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Sir Patrick Stewart calls on ’1 million men’ to end to violence against women

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Dram

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http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/patrick-stewart-million-men-violence-women-011042478.html
Sir Patrick Stewart stood in the center of the Diplomat Ballroom at the UN Hotel here on Friday, pounding his fist methodically against a podium, each thump punctuated with a number ("One ... two ... three ...") until he got to nine.

"Every nine seconds in the United States a woman is assaulted or beaten," Stewart said. "Every nine seconds."

The 72-year-old British-born actor, best known for his roles in "X-Men" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation," served as host for the launch of "Ring the Bell," a global campaign calling on 1 million men to make 1 million "concrete, actionable promises" to end violence against women.

"Violence against women is the single greatest human rights violation of our generation," Stewart said.

"This is a call to action—not an action that will make things better in six months' time or a year's time," he continued, "but action that might save someone's life and someone's future this afternoon, tonight, tomorrow morning."

The event—coinciding with International Women's Day and the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at United Nations headquarters—was attended by about 200 assorted actors, activists, politicians, filmmakers and musicians, including Michael Bolton, who fought back tears while talking about his work lobbying for the extension of the Violence Against Women Act passed by Congress earlier this week.

Later, Stewart received a standing ovation after recalling the repeated violence he witnessed as a 5-year-old child at home.

"I became an expert," Stewart said. "I knew exactly when to open a door and insert myself between my father's fist and my mother's body."

He said his father was "an angry and unhappy man who was not able to control his emotions—or his hands."

"The truth is my mother did nothing to deserve the violence she endured," Stewart added. "She did not provoke my father—and even if she had, responding with violence is not an acceptable way with dealing with conflict."
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Quackula said:
....Gandalf isn't Patrick Stewart
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This picture proves that you're wrong.

tumblr_lphsa3EjZz1qewod6o1_500.jpg
 
today I learned that patrick stewart is 72 and that beating women is bad. It's been a big day!
 
Violence against women is a very serious issue, and every step done to prevent it is a step in the right direction. A very close friend of mine was a victim; the easiest solution would had been to round up a couple of rough friends and reduce the bastard's hands and knees to jelly, but it's not a real mature solution.

Everyone involved needs help, the woman AND , even if it feels a bit wrong, the man causing the violence himself. They often have lots of personal issues, anger managements issues and so on, while the women can suffer from emotional dependency and much more.

It's important to just just 'listen', but to actually do something too.
 
shuri said:
Violence against women is a very serious issue, and every step done to prevent it is a step in the right direction. A very close friend of mine was a victim; the easiest solution would had been to round up a couple of rough friends and reduce the bastard's hands and knees to jelly, but it's not a real mature solution.
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It isn't any kind of solution. It flat out doesn't work. If anything, it can be completely counter-productive.
 
SmokyDave said:
It isn't any kind of solution. It flat out doesn't work. If anything, it can be completely counter-productive.
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More often than not, I fear you're right. I've seen it work, but still...I can see an abusive prick going home and taking out his fear on his wife or children.
 
All well and good but what exactly does he want to happen?

The guys who hit women to stop? People who see abuse to report it?
 
I feel this is appropriate here for everyone asking what they can do about the issue:

"What can men do? Men do not just need to stop being violent. The vast majority of men are not violent. But men do need to stop being silent. Calling violence against women, whether street harassment or sexual harassment or rape or murder, a 'women's issue' allows men to ignore it as if we have no responsibility for it or stake in ending it. We all have grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters and female friends and colleagues. Our lives are inextricably interwoven; women's issues of safety and equality directly affect our lives as men. Beyond that, women are humans, with the same rights to safety and freedom as men. It is therefore our moral responsibility to not remain silent or passively on the sidelines, but to be actively engaged in confronting this problem in every corner of homes, communities, and societies."
—Former NFL quarterback and current feminist Don McPherson, in an op-ed at CNN inviting men to join in anti-violence advocacy
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edit: Full piece here http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/07/opinion/mcpherson-men-domestic-violence/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7
 
Dram said:
Sir Patrick Stewart stood in the center of the Diplomat Ballroom at the UN Hotel here on Friday, pounding his fist methodically against a podium, each thump punctuated with a number ("One ... two ... three ...") until he got to nine.
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End violence against podiums.
 
I don't know who this man is, but upon a quick google search, I unveiled the most beautiful use of a monocle my eyes have ever rested upon.

And this dude hates violence against women? Plus one, sir, plus one.


EDIT: I was looking at Sir Patrick Moore, but damn is that a nice monocle...But that aside, you are a kind sir, Professor X
 
Having the entire life experiences of a long-dead alien scientist co-existing among your own makes a man pretty darn wise.
 
Watched a documentary where Sir Patrick retraced his family history and it was an incredibly personal journey, talking some about those violent times. Another man would've been brought to tears a dozen times over telling those stories and feelings, but Sir Patrick is as composed as any character he's played.
What a dude
 
IISANDERII said:
Watched a documentary where Sir Patrick retraced his family history and it was an incredibly personal journey, talking some about those violent times. Another man would've been brought to tears a dozen times over telling those stories and feelings, but Sir Patrick is as composed as any character he's played.
What a dude
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What documentary. I love all things Patrick Stewart.
 
MoonLightWave said:
This is sexism, what about all the violence against men?
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"The event—coinciding with International Women's Day and the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at United Nations headquarters"

"I became an expert," Stewart said. "I knew exactly when to open a door and insert myself between my father's fist and my mother's body."

No ones denying violence against men isn't an issue but the terms about why the focus on this particular event and Stewarts recollections are on violence against women is explicitly clear.
 
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