Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spambots. Es necesario activar Javascript para visualizarla

Note: The following is a letter to the editor of the Providence Journal that we submitted after Politifact Rhode Island issued a ruling of "Half True" on a statement made by Senator Beatrice Lanzi about the prevalence of teen dating violence. To read their ruling, click here.

To the Editor:

We were disappointed to see Politifact Rhode Island’s recent ruling on Senator Beatrice Lanzi’s statement that "One out of four of our young people say they are victims of this (dating) violence."

We take issue with the process that Politifact used to check this claim. The article points to several sources which provide similar statistics on the prevalence of teen dating violence, and notes that those sources define teen dating violence as emotional, verbal or physical abuse. Politifact was able to clarify with Senator Lanzi that she indeed used that definition – the same definition used by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, Politifact then goes on to disregard this definition without providing justification, and rules Senator Lanzi’s statement is “Half True”.

Inherent and Civil Parental Law vs. Civil Custody Law

By Renee’ F. Brissette

The natural, Divine, and even governmental laws of parenting have been thrown into a dangerous quandary by the perplexing family court rulings throughout this country that are forcing many to ask, who knows what is in the best interest of our children? As a parent, I strive to love, care for, protect, and teach my children well with the hope that they will become the best person they can be—leading happy, healthy, and productive lives.  I think it is safe to say that this is what most parents try to do for their children. These desires and tendencies may stem from an inner maternal/paternal instinct coupled with a moral and spiritual compass. 

So, when children are young, to protect them from harm, we teach them how to tie their shoes, to not touch hot stoves, to not talk to strangers, and look before they cross the street. As they get older we teach them lessons of right and wrong, kindness and cooperation, to not hang with the “wrong” crowds, to “say no to drugs,” and to never stay anywhere or go with anyone who they are not safe with. It is not only natural and/or Divine law that leads parents to protect, care, and provide for their children — it is the law of this country.

Yet, parents across the states are being faced with a legal and moral conundrum.  While the government laws require parents to care for and protect their children on the one hand, family court systems, in case after case, are ordering them to place their children in harms way. The latest case making news headlines just this past week involves a mother in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina who had to choose to do what she knows is in the best interest of her children, or complying with a court order. 

Chris Brown’s recent appearance on the Grammy’s, and the subsequent release of two collaborative tracks featuring Chris Brown and Rihanna, have sparked new conversation about the incident of abuse that happened 3 years ago. We are encouraging everyone to talk to the young people in their lives about the Chris Brown and Rihanna case for two reasons.

To begin with, most young people are aware of the situation and hold a lot of misconceptions about what happened (and about dating violence in general, for that matter).  Take this opportunity to make sure they have the facts and aren’t harboring false “reasons” for why the incident occurred or false understandings of the severity of this case and of dating violence in general.

Additionally, teens are at high risk for experiencing dating violence — a staggering 1 in 3 adolescent girls in the U.S. is a victim of abuse by their dating partner.  And yet nearly three-quarters of teens indicate that their parents have not talked to them about relationships in the past year.

So if you decide to use these new songs as an opportunity to talk to a young person about dating violence, here are some questions & conversation starters to help you out: