[Shodar]

Patrick Stewart is speaking out on the abuse he witnessed as a child:

Quote

My father was, in many ways, a man of discipline, organisation and charisma - a regimental sergeant major no less. One of the very last men to be evacuated from Dunkirk, his third stripe was chalked on to his uniform by an officer when no more senior NCOs were left alive. Parachuted into Crete and Italy, both times under fire, he fought at Monte Casino and was twice mentioned in dispatches. A fellow soldier once told me, "When your father marches on to the parade ground, the birds in the trees stop singing."

In civilian life it was a different story. He was an angry, unhappy and frustrated man who was not able to control his emotions or his hands. As a child I witnessed his repeated violence against my mother, and the terror and misery he caused was such that, if I felt I could have succeeded, I would have killed him. If my mother had attempted it, I would have held him down. For those who struggle to comprehend these feelings in a child, imagine living in an environment of emotional unpredictability, danger and humiliation week after week, year after year, from the age of seven. My childish instinct was to protect my mother, but the man hurting her was my father, whom I respected, admired and feared........

http://www.guardian....mestic-violence


A very sad tale. Good to see him active in raising awareness though. The stats on the number of people affected by domestic violence is staggering.

[maneth]

Yes indeed. I'm so glad he's chosen to speak out on this issue, even if I'm lucky enough never to have been affected by it in my family or relationships.

[trekkin']

Go Patrick!