If I change but one life for the better with this post, I will be content. A true story.

To the 30+ year old man who bawled at his 10 year old son for 2+ minutes out loud on the beach and then slapped him round the head, hard. His only 'crime' was to inadvertently trip over his baby sister.

"Sir, you will probably never ever get to see this message, but my blood boiled and my heart sank to see what you did to your very own blessed son today. You will never read this, but another father tempted to do the same, just might, so I will try to explain to you, the error of your ways.

You see, sir, there is only one thing left after 'beatings' - and that - is 'double-beatings' - and neither of them have any merits or bear any fruit. They just evaporate any self-belief and confidence in a growing spirit that you, sir, are breaking, bit by bit by bit with every word you shout and every hand you raise.

And unfortunately, in your case, you will no doubt be surprised to see, in not so many fast speeding years, that same son, beat his own son, your cherished grandson.

And you will hang your head in sorrow and shame. For it will be too late.

Your sorry circle will be complete."

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greenmountaingal · 70-79, F

You will not change anyone's life because bullies enjoy the power they have and will not give it up until they are stopped and led away in handcuffs. No one who beats their child ever thinks they are wrong. In fact, they tend to be proud of it.

Valentine · M

@greenmountaingal Once this was true. Totally true. These days, we are becoming more enlightened and supportive of those who we once labelled victims, now labelled survivors. Awareness is growing to understand the full nature of the life changing pus these bullies and perpetrators metered out. Would you accept that the world has moved on, at least slightly since the 1950s? You know, those days when newborn babies were whisked away from single moms, because society got it so wrong? This does not happen now. Not in the civilised world at least, to my knowledge. Nor do the police authorities turn you away if you report such violence (as they did to me in 1974). We now attempt to classify every strain of their putrid life changing actions. In 2003, no longer could a person in a position of trust consider a 16-17 year old as 'fair game' for sexual manipulation. Abuse is like an oil tanker full of pus. We need to change its course and speed with great effort, taking time. So, I hope you can find peace in the fact that it doesn't take a Martin Luther King to change the world. Though such can help. More importantly, it needs lots of ordinary people with ordinary voices, collectively they will hole the oil tanker below the water line, the pus will seep out and both boat and pus will sink to hell, their place of eternal damnation. And you will rest easier in knowing that going forward fewer children will be harmed, often for life. No, we won't change every one. But you don't eat an elephant in one mouthful either. Please, reconsider. We need to give hope to the younger generation that society[i]can[/i] make a difference. Be part of the solution please?