Posted by Scott on April 30th, 2007 — Posted in News
Kait8.com recently reported on Joey Perry’s self-defense class. I include an excerpt:
Joey Perry teaches a free women’s self-defense class on the last Thursday of every month. He covers the basics such as knowing where and how to strike an attacker and shows you defense techniques even small women can use.
“Anyone can learn to protect themselves. As long as they have the right training and they practice they can do the moves just like anyone twice their size. It’s all about leverage and knowing where to strike.”
Read entire article on kait8.com.
I do advise people, especially small women, to learn self-defense so they can do the best they can to protect themselves. However, I doubt any self-defense training can prepare a small woman to win a fight against an aggressive man twice her size. Of course, like us all, she can learn to avoid getting attacked in the first place. Learning to avoid dangerous situations in the first place protects a person more than learning how to get out of such situations.
Also, I just want to commend Joey Perry for not only teaching a class, but doing it free.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 29th, 2007 — Posted in Self-Defense Advice
Lindsay Veremis recently wrote about safety tips to decrease risk of abduction. I include an excerpt:
When it comes to reducing your risk of abduction, police officers say say the most important thing is prevention.
Decreasing your risk with common sense practices like traveling in pairs at night, or letting someone know where you’re going if you plan on traveling alone.
[…]
Defense experts say protection starts with your demeanor, many aggressors will back off if you maintain eye contact and walk with confidence. But, if they do attack, experts say you shouldn’t stay and fight, do everything you can to get away.
“A lot of the self defense techniques that you learn are the release and run techniques so there’s really no glory in standing and fighting against somebody that’s trying to attack you,” Thyssen said.
Read entire article by Lindsay Veremis.
I guess “defense experts” mean, train to use self-defense moves that will incapacitate an attacker long enough and effectively enough for you to run away to safety. I agree with that. Don’t make your end goal to cause the attacker paid, get revenge or so forth. Make your end goal to get away ; make everything you do a means to that end.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 28th, 2007 — Posted in Politics & Commentary
In a recent commentary, Jonathan Freedman says that TV violence does not cause real violence. I include an excerpt:
It is unfortunate that the Federal Communications Commission has recently concluded that exposure to media violence increases aggression. Despite what the report says, the scientific evidence does not support the hypothesis that exposure to media violence causes people to be aggressive. This was true in 1984 when I published my first review of this literature; it was true in 2002 when I published my comprehensive review of the research; and it is true now. Those who propose that media violence causes aggression have greatly overstated the results of the research, and have generally ignored findings that contradict their views.
[…]
To summarize: The FCC report is not based on a thorough, objective review of the scientific research. It has reached conclusions that may be politically expedient but are not justified by the scientific research. The fact is simple: there is no convincing evidence that exposure to any form of media violence causes people to become more aggressive and none at all that it causes them to commit violent crimes.
Read entire commentary by Jonathan Freedman.
I find it easy to believe, because violent crime existed long before media. We do not copy violence in the media. Rather, the media copies the violence in us.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 26th, 2007 — Posted in Self-Defense Advice
49 News reported on self-defense tips from police:
Chuck Haggard and Kristen Hren with the Defensive Tactic Department of the Topeka Police Department visited with 49 News about ways to keep from being attacked.
Situation awareness is key, Haggard said.
“One of the most important things is having your attention where it needs to be,” he said. “A lot of times when one is walking through a parking lot your distracted by your cell phone, you’re doing something else.”
Those activities sends a body language message to a perpetrator that you are not paying attention to your environment, which would make you an easier victim, he said.
The correct approach is to walk assertively by scanning your surroundings and having your keys ready.
“That’s going to send body language that you’re prepared, you’re looking out for yourself,” he said.
Haggard said some people can be too polite, which can lead to dangerous situations.
“If you offend a guy by not getting on an elevator, then so be it,” he said. “You don’t want to polite yourself into being a victim.”
Read entire article on 49abcnews.com.
There’s also a video that shows some defense moves for actual physical defense.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 24th, 2007 — Posted in Politics & Commentary
Shane VerPlanck recently wrote an article about victim-assistance. I include an excerpt:
Do you know someone who has been a victim of crime in the recent past? Chances are you do, and that crime victim might have been you or a close family member. The results of that crime could have had tragic and lifelong consequences.
Did you receive help from your state victims’ compensation fund to help with expenses you may have had as a result of a violent crime? If there was an arrest and prosecution in your case, were you notified about dates involving the defendant’s prosecution and did you have a chance to file a victim impact statement with the court before sentencing? Did the court order that the defendant pay restitution for your losses associated with the crime?
The answer to each of these questions should be yes, especially considering the many legislative advances that crime victims have achieved and the powerful state and federal laws that have enhanced victims’ services throughout the country. But the simple fact is that we don’t serve “every victim, every time.” If we are to come closer to meeting that goal, each American must do his or her part.
Read entire article by Shane VerPlanck.
In the article, Shane always offers many suggestions on ways for private citizens to help victims. Namely, we can volunteer at various organizations that provide assistance to victims or we can personally help hidden victims around us.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 23rd, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
Aarti Natarajan recently wrote an article about domestic violence. I include an excerpt:
Domestic violence is a universal evil. It dwells deep in many households across the world. Millions of women live under the dark shadows of domestic everyday. It is high time we wake up and raise our voice against this crime.
Why this need to cower and meekly accept whatever is dished out? Isn’t it high time we raised our voice against an evil that is eating away at the roots of our existence? What good is a bill passed against domestic violence when there is no one to implement it?
It took ten years for my mother to shake herself free from the shackles of daily violence. I implore you all; don’t let it take you that long. There is no crime worse than an infliction of violence on the woman you once promised to love, protect and cherish. This atrocity needs to be stopped. Stop it now, before you become the next victim.
Read entire article by Aarti Natarajan.
I agree with Aarti Natarajan. Let’s put an end to domestic violence. We need to not only support legislative bills against domestic violence, but also we need to take action ourselves.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 22nd, 2007 — Posted in School Safety
In addition to supporting those who have been affected by the massacre at Virgina Tech, we need to find ways to prevent future school slayings. To that end, I have included some facts about school slayings.
The U.S. Secret Service, in their ground-breaking report, “Safe School Initiative,” produced in the aftermath of Columbine, determined the following 10 findings that perhaps can provide crucial insights about preventing possible future acts of school violence:
Incidents of targeted violence at school rarely are sudden, impulsive acts.
Prior to most incidents, other people knew about the attacker’s idea and/or plan to attack.
Most attackers did not threaten their targets directly prior to advancing the attack.
There is no accurate or useful profile of students who engaged in targeted school violence.
Most attackers engaged in some behavior prior to the incident that caused others concern or indicated a need for help.
Most attackers had difficulty coping with significant losses or personal failures. Moreover, many had considered or attempted suicide.
Many attackers felt bullied, persecuted or injured by others prior to the attack.
Most attackers had access to and had used weapons prior to the attack.
In many cases, other students were involved in some capacity.
Despite prompt law enforcement responses, most shooting incidents were stopped by means other than law enforcement intervention.
For more information on this comprehensive school safety report, go to www.secretservice.gov.
In addition, the National School Safety Center (NSSC) has come up with a perceptive checklist of the common characteristics of youths, based on past school violence incidents, which may indicate a young person’s potential for harming themselves or others:
Has a history of tantrums and uncontrollable angry outbursts.
Characteristically resorts to name calling, cursing or abusive language.
Habitually makes violent threats when angry.
Has previously brought a weapon to school.
Has a background of serious disciplinary problems at school and in the community.
Has a background of drug, alcohol or other substance abuse or dependency.
Is on the fringe of his/her peer group with few or no close friends.
Is preoccupied with weapons, explosives or other incendiary devices.
Has previously been truant, suspended or expelled from school.
Displays cruelty to animals. *** Has little or no supervision and support from parents or a caring adult.
Has witnessed or been a victim of abuse or neglect in the home.
Has been bullied and/or bullies or intimidates peers or younger children.
Tends to blame others for difficulties and problems s/he causes her/himself.
Consistently prefers TV shows, movies or music expressing violent themes and acts.
Prefers reading materials dealing with violent themes, rituals and abuse.
Reflects anger, frustration and the dark side of life in school essays or writing projects.
Is involved with a gang or an antisocial group on the fringe of peer acceptance.
Is often depressed and/or has significant mood swings.
Has threatened or attempted suicide.
For more information on this NSSC checklist, go to www.schoolsafety.us.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 20th, 2007 — Posted in School Safety
The AP reports on violence prevention tips offered by Kansas State:
Kansas State University is passing on tips to everyone so another incident like Virginia Tech doesn’t happen again.
They say the first thing you can do is pay attention to the people around you.
Learning to recognize calls for help like changes in behavior is important.
Second- institutions must have a plan of action that includes safety and communications.
And third- take action.
If you see a problem address it or tell someone who can so the person can get the help they need.
It all seems so common-sense, but unfortunately we continue to see seemingly preventable incidents like this happen. Why?
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 18th, 2007 — Posted in Guns
In a recent opinion article, Jonathan Zimmerman suggests that in the wake of the most recent American massacre we declare a National Day of Mourning and Reflection on Violence in America. I include an excerpt:
It’s hard to know why a specific killer acted in the way he did. Rather than focusing narrowly upon this awful event, then, we should declare a National Day of Mourning and Reflection on Violence in America. Besides memorializing the dead, at Virginia Tech and elsewhere, this annual federal holiday would also seek to spark a national conversation about Americans as a people: who we are, and who we would like to become.
Why, we should ask, are the gunmen in school massacres almost always male? What does that tell us about the ways we socialize boys in America? About relations between the sexes? About the relationship between violence and manhood?
Second, why are most of these gunmen also white? (Yes, reports indicate the Virginia Tech gunman was Asian; but almost every other mass shooter has been white.) Black and Latino boys commit plenty of violence in school, of course, but they’re more likely to assault an individual whom they know. White shooters more often kill en masse and randomly: They’re aiming for high body counts, not for a particular target. Why?
Third, why do so many American men – and, increasingly, many American women – own guns? Between 40 percent and 50 percent of American households own a gun, one of the highest percentages in the Western world. We can and should debate the best ways to regulate guns, but we simply cannot deny their prevalence in our society. And even though Virginia Tech was nominally a “gun-free zone,” the shooter had no trouble bringing weapons there. Why do so many Americans own guns? Which Americans choose to purchase them? And how do guns influence the nature of violence in America?
Fourth, what messages do our various mass media transmit about men, women, and violence? In the recent imbroglio over racist comments by Don Imus, many commentators observed – correctly – that similarly bigoted language suffuses America’s mainstream media. But US airwaves are saturated with violence, too, ranging from shoot’em-up movies to rape and torture. And most of this on-screen violence is committed by men, as well. I’m not saying that the mass media cause violent behavior, because we can’t be sure of that. But these images do make violence more “normal” and acceptable in US society. And that can’t be a good thing.
Last, and most important, what can we do to change? How, as a nation, can we become less violent? Is it even possible?
Read entire article by Jonathan Zimmerman.
I don’t know if he meant it facetiously or not, but regardless I support the idea of a National Day of Mourning and Reflection on Violence in America. Only by thinking and discussing these horrors can we create an effective plan to reduce them.
The problem goes beyond gun laws. No amount of increasing or reducing gun restrictions can save students from these horrific attacks.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 17th, 2007 — Posted in TBTN
Christy Johnson recently wrote about a rally to raise violence awareness in Ohio. I include an excerpt:
The struggle to end domestic violence and rape led students, faculty and community members to the 3rd annual “Take Back the Night” rally and march Saturday.
Approximately 100 men and women headed to the lawn near University Hall to listen to musicians and speakers and share personal stories about domestic violence.
Domestic violence and rape is becoming increasingly more prevalent in America, where one out of every six women experiences sexual assault, and one out of every four women will face some sort of domestic violence during her lifetime.
Read entire article by Christy Johnson.
It makes me happy to hear of all those people standing up and protesting violence. However, it makes me sad that we have violence to protest. We need to keep standing up against offensive violence and keep working harder to end it until we have eradicated it from the world.
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Posted by Scott on April 16th, 2007 — Posted in Domestic Abuse
Katie Mead recently wrote an article for Prevention of Violence Against Women Week (April 22–28). I include an excerpt:
When a woman is abused and her children see it (whether it be emotional, sexual, financial or physical abuse), they are also victims of violence. When we talk about Prevention of Violence Against Women, we need to expand the definition to include their children. We must continue to focus on interrupting the inter-generational cycle of violence — children learn to accept violence as a way of life and abusers are made, not born.
Everybody deserves to live a life free of violence; everyone deserves the chance to reach their own potential and to contribute fully to their family and their society (from the provincial declaration re: Violence Prevention Week). The United Nations recognizes this as an inalienable human right — we must work together to ensure that right is a reality for all.
Prevention of Violence Against Women Week is as relevant now as it was when it was created. Organizations like SOWINS will continue to work with women and children to heal and counteract the effects of violence. As a society, we need to work together to stop violence from happening in the first place. We must insist that violence prevention remain a societal initiative and that resources for all involved, including abusers, exist. We must demand that education and public awareness campaigns continue until this issue is brought into the light and the traditional stigma of shame has been eradicated. If we all have the courage to look at issues of violence, listen to the women and the children who have experienced it and refuse to accept violence as ‘normal’, we can be part of a solution. Dealing with the after-effects of violence is crucial, but prevention is the key to a society without domestic violence.
Read entire article by Katie Mead.
Although she refers to some local events (in Canada), the article by Katie Mead contains some valuable information and an important call to end violence against women.
We no longer live in the cave man days. I believe we have the resources as a society to eliminate the systemic prevalence of violence against women. We can end rape. We can end domestic violence. We can do it.
As suggested in the article above, we need to not only provide care and treatment for the victims and perpetrates of these violent acts, but also we need to prevent violence from happening in the first place by such methods as raising awareness, teaching self-defense, and staying alert.
What do you think?
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Posted by Scott on April 15th, 2007 — Posted in Workplace Violence
Although a person can avoid exceptionally dangerous situations, they cannot feasibly avoid work. You do not need to live in fear, but workplace violence does exist. Luckily, Eilene Zimmerman recently answered questions about danger signals at work and how to handle them. She answered 6 questions. I quote one of them here:
Q. What indicates that a colleague might become violent?
A. The most common red flag is unusual behavior. Examples may include an outgoing colleague who suddenly becomes withdrawn and angry, or a normally quiet, easygoing worker who is now outspoken and overexcited. Personal trauma — a financial loss or a death in the family — can also push someone to the edge, as can substance abuse.
Employees often recall these kinds of signals only after violence has occurred. “They will describe the co-worker in terms like ‘ticking time bomb,’ ” even though they did nothing about it, said Jerald Jellison, a professor of social psychology at the University of Southern California who specializes in interpersonal relations.
Read entire Q&A by Eilene Zimmerman.
What do you think?
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