ESPN & Susan V - Realize Panelist Stephen A. Smith had a point!

I do not condone violence toward women! I am a woman. BUT, if you do not give women an idea that certain behavior is not acceptable either, you are exacerbating the problem. Look at the one sided and just plain intolerant treatment in a petition I received today: Here's the link to that petition - http://www.thepetitionsite.com/545/708/212/espn-reprimand-panelist-who-implies-battered-women-provoke-men/?z00m=21353038&redirectID=1424919312 Here's the text, with my comments on it below -------- ESPN just announced that Smith will be suspended from appearing on radio or television for one week in response to his remarks. [Now why does this man have to be suspended for voicing an alternative idea?] While this is a great first step, it doesn't go far enough -- please keep signing and sharing so we can keep the pressure up and ask ESPN to show they take violence against women seriously. Ask them to extend Smith's suspension and require him to attend trainings on domestic violence. [Now she is accusing a man who raised a point she does not like of doing a crime. Require him to attend training(s) on domestic violence? Because he said something she does not like?] Here's the rest of the petition's discussion ------------ The NFL punished Ravens running back Ray Rice with a 2-game suspension after he allegedly knocked his fiance unconscious. But then ESPN panelist Stephen A. Smith responded by advising battered women not to provoke their abusers. During a “First Take” segment, Smith acknowledged that men have “no business” striking women, just before he went on to insinuate that women contribute to their own abuse via “provocation.” [I have seen women verbally abuse men, beat them down into submission. I assume that some women even physically abuse men and they are too embarrassed to tell someone about it. Can only women be innocent victims? No man can be a victim?] ESPN’s Michelle Beadle shot back, saying Smith’s comments were equivalent to blaming rape on a victim’s “provocative clothing.” [That is an extreme reduction of what was going on in the conversation.] Further disturbing is that Smith seems to make excuses for NFL’s lenient punishment of Rice, compared to a 4-game suspension it imposed on another player for smoking pot. Following widespread criticism, Smith insisted that he in no way supports a man “putting his hands on a woman,” but he continued to advise that women should take responsibility for “preventing” such abuse. [So, you cannot take the man at his word. You do not have the ability to look into his comments in a rational way and see if there is any point he is making that might be helpful for all involved.] Though Smith finally apologized, his comments should be of grave concern to ESPN, as they promote a culture of tolerating violence against women. Tell ESPN to reprimand Smith for his comments and make sure all its analysts are properly trained on the issue of domestic violence. [I believe ESPN is probably very sensitive about it. They obviously will cave into pressure from outside sources, but I wonder: Will reprimanding someone who asks if there are other elements in relationships that should be recognized and addressed will help the problem? Not if whoever brings them up is reprimanded!] Sign my petition to stop the madness and allow open discussion on these very important issues and I will send the results to ESPN and Susan V.
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