September 11th

"God bless the fallen, their families and all who sacrifice for freedom and liberty,"
Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense,

Americans mark 9/11 anniversary with moment of silence - In New York, relatives of victims killed at the World Trade Center observed a moment of silence to mark the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. http://www.gulfnews.com/world/U.S.A/10244223.html
AP

As I think back on 911 I am sadden by the horrific pictures and stories that were captured by the media, the newspapers, the television and the radio. I cried and wanted to help those people, those families. I felt helpless...

Then I remembered how I lived with a "domestic terrorist" for most of my childhood in my biological family. I know first hand how it was to be tortured everyday - and the very person who was suppose to protect me (My MOM) "DIDN'T".

Years later I found myself in a domestically abusive relationship - and learned that I was repeating patterns from my past - but THANKFULLY with the help of many community resources and the willingness to change - I got away.

Today I speak out about domestic violence so that I can give back what was given to me. More importantly I speak out because I am still alive...not every woman/person makes it out alive.

If you or someone you know is in a domestic violent relationship - there are many resources. The National Domestic Violence Hotline - http://www.ndvh.org/

Or you could offer to volunteer like I did - on the Hotline, as a legal advocate in court - assisting with restraining orders, or evening planning events.

Or you could even help by donating clothing, toys, gift cards or money.

Let me thank some in my local area that were very instrumental in helping me.

Help for Abouse Women & their Children
http://www.helpabusedwomen.org/

Haven
http://www.massgeneral.org/visitor/haven.htm

Jane Doe
http://www.janedoe.org/

Please google Domestic Violence Programs in your locate area YOU could help make a difference...maybe even help save a life...

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September 11 attacks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_2001_attacks

The September 11 attacks (often referred to as 9/11) were a series of coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001. On that morning, nineteen Islamist terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners.[1][2] The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and many others working in the building, causing both buildings to collapse within two hours, destroying at least two nearby buildings and damaging others. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville in rural Somerset County, Pennsylvania, after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C. There are no known survivors from any of the flights.

Excluding the 19 hijackers, 2,974 people died in the attacks. Another 24 are missing and presumed dead.[3][4] The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals of over 90 different countries. In addition, the death of at least one person from lung disease was ruled by a medical examiner to be a result of exposure to dust from the World Trade Center's collapse, as rescue and recovery workers were exposed to airborne contaminants following the buildings' collapse.
The United States responded to the attacks by launching a War on Terrorism, invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, who had harbored al-Qaeda terrorists, and enacting the USA PATRIOT Act. Many other nations also strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded law enforcement powers. Stock exchanges closed for almost a week, and posted enormous losses upon reopening, especially in the airline and insurance industries. The economy of Lower Manhattan ground to a halt, as billions of dollars in office space was damaged or destroyed.

The damage to the Pentagon was cleared and repaired within a year, and a small memorial was built on the site. Rebuilding the World Trade Center site has proven more difficult, with controversy over possible designs as well as the pace of construction. Construction delays, revised cost estimates, security concerns, and public criticism have all led to changes and delays to the final plans in rebuilding the complex to this day.


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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence


"Domestic disturbance" redirects here. For the 2001 film, see Domestic Disturbance.
Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or spousal abuse) occurs when a family member, partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another. Domestic violence often refers to violence between spouses, or spousal abuse but can also include cohabitants and non-married intimate partners. Domestic violence occurs in all cultures; people of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexes and classes can be perpetrators of domestic violence. Domestic violence is perpetrated by both men and women.

Domestic violence has many forms, including physical violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, economic deprivation, and threats of violence. Violence can be criminal and includes physical assault (hitting, pushing, shoving, etc.), sexual abuse (unwanted or forced sexual activity), and stalking. Although emotional, psychological and financial abuse are not criminal behaviors, they are forms of abuse and can lead to criminal violence. There are a number of dimensions including mode - physical, psychological, sexual and/or social; frequency - on/off, occasional, chronic; and severity – in terms of both psychological or physical harm and the need for treatment – transitory or permanent injury – mild, moderate, severe up to homicide.

An important componet of domestic violence, often ignored is the realm of passive abuse, leading to violence. [1]Passive abuse is covert, subtle and veiled. This includes victimization, procrastination, forgetfulness, ambiguity, neglect, spiritual and intellectual abuse.[2]

Recent attention to domestic violence began in the women's movement, particularly feminism and women's rights, in the 1970s, as concern about wives being beaten by their husbands gained attention. Awareness and documentation of domestic violence differs from country to country. Estimates are that only about a third of cases of domestic violence are actually reported in the United States and the United Kingdom. According to the Centers for Disease Control, domestic violence is a serious, preventable public health problem affecting more than 32 million Americans, or more than 10% of the U.S. population.[3]

Popular emphasis has tended to be on women as the victims of domestic violence. However, with the rise of the men's movement, and particularly masculism and men's rights, there is now advocacy for men victimized by women. Various reports of hospital emergency room visits pertaining to domestic violence indicate that physically abused men represent just over one-third of the total patients admitted.