Grandpa,
I recently read in (an online advice column) an article about how women can spot an abusive man by various signs. I wrote to the column telling (that columnist) about the abuses I received from my wife. She was very physically abusive to me, to the point of once (details withheld by Grandpa) resulting in breaking my leg. Would you believe that (the online columnist) told me that it is very unlikely that a woman would abuse a man?! Well, while my wife was in the county jail for breaking my leg, I filed for a divorce. My family was supportive in my insistence that they not bail her out of jail. To this day, I have a restraining order on her to stay away. I have great empathy for abused women. I just do not feel that abused men are believed when they seek help.
Grandpa says: Physical, mental, and sexual abuse are all gender neutral. Any person can become abusive without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, religion, gender, or orientation. Abuse is an equal opportunity disgrace; an equal opportunity crime. If you are, or know, a victim, it is your responsibility to report it.
Grandpa,
I don’t know if you remember me. I was in the county jail and had asked for a Quran. I was no longer allowed in Christian services. Nor did the jail chaplaincy ever give me a Quran. I want to thank you for the one you sent to me. (See The Voice, Sept. 12, 2019). You told me that I had learned the first lesson about the hatred between the faiths: Ignorance and intolerance. I have been sentenced and am now in the custody of the IDOC. I am still a Christian, but I have learned a lot about Christ’s message by studying the Quran. The Quran was never given to just Muslims, it was given to all people of all faiths, even to those who have no faith. Its message is universal to all humanity. I want to thank you for sending this Quran to me. It has helped me understand not only Christ’s universal message, but my own responsibility for the crimes I committed and the hurt that I inflicted on others. I now know that I am not being punished for my crimes. I am given the opportunity to reflect and grow out of that hateful man I once was.
Grandpa says: I am glad to have gotten your letter. I am even more glad that you carry both the Bible and the Quran to chapel services. You are right. Those who study both books see that Quran views Jews and Christians as people who recognize the divine truth sent to their prophets. Once all men and women of every faith realize that God is the creator of all things and all humans, and that it is a sin against the creator to hate anything of the creator, it will be a much more wonderful world in which to live. Please, continue to write and keep me apprised of your life journey. I bid you peace
Got something stuck in your craw? Ask Grandpa. Address your letters to Ask Grandpa c/o The Voice, PO Box 123, Aurora, IL 60507 or send an E-mail to askgrandpa@thevoice.us.