Lol It is kinda cute. I read myoath.com.au. All these wealthy capitalistic pigs patting themselves on the back for not being violent towards women while they feed off the riches of exploitation. It often makes me wonder if the guilt associated with gaining too much wealth for little talent or tangible contribution to society is behind these 3 minute poster causes. See I am a good person they scream. I wonder if they have a secretary to remind them each day what colour ribbon to wear.

I would respect Kevin Rudd if he said to his staff, go home and spend time with your families. I would respect Dicko if he apologised for the emotional violence he perpetrated against young contestants on the Idol show. I would respect Gerry Harvey if he apologised for seducing families into high interest rate debt that causes stress in marriages. I would respect Joe Hockey if he apologised on behalf of the liberal party for ending the egalitarian nature of Australia's workplace resulting in financial and work pressures in struggling families. I would respect David Koch if he put a sock in it. I would respect Hazram El Masri he if started a campaign for the rights of women within his own dysfunctional community.

Fighting for what is right takes a lot of courage and only a coward would choose the ribbon way out.

Missus that's a classic post. Seriously Inspiring.

Let them put their policies where their mouths are. Or make them tie a ribbon around their mouth until they can back it up with action themselves.

I proudly am a supporter of this day.
A former boss, today sent me his annual plea take the pledge.
I did he did years ago.
It took guts for him to stand and tell his blokey mates of a childhood watching his mum being bashed.
Yes women hit men too, but does that lessen the gutless act of wife bashing?
Would those who dislike this day, regardless of who supports it, change their minds if it was their daughter being bashed?
Yes its a crime from either sex and prison should follow but surely it remains a gutless act?

Belly

No I would not appreciate if it were my daughter.

I would appreciate if she suffered in the workplace she would feel the freedom to take action without causing her to be rejected for future job opportunities.

I would appreciate it if lawyers and the law were actually accessible and the process did not cause far worse emotional injury as it does atm.

I would appreciate that society treated people fairly and there was better wealth distribution so the factors that lead to violence and emotional distress were lessened.

Men are violent toward men as well, maybe moreso. If society addressed the cause rather than the symptoms hopefully far fewer people would suffer as the result of violent attacks. This is where the captains of industry and the politicians have a social contract. Oppression, suppression, exploitation, inequity all lead to social dysfunction.

And I would hope if a male worked up the "courage" to lecture my blokey husband on violence toward women my daughter would spit in their face. How judgemental can you get?

Thank you Houellebecq

Dear Antiseptic,

I came across this website that may be
of interest:

http://www.dadsontheair.net/doweignoreviolenceagainstmen/

According to the ABS Safety Survey it was found that
5.8% of females and 10.8% of males, 15 years plus
are subjected to threats of physical and sexual
abuse each year.

Therefore the White Ribbon Day tells only half the
story. As the website that I've cited here tells us:

"This annual spotlight on violence against women, while
extremely worthy, is ineffectual at reducing violence
because it emphasizes gender as the primary explanation
while downplaying a significant body of evidence
indicating that other factors are most likely involved.
Violence is prevalent amongst young people, and it is
usually linked to social disadvantage, drug and alcohol
abuse, mental health issues, and inadequate conflict
managment and affect regulation skills..."

Perhaps men's lobby groups could use White Ribbon Day
to also bring out their issues and concerns?
This is an opprtunity for them to speak out.
As the saying goes, "If life deals you lemons,
make lemonade."

Take this opportunity to let politicians know that all
victims of violence are entitled to support and
assistance whatever their gender.

Complaining about White Ribbon Day won't achieve
as much as actually doing something about it,
i.e. lobbying for change.

Like Yabby, I do support white ribbon day. I would like the anti-domestic violence message out there all the time.

For too many years, women and children have been victims in their own homes of violence perpetrated by a male (father, boyfriend or stepfather), and they have been left unaided by everyone else because it was considered no-one else's business. Men had the right to 'discipline' their 'possessions'.

Many men today are still unhappy that they have now legally lost this 'right' to do as they please to their family members.

Thankfully those situations are much less prevalent now. It has improved since police have been able to charge the abusers without their family members making an official complaint.

Yes, women do abuse children and men. No one has ever said they don't.
In the emergency wards I have worked on over the years, the women and children seemed to be admitted more often than the men after domestic violence.
Men came in after being bashed by other men - either from domestic violence or street violence of some sort.
Unless weapons were used, the women and children always came off second best from the men in their home.

If some people aren't happy with white ribbon day's message and would like a day to spread the message about women who bash men, then by all means start arranging your own ribbon day.