Police Calls for Domestic Threats

I was one of those women who were abused. It went on for 12 years. People asked why did you stay? Did you like it? The answer is no I didn’t like it, but I felt like I had no other choice. With three small children, no skills and no one I could turn to, not once in 12 years did I call the police.

You have no self-worth, you just accept that’s the way your life will always be. Even if you are one of the lucky ones who get out and survive, the emotional scars will be with you the rest of your life.

No one wants to take responsibility. But it is everyone’s responsibility to educate our children that this is wrong. In our schools we have sex education and drug classes. Why not have classes dealing with family violence? We have to ask ourselves why is there so much violence? Babies are not born violent. They are taught. The first lesson is when Dad starts hitting Mom.

My heart goes out to Maria Navarro’s family. If only someone would have cared enough. Why does it always take a tragedy before anything is done?

BETTY ANDREWS

West Hills