Dear Editor,
On Friday 14th May, in the cartoon strip of the Stabroek News, Mr. Harris’ cartoon portrayed two men socialising and one asked if “You evah hit ya wife?” and the other responded “in self defence”. This could be interpreted by persons like myself as misleading and be interpreted by perpetrators of violence as “their new defence and justification” for violence. How can we equate violence perpetrated by mostly men as ‘in self defence’. Are we now justifying negative behaviour? Are you normalising domestic violence?
Do you know how a person who has experienced violence feels? Do you know what it’s like to be humiliated, to be disgusted with oneself? This is painful!
While many times I enjoy the satirical drawings, of this one I cannot say the same. Recently, two women were brutally murdered, one in the presence of her fourteen year old son and another in the presence of a fifteen year old. There are reports about both men and women being hospitalised because of domestic violence. We also know that we live in a country where “copycat” actions and behaviours are becoming common. How can one be so insensitive to make fun about an inhumane act that not only causes grave sufferings to the victim(s) but also leaves negative indelible pains in the minds and hearts of the children who are the most affected? Do we want to send a message that can shape the life of our children negatively? The answer should be “No”!
No form of violence is acceptable, even if it is interpreted as ‘in self defence’. Similarly, satirical drawings portraying violence against anyone are unacceptable. I call on all advocates to denounce this and we demand an apology. Let’s promote satire to stop this culture of violence we live in immediately! End violence against all!
Yours faithfully,
Shaundell Shipley
