A) It is about time B) It should never have been time

Part A)

On March 23rd Dallas is having an event against domestic violence. It will be downtown at 10AM. Dale Hansen one of the local sports broadcasters has already done an unplug on the ten o'clock news for it and I doubt my post will match what he did. I am somewhat curious about this event and wondering what it will accomplish. It needs to accomplish much.

You always hear that domestic violence is a hidden epidemic etc, but we never do anything about it as a society. And yes we all know it exists. Everyone can attest to it being a problem, but where do we ever take a stand. I don't want to take anything away from the Mayor, who is organizing this event, but again I am curious as to what will follow. There is always some talk about doing something against domestic violence, but we still have it, it is still a major problem, and no one has any answers so far.

And as a society we are a bit hypocritical. For example, you can read the posts on news websites and every time there is an article on the mideast the posts go on and on about how bad Islam is and that they treat their women like crap, and in many cases some of the people there do. Yet we talk and don't do anything about our own problem of the way women and children are treated here. Domestic violence is a serious problem, yet we can criticize others, but never clean our own house.

And in our own society, we have such talk as family values, and people preaching this and that, but even religion lets us down. Or so it may seem. I really want to separate what people call being religious and people truly respecting life. And yes this means more than being pro life as a political agenda. Some people make the talk, and make much noise about family values, but do they really live it. I do have a problem with some so called religious people who turn what should be something wonderful or something worth fighting for into a political agenda for their own gain. Yet if we truly had strong families, a true family value culture that would be one of the best ways to combat domestic violence. Whether you are God believing or God ignoring you have to realize that the fall of strong families is actually hurting our society. True, domestic violence has always existed, but where you do develop strong families where parents teach their children to respect others, to appreciate and cherish each other, you don't see domestic violence.

It is not just about saying gentlemen don't hit ladies or children, it is about true respect of life from conception to grave. We need to learn to understand the difference between people who talk about something and those that actually live what is right. You may not like someone saying family values is a good thing because it is a beaten up term by some people politically, but truth be told we need more people going back to strong families to help our country become strong again.

So if you get the chance come out March 23rd and see what happens, hopefully it will be a good beginning. To continue though it will mean we, as individuals in the society getting involved, not politically, but back to the basics. Recognize and stand up to domestic violence, yes this may mean calling the police or other social agencies, but it may need to be done. Domestic violence is much more than statistics because many victims are held back by fear and the stigma of it. We cannot hide behind,well that person didn't meant to do it, it was just that one time, they are basically good, etc, no we have to face facts, maybe face people we know, but we have to face it. Domestic violence is getting worse and the more we let the respect for others fade from our society, the more domestic violence and similar crimes etc will grow.

You may say you don't believe in God, or laugh at religion etc, but what does it say about you if you turn your back on your fellow man, especially when that fellow man is a 5 foot woman being beaten by a 200lb man or a defenseless small child dying due to neglect. Or what if you say you believe in God, but where are you when it is time to supply the shelters, support the people who combat this in an underpaid job, or make excuses because the perpetrator says they believe in God, too. Believe me, they really don't believe in God.

As I tell the kids, whenever you see an unselfish act of love, you see God. And conversely whenever you see an act of disrespect of human life, you see evil.

Part B)

Okay fast food chains, have just gone way overboard. Yes, it is Lent, but some of the fast food seafood creations need to be trashed, yes literally trashed. Please don't support this garbage, especially since they are trying to please an audience that should be thinking more of why they are suppose to eat seafood, what real sacrifice is suppose to mean, not get advertised garbage to supposedly meet their requirements during a time of reflection,contemplation, and sacrifice.

And if you don't believe me that this is a dog and pony show for Catholics watch how fast these products and ads die down Easter week.