Letters
Feeback from our readers on articles in the last issue of Catalyst (Spring/Summer 2006)
Lawyers have it right
Re: Legal Briefs I have to agree with Poroshad Madhi that we should be educating young women in high school [to prevent domestic violence]. Especially because, as she states, "...a lot of women go into marriage thinking this is a wonderful ideal."
The myths and fairy tales of Cinderella and 'happily ever after' are being marketed at our girls from an even younger age these days further strengthening the "wonderful marriage" myth. With unrealistic ideals like this, many marriages are doomed before they even begin, with or without the element of violence.
We also need to give them coping tools for when the 'honeymoon is over' and the realities of a day to day relationship sets in. Even in a best case scenario that has no violence, as Judith Holzman states, “Marriages can be wonderful, but they take a lot of work."
Young women need to be taught what is, and is not, acceptable behavior
when there is discord in a relationship, and given information
about when and where to get the help that they require if they
need it.
L. Whiteside, Toronto
Right idea; wrong weight
Re: Getting to the Source: Can we uproot the causes of violence? Thank-you for bringing to mind one of the most important questions facing our society today: why are we so violent?
I agree that the factors listed – The Gap Between Rich and Poor, Social Environment and Family Structure – are among the leading contributors to an increasingly violent society. However, I believe that you have unintentionally assigned them inappropriate weights. Allow me to explain…
Out of 1147 words in your article, 364 (32%) discuss The Gap Between Rich and Poor and only 210 (18%) discuss Family Structure. Though it may not have been your intent, this imbalance highlights a major reason we can’t solve the violence issue – we spend the majority of our time blaming external factors and very little time looking at our own roles in this problem.
The fact is, people do as people learn. Being that the family is
the first and primary learning environment for us all, this should
be the most strongly weighted – and considered – factor affecting
violent behaviour. Once we all start recognizing – and reducing – the ways
we teach and condone violence in our own family life, we will see a significant
reduction in violent behaviour society-wide.
Joseph Palko, Sarnia
Give community outreach emphasis
Re: Talkin’ ‘bout my Generation Congratulations on another great issue.
I was particularly interested in the article entitled "Talkin' 'bout my Generation". It seems that every time there is a sensational incident of youth violence reported in the media, we hear calls from local politicians for increased police budgets, stiffer sentencing and more prisons. Yet none of these things have ever helped to solve the problem of youth violence. We need money for more comprehensive community outreach programs. If youths are not shown that there are alternatives to violence then the chances of them breaking out of that vicious cycle are very, very slim.
Study after study has show that local community programs significantly reduce youth violence. But still politicians seem determined to spend taxpayers' money on treating the symptoms instead of working towards a cure. Nice to see that there are young people out there like Craig Fortier and Kimani La Qua who seem to understand this simple concept.
Too bad our "older and wiser" politicians still don't seem to get it.
Sincerely,
David Berger, Toronto
Childcare is an investment
Re: 4 Big Ideas As an Early Childhood Educator,
I must thank you for pointing out in your Spring 2006 issue that
a National Childcare Plan is and should be the number one tool
for getting at the roots of violence in Canada today. Providing
each child with the opportunity to reach their fullest potential is an investment
in Canada's future that we can't afford not to make.
Terry Gardiner, Toronto
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