our lawmakers have the ability to make White Ribbon Day a true testament to the respect women worldwide deserve. The true mark of an Alpha Male, is his ability to stand up against injustice, against violence and against the ill treatment of his fellow human. An alpha will always protect the downtrodden and the beleaguered. That is the mark of a true alpha, not your tattoos, your bravado or your physique.
You think you're an alpha, stop and think what kind of man you are to the women around you.
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