Corinthians 13:4-8: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy.”
It is a topic of discussion that some people find to be better left unsaid. It’s not the ideal conversation starter and the subject matter makes most people feel uncomfortable. The issue is domestic violence and it needs to be discussed.
One out of four women in their lifetime will be victims of domestic abuse.
NoMore, a campaign designed to raise awareness and help end domestic violence and sexual assault first appeared in last year's Super Bowl.The Super Bowl is the ideal place for messages to be heard, with millions of viewers tuning into the commercials. The NFL took on these campaigns because of the recent headlines accusing athletes of domestic abuse, even some of their own players.The campaign last year sent a powerful, hard-hitting message to viewers about the hidden nature of domestic violence. It featured a real 911 call from a woman pretending to order a pizza when in reality she was subtly calling for help. The campaign this year took on the same central theme: for people to be aware of the subtle signs of abuse. This year's campaign during the Super Bowl represented how most people use texting as a major form of communication, and how saying very little can mean a whole lot. This powerful 30-second campaign is centered around a conversation between two friends, one who is at a Super Bowl party, and the other friend, Jess, is skeptical about going because "Jake is in one of his moods again." Worried, the friend immediately asks Jess if she is okay. As viewers and myself wait with anticipation for a positive response, we see the infamous iMessage bubble appear. This bubble indicates when the other person is texting. The bubble pops up repeatedly, but then abruptly stops. Never getting a response from Jess. The campaign then states, "There are many signs of domestic abuse and assault," and provided a number to call for ways to help identify the signs of abuse.
NoMore's campaign during the Super Bowl did exactly what they intended: It got people talking. That is why I am writing about this issue. We need to talk about domestic violence. We need to understand the signs and help those who are unable to help themselves. Social media has erupted with support and also anger over these campaigns. People took to Twitter and other social media platforms praising the commercials for their powerful message while others believe that a 30-second advertisement will not change anything about domestic abuse. NoMore's campaign sheds a light on the ongoing issue of domestic assault, in scenarios that viewers are able to empathize with. The "close to home" feel, such as a conversation through texting, allows viewers like myself to step back and think, "This could happen to me, this could be somebody I know." You could be faced with a situation like that, and these campaigns have empowered us to take a stand, and if it doesn't feel right, then it most likely isn't. Love does not hurt.
Enough is enough. We as a nation, as genuine human beings must take these campaigns seriously, and learn the not so obvious signs of abuse. Take 30 seconds out of your day to watch this campaign. We shouldn't have to wait for the Super Bowl to keep us thinking and talking about domestic violence. Do it for your mom, your sisters, your best friends, that shy girl in your Psychology 101 course. Who knows, maybe you can save a life today.
