When a man loves a woman he does not hit her because she danced with someone at a party or because she made a ham sandwich instead of turkey. In a recent segment of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah talked to young men who beat the women they claimed they loved.
According to Oprah.com, every day, three women die at the hands of their dearly devoted spouses.
Sir, who was one of the guests on Oprah’s show, said that the first incident of abuse toward his wife occurred a few weeks after they exchanged wedding vows.
It seems as if these men have taken the words “til death do us part” literally. When the preacher marries the couple he does not say, “You may now hit the bride.”
Love should not hurt.
And yet, these men admit to having the urge to do more than just hurt their wives.
They want to kill them.
“I had every intention to take her life. I felt like I had power and control over something in my life,” Sir said. “It made me feel invincible.”
Power and control mean more to these men than the sanctity of holy matrimony.
Using your significant other as a punching bag does not make you Superman. Sir told Oprah that after the first incident, he swore to his wife he would not hit her anymore.
Like many abuse victims Sir’s wife, Christy, took him back. After two-and-a-half years of abuse the couple gave their marriage to Christ.
Sir has not hit Christy for two years now. One can only hope this continues to work for Sir and Christy. Unfortunately, women tend to take these men back after many “baby, baby please” declarations.
If their men do not value their lives, these women have got to walk away.
Leontyne Mason for the Editorial Board.