Fight violence together, man says

Page 4

Dear Editor,

If you'll allow a freckled-skin white boy psychologist to write - hear me.

About the article by Brigette Parker on Family violence myths destroyed. Why is it that we have six-woman panels to mark woman assault prevention month because "violence in the family is a fundamental human rights issue for women and children" when it is mostly men who are violent and destructive?

Can we not transcend politics and diverseness and include all in the discussion? That is the traditional way as I've heard it. If I want to build a teepee, I won't go to Canadian Tire.

If you want to understand violence try checking in with the male sex, who are equally abused and battered. This is no excuse! Hear the stories of men abused in residential schools as I have. Read a small book called The Invisible Boy prepared by psychologist Dr. Frederick Mathews, available through Health Canada .

It's very simplistic thinking to say that batterers can control their anger. How? With what help?

When the females sincerely want answers and action they will do better to consult the authorities on violence - men - white skins as well as red ones. The white skins have certainly established their propensity for violence. Ask the school survivors! Let's co-operate and put an end to it.

But Bobbi Smith is right: "No amount of programming is going to fix what is happening today"

We need a deep-seated healing that comes from those you know.

Yours,

Dr. John R.M. Goyeche

Psychologist

Kelowna