Chris Brown Apologizes on Video for Rihanna Assault. Sincere?

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DISTURBIA: Rihanna and Chris Brown Prove Domestic Abuse Knows No Boundaries…

Author: Brianna Popsickle

I was shocked when it was reported that pop star Rihanna had been physically assaulted by boyfriend and fellow celebrity singer, Chris Brown. I listened to the 911 calls and like everyone, was sickened by the photos of her injuries splashed all over the Internet.

Shock turned to sadness and disappointment, however, when I heard she had reunited with Brown, despite the experts telling her if he hit you once, he’ll hit you again.

I’m not only sad for Rihanna, but for the millions of young girls who idolize her as a role model. What does this tell them? Violence against women is OK?

If anything good can come from such a tragic situation it is that once again, domestic abuse will come to the forefront. Oprah Winfrey has already aired a program for all the ‘Rhiannas’ out there who are in an abusive relationship and don’t know where to turn for help. It’s something we think will never happen to us or our daughters and sisters, until it does.

I don’t have to look far to see the affects of domestic abuse on the average family. Our friend’s daughter dropped out of university because she was being beaten and terrorized by her live in boyfriend. Another family almost lost their daughter when she was strangled and left for dead by an ex-boyfriend, who then committed suicide. I know a woman who is currently stashing money away to eventually make her escape, after enduring years of mental abuse at the hands of her husband. He is a hard working, church-going man. No one would suspect what goes on behind closed doors.

The statistics are staggering. The American Institute on Domestic Violence says:

• 85-95% of all domestic violence victims are female.
• Over 500,000 women are stalked by an intimate partner each year.
• 5.3 million women are abused each year.
• 1,232 women are killed each year by an intimate partner.
• Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.

These facts, and the fact that one half of wife-beaters also regularly assault and abuse their children, is even more reason for everyone to become involved. Children that are abused often become abusive parents. We need to break the cycle.

If someone you know exhibits signs of abuse, as listed below, get involved! Imagine if it was happening to your daughter or sister, wouldn’t you want someone to reach out to them?

o Frequent injuries, often explained away as ‘accidents’

o Frequent and sudden absences from work or school

o Frequent harassing phone calls from the partner

o Fear of the partner, references to the partner’s anger

o Personality changes (outgoing person becomes withdrawn)

o Excessive fear of conflict

o Submissive behavior, lack of assertiveness

o Isolation from friends and family

o Insufficient resources to live

o Depression, crying, low self-esteem

Reporting domestic abuse is a start but you can take it a step further by volunteering with a telephone help-line or a shelter for abused women and children in your area. At the very least, consider donating items they are in need of to start a new life.

Although women and children are most frequently the victims in domestic abuse cases, men are victims too. I know of a woman who ridicules her husband constantly and has been known to throw things at him. Because the offender is a woman, we tend to shrug it off. Men are less likely to report abuse because of the stigma attached, making it more difficult to gather statistics on male abuse.

Although we’ve seen that justice does not always prevail (OJ Simpson comes to mind), reporting our suspicions of abuse to police is important. Urge your local government officials to fight for funding of organizations established to help women escape abusive relationships and regain their independence.

As shocking as the Rihanna case is, it reminds us that domestic abuse knows no boundaries and could very well be happening to someone you know. I think the single most important thing we can do is to offer our support and understanding to victims. It’s very easy to think we know what we would do in their situation, but you really can’t know until you walk in their shoes.

About the Author:

Observations and reflections on life, and the people around me; written as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, neighbour, co-worker, or whatever else anyone needs me to be.

Artist. Writer. Woman. – Struggling to re-appear after years of confinement in a suburban prison.

http://www.screambucket.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – DISTURBIA: Rihanna and Chris Brown Prove Domestic Abuse Knows No Boundaries…

Would you vote Palin for President?

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Why Sarah Palin is Not Bipolar

Author: Sarah Freeman

In what has been a strikingly bitter and divisive US election campaign, one of the most distasteful forms of personal attack has been left-wing bloggers labeling VP candidate Sarah Palin as bipolar. These commentators apparently believe it is possible to diagnose Governor Palin as a closet sufferer of manic-depressive illness, without ever having met her or going through a formal diagnostic process. Bipolar is actually a specific medical term and the criteria for bipolar is set forth in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).

For those of us who do have bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness), or who advocate on behalf of the bipolar community, this is a disturbing development that epitomizes the extent to which bipolar has become synonymous with bad behavior. Increasingly, lay people feel free to sling the term bipolar around as a pejorative, and seem to believe they have, through pop culture osmosis, become experts on this very complex illness. The term bipolar has become contemporary cultural shorthand for anything we interpret as extreme or obnoxious in light of our own personal belief system.

In reality, bipolar is a spectrum of mood disorders, characterized by mood swings between mania and depression.

The symptoms of mania include excessive risk taking, hypersexuality, reckless financial spending, gambling or investments, and incoherently rapid and disjointed speech. Another common bipolar symptom is grandiosity, a grossly inflated sense of one’s abilities and entitlements.

The bipolar community has disproportionately high rates of marriage breakdown, financial problems, substance abuse, obesity, and career under-achievement. During depressive phases, bipolar people may become withdrawn, unmotivated, despairing, or even suicidal.

Governor Palin has a very happy and successful marriage, her personal finances have been scrutinized and found above reproach through the VP vetting process, she has maintained a successful career, and does not abuse alcohol or drugs. Instead of grandiosity, Palin drives herself to work, listed the Governor’s jet on e-Bay, and dispensed with an executive chef. Like many Alaskans, she does use a tanning bed during the long dark winters to fend off vitamin deficiencies and Seasonally Affective Disorder (SAD), a far cry from clinical depression.

Of course, not all Americans are pro-life feminists like Sarah Palin. Some voters disagree strongly with her on the important issues of the day, and will choose to support her opponents instead. It should be possible to go through this process without further caricaturing sufferers of manic-depressive illness. Invoking the specter of mental health disorders to denigrate individuals with a different political perspective is ignorant, hurtful, and childish.

Governor Palin is a hard working, high functioning politician, with views some do not share. Labeling her bipolar in order to express ideological disapproval is taking a medical term already overloaded with cultural baggage, and using it to further marginalize millions of fellow citizens who bravely struggle against this misunderstood disease every day, and who are already subject to a heavy burden of stigma and ignorance.

About the Author:
To learn more, see Bipolar Symptoms. Sarah Freeman is an attorney with manic-depressive illness, and webmaster of Bipolar Lives – one of the Internet’s leading sites on bipolar disorder.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Why Sarah Palin is Not Bipolar

Do you think Michael meant to overdose?

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Michael Jackson Controversies Wont Bring Down His Fame

Author: Gen Wright
When people first heard about controversies surrounding Michael, they straight rightly said the King of Pop was finally out and finished. He has navigated and lived through these tough situations even though is seemed he wont come out. The court battles involving the two boys, the many concerts organized and failed to attend and all other nasty experiences underwent, he would already be out.

From the look of things, Michael is a down to dusk fellow who loves his work and the best for his supporters. When an opportunity comes, he does his thing good which is the thing that commands huge following. The number of supporters, admirers and advisors are just magnificent, give the best he needs. The number of fans who bought tickets at one concert in one of his performances was 350,000 and the shows organized in 2002 alone were 10 with others not account for, as per the New York Times.

In the life of pop music, he is the father of all. His music has electrified fans world over. The hit songs like, I’ll be there, shake your body, ABC and others can’t just be bygone this time. They will always linker in the fans ears for long.

The passion, happiness love associated that come with his songs are just wonderful.

Following his long carrier which begun as a young 11 year old in the Jackson 5, he has gotten so much wealth that its marvelous to think how his controversies will basically bring down his fame. The investment in Hong Kong, the mansions in the U.S make him the idol many people can emulate.

Michael Jackson has a well established performers that are guitarists, dancers and singers who put live in his music hence the band. His performers are just good that his legacy will not end any time soon.

Just as any other musician can, Michael Jackson has done several collaborations with the like of musicians like Britney Spears, Billie Jean and Paul Mccartney both of which have indeed excelled in the industry of pop. And the recent publicized collaboration with Akon and the likes is good for his music. Whatever the case controversies are part of carrier development and Michael is no exemption.

The carrier of Michael Jackson has seen him sell more than seven hundred million albums all over the world. This is the milestone in his industry. For any artist, wooing the followers is the most important thing to do because of the finances and moral support you get from them. The numbers of copies sold speak loud and as earlier put he is to live on for a good time.

The comeback of Michael Jackson the legend is totally awaited with a lot of anticipation for the love of his music. He does thing in a different way. His works are like myth to many who yearn to know his way of singing. It’s automatic he is coming back and this time with a bang. With surety Michael Jackson controversies won’t bring down his fame.

About the Author:

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Michael Jackson Controversies Wont Bring Down His Fame