The Color Purple --- Overshadowed during the Month of October

October is many things to many people.  For Southerners its the time when the seasons truly begin to change.  We feel a slight chill in the night and morning air, and the leaves begin to change turn into their fabulous fall hues.  Children are excited about the Scary Holiday celebrated with fun and delight! 

This year the strong and fearless NFL professionals adorned pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Remembering their loved ones that have been affected by the disease.  Raising awareness through education and by fundraising to bring about a cure.  I noticed a lot of pink.  It actually added a little extra "something" to the League.  Nice to see, nice to have such big support.

However, to my disappointment, I saw very little purple.  The color of royalty.  The color of valor only a brave soldier can receive.  Culturally, the color purple has always been perceived as a rich, deep color representing something of status and importance.  So, I wondered, why so little purple?

October is also National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  The color of choice.....Purple.  No purple ribbons adorned by many.  No purple bows displayed with pride.  No purple....but plenty of pink.  Don't get me wrong, I support Cancer Awareness.  I have family members who are survivors.  But I also have family members who are survivors of Domestic Violence.

It was always puzzling to me to see the outcry against a football player for abusing his animal, but to see another's abuse of his wife swept under the rug.  It was not surprising however, to see the justice system so zealously try to make an example of this man who abused his animal  and to see him be punished more severely than a man who abuses his wife.

I chuckle when I hear people say subjects like family abuse are private and need to stay in the home. That it doesn't affect them.  I guess ignorance really is bliss. They seem not to make the connections.  You know the connections that most perpetrators of crime were actually child victim witnesses of domestic violence.  But I guess crime doesn't affect everyone.  You know the connections, that the same person who abuses their spouse and believes they need to stay in their place are the same abusers who are their coworkers;  the same abusers who just married one of their family members; the same abusers who work in law enforcement; the same abusers who write legislation; and the same abusers who sit on a bench and interpret the laws.  But no, I guess, that doesn't affect everyone.

South Carolina is currently ranked 9th in the nation for men murdering women.  Domestic violence knows no status, gender, age or race.  It has no respect of person.  It just is.....

As I am passionate about advocating against the disease of Domestic Violence...I choose to wear purple year round.  I am asking you to do the same.......so that so many won't have to wear their color purple with black and blues...........