Women Senators urge NFL to permanently dismiss any player who commits an act of domestic violence

Submitted by Mastodon on Thu, 2014-09-11 22:08

Article here. Excerpt:

'A group of 16 women senators penned a strongly worded letter to National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday demanding that the league permanently dismiss any player who commits an act of domestic violence."

The senators said they were "shocked and disgusted" that the NFL only suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for two games after learning that he had knocked his then-fiancée unconscious in an elevator. The league suspended Rice indefinitely on Monday, but only after graphic video footage of the abuse leaked to the public.
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But women's rights advocates say the probe does not go far enough to address the problem. Along with the senators' call for a zero-tolerance policy for domestic abusers in the NFL, the National Organization for Women is circulating a petition calling for Goodell to resign immediately.

"The NFL does not just have a Ray Rice problem, they have a violence against women problem," said Terry O'Neill, president of NOW. "NOW continues to ask for Roger Goodell to resign, and for his successor to appoint an independent investigator with full authority to gather factual data about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking within the entire NFL community -- not just regarding the Ray Rice incident -- and to recommend real and lasting reforms."'

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From A modern family law problem: False accusations of domestic violence:

'False accusations of domestic violence are, sadly enough, utilized as a tool to obtain legal advantages over a divorce/custody case. In many instances a divorcing parent, mostly women, will make a false accusation of domestic violence against the man to gain custody rights over their children and ruining the other parent's life in many ways. The alleged "aggressor" will be put in jail and have public records of domestic violence, potentially loosing custody of a child, losing a job, professional licenses, etc. In many cases Judges are reluctant to dismiss a restraining order risking that the accusation was rightful and thus leaving the accuser exposed to further abuse. Sometimes Judges not even allow the accusers to explain themselves and simply make a ruling by reading the "victim's" statement. Victims of "false accusations of domestic violence" have changed their life becoming miserably, in many cases, by losing their jobs, thus not being able to not only pay their bills, but also a court order child support, bringing them back to jail and into a cycle that is emotionally devastating to both the victim and his/her children.'

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Comments

Jumping on the Ray Rice bandwagon....

I knew it would not be long until a article mentioning Ray Rice would be posted. He is the NFL player shown in a video punching his fiance/wife in an elevator and then dragging her out while she is unconscious (at the time they were unmarried,now they are married). He has been suspended indefinitely from the league because of the incident.

I have an opinion about this. It is from being around pro black athletes (I used to be on an NBA dance team) and experiencing the back American culture. Some people might think I am racist, but acknowledging negative aspects in a culture is often the truth, not racism. Black people use physical reactions to control a situation more than other cultures, it is learned behavior. They are more likely to spank their children and so forth (notice that another black NFL player is making the news for spanking his 4 yo son with a belt). Some anthropologist suggest this was learned behavior spilled over from slavery when white masters controlled slaves with physical punishment.

I often say "birds of a feather flock together" It is highly likely that Rice's wife grew up in this same culture. She says she is embarrassed by the video, and that it shows them at their worst, she has gone on to say that they love each other very much. We also dont know what her part was in the situation. I am not suggesting she deserved to by knocked out, but we dont know the whole context. WHen people grow up in this type of environment, it becomes a part of their relationship (how they express anger or dissatisfication). Often the women also use physical means to express themselves.

They are a family with a young daughter. Taking away this mans ability to make a living, I think is the wrong approach. It is all for PR. If the NFL really cared they would keep him on the team and offer family counseling.

(to be continued.....)

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Submitted by Kris on Sun, 2014-09-14 01:35

Here's what I think about what I will call "cultural crimes" (this includes cultures which engage in circumcision, scarification of children, Chinese foot binding, parents or husbands involved in arranged underage marriage, extreme corporal punishment, etc). I think the persons who commit these crimes deserve some consideration as they were also probably victims of the culture. I believe all the things I mention should be criminalized, but I think if the person committing the crime should have a consequence that is less punitive and more rehabilitative. Teach them why the behavior is morally wrong and how it violates their victim and give them skills to replace the behavior. And because rice's wife is likely also part of this culture, I bet she has some behavior she needs to change as well as often physical altercations are a two-way interaction. Family counseling could help them a lot.

I know people will tell me that Ray Rice is intelligent and has exposure to other cultures to know this behavior is wrong. At one time I would have thought that too, but just like other criminal cultural practices, it just doesn't happen as fast (or as easily) as people outside the culture think it should.

I think the matter should be handled by the courts, not the NFL.

...And the NFL player who recently disciplined his son with his belt is Adrian Peterson. He says it is the same discipline he received as a child. He became and NFL player and is obviously a "family man". Lets not vilify these people, but offer them some help.

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Submitted by Kris on Sun, 2014-09-14 16:29