NCJ Number
192593
Journal
Domestic Violence Report Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: December/January 2002 Pages: 17-18,31,32
Date Published
2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This paper compares the terrorism of September 11, 2001, with the terrorism of domestic violence and suggests lessons that can be learned from the actions of the heroes of September 11th in responding to domestic violence.
Abstract
Domestic violence and terrorism are similar, in that domestic violence is intended by the perpetrator to change behavior through fear and to undermine the sense of self and security of the targets of violence. Both the home-based terrorism of domestic violence and the international terrorists target their victims' vulnerabilities. The home-based terrorists and the international terrorists both blend in to their environments and cannot be easily identified by friends, neighbors, or coworkers. There are 10 lessons to be learned from the firefighters and other heroes to use in work against the terrorism of domestic violence. First, have the courage to go into the "dark places" of the mind of the home-based domestic-violence terrorist to understand how he thinks. Second, don't be distracted; third, use your tools to work on one piece at a time, rather than being overwhelmed by the "mountain of rubble" before you. Remaining lessons are to care about the victims; listen to the voices of the victims; have support; train others to help; rest when your shift is over; have hope; and leave a legacy.