"The ambulance took mommy away. Daddy beat her up because the house wasn't clean enough."

"I told daddy I was sorry. I didn't mean to say no to him.

The doctor says I won't have too many scars."

"What's a daddy?"

"Look at those lazy bums! Maybe if they would stay off the sauce they could find jobs and get off the street."

Do any of the above lines scare you? They should. Have you wondered why your neighbor hasn't been seen for a few days? She could be ill, or she could be staying out of sight until the bruises go away. I have never met an attack door in my life, but I have seen some of the nicest guys in person beat the life out of their wives. Read the papers, watch tv, and try to escape this. You can't. Spousal abuse is on the rise. How many children fall down two or three times a month bad enough to require hospitalization?

It does not take a piece of paper to make children. It does take committment to raise them though. I guess the making part is fun, but caring for, loving and supporting is just too much work. Life for single parents is not easy. Granted the stigma is virtually gone, but that does not make day to day life easier.

Is that bum really just a lazy drunk? How do you know? You judged him without checking. He could be ill, mentally or physically, but you'll never know, if you just judge and walk away.

These are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Writers, take up your pen, do the research and help stamp out these situations. I for one am sick and tired of guys thinking their wives, partners, are nothing more than punching bags. How many children have become surrogate love partners? How many children have we lost because a parent or guardian lost control?

You think that if you ignore the problem it will go away? Oh, wait, I know, it didn't happen to you so why bother? I suggest you rephrase that, as "It didn't happen to me, yet." Before that happens, join us