Sad little article

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Guns, the great equalizer.

Actually, I'm taking a technology management class towards my MS and we just read an article about the 15 greatest innovations of all time. The author listed weapons as the greatest innovation of all time. His logic was that weapons allow for a stable environment in which more progress can occur. Without them, chaos reigns.

This is absolutely true. Nearly every (I should say "every") major technological jump was preceeded by a major advance in weapons. The Rennisance was preceded by firearms. Each advance in weapons allowed a larger number of men to be used for technology and other work and less for warfare, until today when we can send a missile through a window in Baghdad (without touching the window frame) by one guy pushing a button in Missouri. Our military is by far the smallest per capita it has ever been and yet they are capable of beginning and ending a war in 4 days. At the same time, warfare has advanced our civilization many fold. At the beginning of WW2 we had bi-planes...at the end we had jets and viable air travel for civilians. We had microwave ovens, potable radios, etc.

Even advancements in medicine (pennicillin and clean water to drink) can be tied driectly either to weapons or warfare.

[slim 1,530]

Our military is by far the smallest per capita it has ever been and yet they are capable of beginning and ending a war in 4 days.

We can start it....

Ending it is quite a different story since we're now so light on manpower. Boots on the ground will always be required to end wars.

We had microwave ovens,

Custom kitchen deliverieeeeeeeeeeeiiieeeeeeees... we've got some movies... refrigerators. We've got some movies... color Teeeeveeeeeeeeees.

[chili74 0]

This entire discussion ignores the economic situation of many of these families. The fact is that often, a woman has no place to go and cannot make it financially on her own with children. If she changes cities, she has no propiska to get an apt and job there (assuming she can afford to leave) her city.

We know a woman who would call the police when beaten, they would say, 'ok, we can put your husband in jail' and she'd withdraw her complaint because without him, she could not make ends meet. I don't think musing about psychological dependence is as relevant here as other factors. It's a lot simpler.

[slim 1,530]

she'd withdraw her complaint because without him, she could not make ends meet.

Dependence is dependence.

[chili74 0]

Dependence is dependence.

Right. Some of the posts here suggested she was at fault for staying with her abuser. Sadly, of course, a poor choice probably was made early on in the relationship and then finances make it hard for her to leave.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

There is an old Belarusian saying that goes something like this; "If you hit your woman with a big enough hammer, she will turn into gold."

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

This entire discussion ignores the economic situation of many of these families. The fact is that often, a woman has no place to go and cannot make it financially on her own with children. If she changes cities, she has no propiska to get an apt and job there (assuming she can afford to leave) her city.

We know a woman who would call the police when beaten, they would say, 'ok, we can put your husband in jail' and she'd withdraw her complaint because without him, she could not make ends meet. I don't think musing about psychological dependence is as relevant here as other factors. It's a lot simpler.

That, and she knows that when her ol man gets out of jail, he's probably likely to beat her ####### twice as hard. Some posters on here would like to point out that the victim is asking to be beaten or even worse... because she didn't leave her abuser. But as you pointed out, it's not as easily done as it is said.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

There is an old Belarusian saying that goes something like this; "If you hit your woman with a big enough hammer, she will turn into gold."

It is often the "moral" of Russian "fairy tales"

[slim 1,530]

Some of the posts here suggested she was at fault for staying with her abuser.

That was me.

a poor choice probably was made early on in the relationship and then finances make it hard for her to leave.

Hard. Not impossible. It's never impossible.

That, and she knows that when her ol man gets out of jail, he's probably likely to beat her ####### twice as hard.

If she's stupid enough to be waiting t home for him...

Some posters on here would like to point out that the victim is asking to be beaten or even worse... because she didn't leave her abuser.

Me again.

But as you pointed out, it's not as easily done as it is said.

Sometimes life is hard. That's no reason to stay in an abusive relationship. There is no good reason... only excuses.

[baron555 934]

Most people are Followers and not Leaders. It takes work to be a Leader.

And most people are Sheep. They get lazy and complacent and when the Evil Wolf comes they don't know what to do.

That's when they want the Sheepdog to come and rescue them but usually they don't like the Sheepdog because he reminds them of the Wolf; he looks like him.

Some here will recognize the usual topic of discussion where this analogy and story is drawn from.

The same can be said of the Sheep's normal life; the Evil display Leadership qualities and they become automatic Followers. They become helpless.

[1HappyGuy 45]

That, and she knows that when her ol man gets out of jail, he's probably likely to beat her ####### twice as hard. Some posters on here would like to point out that the victim is asking to be beaten or even worse... because she didn't leave her abuser. But as you pointed out, it's not as easily done as it is said.

That was one of the points the article was trying to express, the fact that Russia has very few facilities for abused women and children. Staying in a home where you are beaten is compounded by the fact that these women are totally dependent upon their abusive husbands. So, in their minds, they have no choice but to stay and hope for the best.

What Slim is trying to say, is there is always alternatives if you are willing to take the chance or worse, if you truly fear for your life.

[slim 1,530]

They get lazy and complacent and when the Evil Wolf comes they don't know what to do.

Gary pointed it out quite well in the other post. Don't be in a position where you "have to be" a piglet's tail.

What Slim is trying to say, is there is always alternatives if you are willing to take the chance or worse, if you truly fear for your life.

That and there's no excuse for putting up with it. It is illegal (here and there), it is immoral, and it's just plain wrong. If you choose to put up with it... it's on nobody else but you.