Sam Hammil Response

In Sam Hammil’s essay “The Necessity to Speak”, he talks about the need every person has to speak and write their thoughts and ideas and how being silent is like being inside a personal prison. The way he applied his thoughts to domestic violence and child abuse was very powerful and emotional. He makes you look at something that is a very big problem in a new light, almost explaining why things get out of hand. I don’t agree however with his “explanation” of domestic violence and the reasoning behind the abuser. There is NOTHING that should permit or condone violence of any kind in a relationship. Just because a child was abused does not mean that he himself will or should become abusive nor should it be a reasonable explanation if he does. I realize that Hammil may not have meant that way, however that is the meaning that I took from it being that he chose to reiterate that explanation several times.

Hammil hit a precise mark when he states that “We can’t bear very much reality”. People in every society chose not to speak up about intolerable incidents and chose to close their eyes and walk away. I think that this has all ways been a problem in society, people “minding their own business”. I think Hammil was right when he said “Knowledge is the loss of innocence” and that this applies to the not wanting to bear reality. If people don’t know about something then they can play innocent and safe.

Poetry or writing of any kind opens a door for people to express themselves; especially people who otherwise may not have a way to do so. Coming from someone who internalizes all her feelings and tries very hard to be a sensible peacekeeper, journaling or writing is the only way to open up and be yourself, preserving your sanity and self image. When you write you can become whatever you want to be. You can be the strong, outgoing type who always says what they feel without the repercussions of the thoughts of others. Writing lowers anxiety and gives the writer a place where they can feel safe and more importantly, heard.

The following abuse poem was very emotional and moving and shows how people can be detered from wanting to speak out.

Picture from http://brandautopsy.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/see_hear_speak_1.jpg

poem from : http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/sad/poetry.asp?poem=18656